About betaine
Methyl-group donor; amino acid derivative
Used for
- Treatment of homocystinuria to lower elevated homocysteine
Usual adult dose
Usually 3 g by mouth twice daily; adjust based on homocysteine levels.
Usual dose in children
Usually 100 mg/kg by mouth twice daily; adjust based on homocysteine levels.
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Stomach discomfort
- Unpleasant body odor
Important warnings
- May raise methionine levels; monitor blood tests, especially in homocystinuria.
- Rarely, very high methionine levels have caused brain swelling.
- Use with specialist monitoring; dosing is individualized.
Pregnancy
Limited information; use only when expected benefits outweigh potential risks.
Breastfeeding
Limited information; effects on nursing infants are unknown.
Interactions
- No well-established clinically significant interactions are known.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.