The phenomenon of bleeding is very common in daily life, and some severe cases require the use of medication for hemostasis. Vitamin K4 has hemostatic functions, but it is not suitable for acute bleeding, and is suitable for coagulation disorders caused by vitamin K deficiency. Therefore, when using vitamin K4, it is necessary to clarify the indications and not use it randomly as a hemostatic drug.

1. Is vitamin K4 effective for hemostasis?

Vitamin K4 is a vitamin drug. Vitamin K4, also known as prothrombin, is an active substance that promotes blood coagulation and hemostasis, and is one of the basic substances required for cell division and proliferation. Lack of vitamin K4 can affect normal development and cause abnormal bleeding as well as slow hemostasis and coagulation after bleeding. Vitamin K4 is mainly suitable for coagulation disorders caused by vitamin K deficiency, such as vitamin K deficiency caused by poor intestinal absorption. Obstructive jaundice, chronic ulcerative colitis, chronic pancreatitis, and decreased intestinal absorption after extensive small intestine resection caused by various reasons; long-term use of antibiotics can lead to vitamin K deficiency in the body. Broad-spectrum antibiotics or intestinal sterilization drugs can kill or inhibit normal intestinal bacteria, resulting in reduced vitamin synthesis by intestinal bacteria. Vitamin K4 is also suitable for neonatal hemorrhage, diarrhea caused by breastfeeding or artificial feeding, or other causes of vitamin K deficiency. It is occasionally used for biliary colic caused by gallstones or biliary ascariasis, as well as for the rescue of those poisoned by the rodenticide "dicoumarol" (preferably in large doses).

2. Precautions for vitamin K4

Vitamin K has two sources: natural and synthetic. K1 and K2 are derived from natural sources, with K1 coming from plant-based and animal-based foods; K2 is derived from bacterial products, such as synthetic products of human intestinal parasites. Both K3 and K4 are synthetic drugs based on the chemical structure of natural vitamin K. When taking vitamin K4, the following should be noted:

1. Typical neonatal vitamin K4 deficiency usually occurs 2 to 5 days after birth, mainly manifesting as gastrointestinal bleeding, which can be accompanied by skin bleeding, umbilical bleeding, etc. Delayed vitamin K deficiency bleeding in infants is more common in breastfed infants from 2 weeks to 3 months after birth. The clinical characteristics are acute onset, severe bleeding symptoms, often intracranial bleeding leading to increased intracranial pressure and neurological symptoms, which can be life-threatening.

2. Patients with vitamin K4 deficiency should rest more and can eat foods such as animal liver, such as fish, fish roe, liver, egg yolk, cream, butter, cheese, meat, milk, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and grains.

3. In patients with liver function damage, blindly increasing the dosage of vitamin K4 can worsen liver injury.

4. Large doses of vitamin K, especially K3 and K4, can cause hemolytic anemia and hyperbilirubinemia in newborns, especially in mothers or newborns who have received vitamin K treatment, as well as in those with G-6-PD deficiency or low vitamin E blood concentration.