I was shopping at a store other than my usual one and I accidentally bought some cyanocobalamin. It is red. It is in a brown bottle. I was at a Whole Foods and I didn't think they would carry cyanocobalamin. (OK, I wasn't thinking much at all.) I have opened it, so I can't take it back. Is there enough cyanide in about 3 weeks worth of cyanocobalamin to do me any harm? Maybe I could take it alternate weeks with methylcobalamin. If I do take it, can I swallow it. (Will it be destroyed in my stomach?)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanocobalamin There is unlikely to be any risk, from the active ingredient, it's also quite possible that there may be little to no benefit, it's literally a case of suck it and see. Of course some people don't get on with B12 but that's not coz of the cyanide, which is probably safely bound, or they wouldn't sell it in supermarkets.
It won't harm you, the amount of cyanide is very small. As @Wonko said if it was acutely unsafe it would already be banned. Biggest risk is your body won't be able to utilize it well, a percentage of people don't seem to be able to convert it well making it inactive (aka waste of money). You can still try returning it, tell them you bought the wrong one accidentally and would like to exchange if possible, they may do it on a goodwill basis but may not. Of course you have to decide if its worth the energy spent if they won't do it
I think just look at it as a harmless experiment at least you will know whether cyano form has an affect?. I started on cyano form and it did work for me, but found methyl hydroxyl and adenosyl forms also worked. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones? Also agree I don't think this will do any harm. The red is the cobalt in it which is in all B12 variants.
All the multivits I've ever taken have had cyanocobalamin, I think. My current one certainly has. I don't know if it's any good or not, but I was basically OK (although with ME) until the March before last, and I'm 64.
My experience, if you decide to bother with this, is that Whole Foods will take anything back for any reason, including food, and including if it has been opened, even without a receipt. I do not do it frequently but there were times I opened food that was moldy/spoiled or I bought the wrong cleaner w/a hideous smell vs. being fragrance free, etc. They returned it for cash or store credit, no questions asked.
It is a liquid. I went ahead and used some transdermally this morning. If think this precludes returning it. I do now have some methylB12. I think I will try swallowing the cyanoB12 as a second. I do better on two doses/day of the transdermal, but it is so much hassle that I rarely do a second dose. Thanks to all of you for your replies.