Cinderella InjectionGangnam, Seoul
The Cinderella injection is a Korean nickname for thioctic acid (alpha-lipoic acid) injection — the MFDS refers to it as “thioctic acid injection (a.k.a. Cinderella injection)”. Its approved indications in Korea depend on the formulation, and none of them include weight loss or relief of fatigue. QD Clinic first checks whether you take blood-sugar medication and how fast it can be given. At QD Clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea, consultation helps determine which options suit your concerns.
Who it’s for
- You want to confirm what the Cinderella injection really contains
- You take blood-sugar medication and want to know whether it is safe for you
- Your face has flushed or you have felt short of breath during an injection before
If weight management is your goal, we discuss evidence-based approaches such as diet, activity and medication rather than this injection.
How it works
Thioctic acid 600mg injection is approved for “relief of diabetic polyneuropathy”. In the MFDS drug database (nedrug), thioctic acid 600mg (trometamol salt) injection is approved for “relief of diabetic polyneuropathy”. Low-concentration (5mg/mL) thioctic acid injections are approved for uses such as “supplementation when the need for thioctic acid increases (during strenuous physical labor)”, with a note that they should not be continued if there is no effect after about a month. There are no cosmetic or weight-related indications.
THE MECHANISM, STEP BY STEP
01Ingredient
The active ingredient is thioctic acid (alpha-lipoic acid). Unlike supplements of the same name, the injection is a prescription-only medicine.
02Approved use by formulation
The 600mg trometamol salt product is approved for relief of diabetic polyneuropathy; the 5mg/mL product has different approvals, such as supplementation when the need increases and some types of hearing loss.
03Infusion speed
The 600mg product is diluted in 100–250mL of normal saline and given over at least 12 minutes, at no more than 50mg of thioctic acid per minute.
04Protection from light
Because the ingredient is unstable in light, ampoules are taken out just before use and the diluted infusion is covered with aluminum foil or similar.
Treatment areas
- Discuss at consultation
- We first ask whether you use insulin or other glucose-lowering medicines for diabetes. The product information lists rare hypoglycemia.
- Medical assessment
- Weight loss and fatigue relief are not approved indications. Tell us exactly what you hope for, and we will explain whether there is evidence for it.
- Before treatment
- The ingredient is sensitive to light, so the product information says the diluted infusion must be shielded from light.
What the procedure is like
- 1Medical history — diabetes and blood-sugar medicines, history of hypersensitivity
- 2Dilution and light-shielded preparation
- 3Drip infusion at the set speed
- 4Check for dizziness or low blood sugar after the infusion
The approved method for the 600mg product is infusion over at least 12 minutes. The actual time depends on the dilution volume.
Recovery & aftercare
- If you feel dizzy after the infusion, stay seated for a while rather than standing up straight away.
- If you take diabetes medication, don’t skip meals after you get home.
- Bruising at the needle site usually fades within a few days.
What to expect over time
A general guide to how the days and months after treatment usually unfold. Results vary by individual.
During infusion Reactions to fast infusion
The product information says a rush of blood to the head and breathing difficulty can often occur after rapid infusion and fade with time. Tell us straight away if you feel unwell.
Right after Signs of low blood sugar
Very rarely, blood sugar may drop, causing dizziness, sweating, headache or visual disturbance.
After you get home Hypersensitivity
If you develop a skin rash, hives or itching, let us know before your next session.
Sessions & results
The label for the low-concentration product says “if no effect appears even after about one month of use, do not continue”, so we decide afresh each time whether to continue.
How it compares
Two injections often mentioned alongside the Cinderella injection, compared by ingredient.
| Comparison | Cinderella Injection | Garlic Injection | Glutathione Injection (White Jade) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Thioctic acid | Fursultiamine (a vitamin B1 derivative) | Reduced glutathione |
| Main approved indications | Relief of diabetic polyneuropathy | Prevention and treatment of vitamin B1 deficiency, etc. | Drug poisoning; improving liver function in chronic liver disease |
| Infusion precautions in the label | No more than 50mg/min, over at least 12 minutes | As slowly as possible, as it can cause vein pain | Vials used immediately after dissolving |
All based on Korean-approved products with the same ingredient. None of the three is approved for weight loss or fatigue relief.
Safety & considerations
Contraindications in the label
- Hypersensitivity to thioctic acid or any component
- Children and adolescents (limited clinical experience)
Adverse reactions in the label
- Very rarely, hypersensitivity reactions up to shock; skin rash, hives, itching
- Occasionally nausea, vomiting, changes in taste
- Rush of blood to the head and breathing difficulty after rapid infusion
- Very rarely, low blood sugar (dizziness, sweating, headache, visual disturbance)
The Cinderella injection is not a medicine approved for weight loss or fatigue relief. If you are being treated for diabetes, you must tell us beforehand. Individual responses vary.
Your care at QD Clinic
Blood-sugar check
We check for diabetes, use of insulin or glucose-lowering medicines, and when you last ate.
Expectations vs approved use
We set what you hope for side by side with thioctic acid’s approved indications.
Infusion at the set speed
We stay within the approved infusion speed and watch for headache, dizziness or sweating during the infusion.
Frequently asked questions
Thioctic acid, commonly known as alpha-lipoic acid. When the MFDS revised its safe-use manual for these medicines in 2018, it named it “thioctic acid injection (a.k.a. Cinderella injection)”. Unlike dietary supplements with the same name, the injection is a prescription-only medicine.
Weight loss is not an approved indication in Korea. The 600mg product is approved for relief of diabetic polyneuropathy. If weight is your concern, we can discuss other evidence-based options with you.
You must tell us before you have it. The product information says that because glucose utilization improves, blood sugar can very rarely fall, and when it overlaps with insulin or glucose-lowering medicines the risk of hypoglycemia needs to be assessed separately. After the infusion, dizziness, sweating, headache or vision problems can be signs of low blood sugar, so tell us straight away. Don’t skip meals after you get home, either.
That is the approved method. The 600mg product is given over at least 12 minutes at no more than 50mg per minute. The label notes that giving it faster can cause a rush of blood to the head or breathing difficulty.
Because thioctic acid is unstable in light. The product information says the diluted infusion should be shielded from light with aluminum foil or similar, and that the shielded solution stays stable for about 6 hours. For the same reason, the ampoule is taken out only just before use.
For international patients
Consultation in English / 中文 / 日本語 · WhatsApp · WeChat · KakaoTalk · a 4-minute walk from Sinnonhyeon / Nonhyeon Station (hours in KST).
How many days should I stay?
Surgery and course-based treatments need a check-up. We tell you before you book whether that means staying longer or coming back another time.
For International Patients