B12 injections

Do any of you take vitamin B12 injections? If so how often and how much?  thanks so much

My B12 was never an issue...easily keep it over 1000 and usually in the over 2000 range to the annoyance of my NUT!

Now, my D is MY issue...I may end up getting a D3 injection this time. Depends on my labs when I see them soon enough.

Liz

 

My nephrologist just put me on another type of D in addition to my Dry D3 that helps bring down our PTH.  It is called Calcitrol .25mg - the Dry D3 is actually the D-25Hydroxy and the Calcitrol is the D 1-25 hydroxy which he said the active for of the vitamin D.  He said some people with weight loss surgery and definitely people with kidney trouble need to take both types of D in order to bring down the PTH and it also helps bring up your D.  For me I need it more for PTH and he said I have to watch my D carefully not to go up too much so it might help you.

I give myself B12 injections every 3-4 weeks, depending on  my labs.  When it was over 1500 I did it monthly then it dropped to 609 so I upped it to every 3 weeks and also started sublinguals again, every few days.

609 is dangerously low and you really need to increase it to more than every 3 week, that isn't much of an increase from monthly.  A B12 over 1500 was perfect and you should have left it where it was.  Instead of mixing injections and sublinguals, why not just do the injections 2 times per month - that should bring you back up.  You want to be atleast 1200-1800 and even up at 2000 is fine - you just pee out the excess but not enough can cause nerve damage - be careful cutting too much.

I do them 3 times per week and my levels are always either greater than 1000 or greater than 2000 and my hematologist is fine with it and he specializes in B12 deficiency, iron and other forms of anemia.

I am basically doing sublinguals and supplementing with shots. I'm not a big fan of shots.

sublinguals have worked well for me.  I haven't needed injections.

It all depends on how low your B12 level is.  I have been doing them for 16 years, long before my RNY and I do them 3 times per week.  Injections are usually all the same dosage.  They are 1 CC - 1000mcg. It is the way we do them that is the controversy.  Some doctors tell patients that they need to be done IM for them to be effective which isnt true, it just makes them must more painful.  It says right on the B12 bottle that they are for IM or SC use.  I have used 3 different Hematologists over the years and they all have told me that there is no difference.  My current one even gives them to patients as a Sub Q injection - directly under the skin, preferably in a flabby area.  Years ago, I used to do them in my legs in the muscle and all it did was cause me to bruise terribly and my levels were the same as they are now.  This past year I was in the hospital quite a bit and many of the nurses are old school and they also insisted in doing  them IM in my upper arm and I would bruise so bad that when I was hospitalized again 3 weeks later, I still had the bruise. Finally I got my doctors to tell them that I was to do them myself in my belly Sub Q.

Now, my levels are great.  Sometimes I even forget and do them 2 times per week and my levels are always greater than 1000 but I strive to get as close to 2000 as possible - for me the higher my number, the better I feel.

As far as how often you do them - ideally you want your level to be between 1200 and 1800.   If you are below 500, you are at risk for nerve damage.  The minimum is once per month but most people need to do them more like 2 times per month or even weekly.  There is no danger in too much B12, you just pee out the excess but too little is very dangerous - you can actually get nerve damage and if left too long it can become permanent.

If I know what your level is and what you have been taking up until now, I can help you better

 

 

I do Vit B12 injection once a month 1 cc and my dr told me I could use the small dibetic needles seens the bigger needles hurt and left a bruise  no prbls seens I changed needles and my B 12 is perfect every time.

 

Margaret