Hi
I have quite bad anxiety and obsess over things a lot, I'm waiting to see a counseller but don't know how long it will be before that. I was wondering if there was a link between b12 and anxiety and if I'm likely to improve now the injections have started? or if this is a seperate issue I have to deal with. Thanks
Hi, My husband started B12 injections 6 weeks ago and has improved slightly. He has only had the one injection so far.
He had all the symptoms of B12 deficiency including feeling depressed and anxious.
B12 deficiency does effect you mentally and physically so your B12 could be causing your anxiety.
Some people have a few loading doses of injections but as my husband was low in range they only gave him one injection and he is to have another one 12 weeks after that.
It could be that your injections will ease your anxiety, I hope so.
Best Wishes browny
Endocrine disorders effect all aspects of your life but it is very often auto immune , which effect more than one gland try and do your research on the net to match your symptoms ,the go to the self help groups to share experience ,you are then armed with information to see GPs and Consultants .
Hi Serendipity,
I too have serious anxiety issues and take regualar medication for it now. Have done the couselling etc which helped but I must admit I had never made the link to PA. I know depression can be linked but it would be interesting to know if others too have anxiety issues.
Nikki
My sister also as b12 deficiency and was extremely shy and anxious but it is a lot better now she's on regular treatment! She still gets it but manages to push past it. It's funny how we all have different symptoms.
Thanks, that's good to know. I think I may have had low/ declining b12 for a while so I'm hoping I will notice a difference in a month or two when the injections kick in.
I was drawn to this post as I have the same question - I believe I have a b12 deficiency I am low normal level at 333 - doc will not give me injections but instead anti depressants. I dont want to take them as I feel b12 is the problem and thats whats causing my anxiety
My b12 is 260 and my ferritin and folate are low normal as well. I am tired all the time and also have heart palps and shortness of breath. Doctors said i have anxiety and didnt attribute my symptoms to my blood results.
Hi
I was a bit anxious and run down when I first got my B12 checked. It has since got worse and I know I have underlying issues that talking about will probably help but Two years of having the B12 monitored and having to wait to see what the next blood test said did give me something extra to worry about and I dont think that was helpful particularly when I was aware of the stroke history and heart disease in my family that can be linked to b12 deficiency. My initial score was 147 and still it was a year of monitoring to get a booster set of injections then a year of watching this drop from around 500 to 160 before I got another booster set and put on the injections for life. The cause of my deficiency is still unknown. Your B12 is at a level that the doctors I've seen would consider healthy but a lot of online material suggests you can feel the symptoms in the 'normal' range. I had homocysteine and MMA tests to try to determine if I was deficient so it may be worth trying to get these done through your doctor and if you dont want to take meds ask to speak to someone (thats what I'm trying but even for a counseller I've been waiting for three months with no sign of an appointment. For CBT/ Psychotherapy it could be years to see someone. I hope you get some support and the doctors take time to listen to you. It is sometimes worth forcing the matter. I had a b12 test in November (about 200) but by mid December felt really bad so asked for b12, they brought my blood test forward to early jan and at 160 started treatment. They do say not to take supplements while being monitored as it would mask your true scores . Good luck
If it is the injections, I'm not sure if this helps or if you are interested but I recently heard about a new oral prescription alternative to the injections called Eligen B12. I recently read that it works even if you don't have intrinsic factor (so even if you don't have normal gut absorption). Apparently it came out a month or two ago
Not new:
reuters.com/article/2009/10...
As mentioned to your other replies; I called the company to find out what you were referring to; you are right, the name Eligen B12 was out there before, but there was an Eligen B12 100 mcg, not 1000 that was put on the market with a company called Life Extension. The company then decided because it was going to go prescription medical food that it would only develop the Eligen B12 1000 mcg and it withdrew the 100 mcg from the market so there would be no confusion. The 1000 mcg is for clinically deficient patients instead of an injection. This one was just recently launched in March, which is why I was just hearing about it...
As far as I know clinically deficient patients need 2000mcg a day, but who knows it may well work for many. I fear the priority is cost cutting not patient's well being, but I may be wrong.
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