B12 injection, migraine

[expatkerry]

Hello all,

I've just had my first B12 shot and I've got the migraine to end all migraines, has anyone else had this side effect?

[Penni]

When I first starting having b12 injections almost 6 years ago now I would get headache's that felt like someone was splitting my head open from the inside. I found the only way too deal with them was too lie in the dark and too move my head as little as possible. Once my body got used too the injections (after my loading dose) they stopped. Hope you find this helpful and good luck.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

I sometimes get a sort headache - like an ice-cream headache - when I take methylcobalamin. When I started using methyl the headache was there for a couple of days.

I get menstral migraines. In general B12 has improved them but I do find that if I don't supplement B6 then I get horrendous gut spasms with the headache.

What are your folate levels like - my theory is that my body converts B6 to folate to enable me to process all the B12 leaving me B6 deficient which is what makes the gut part of the migraines so much worse - the headache is a bit worse as well but not on the same scale if I stop supplementing the B6.

However, please be careful with B6 - artificial forms are known to cause neurological problems when taken at doses greater than 100mg a day over a few months - in some cases the problems haven't reversed after supplementation stops.

[Frodo]

I already had weekly migraines (down from daily) and they have not gone away with B12 injections, apart from a two week spell when I thought I was cured. They actually began to last longer with a weird sensation of pressure. What has helped to a degree is taking an iron supplement every other day and a magnesium citrate supplement 2/3 times weekly. I tried B6 and methylfolate at first but that seemed to exacerbate them. I think people advise taking a general B vit supplement as well.

You don't say if you usually have migraine or if this is unusual for you? If you never usually have migraine it would be a good idea to ask your doctor about it.

[Catherine50]

I had a real bad headache it lasted a day so bad I had to ie down. 5 hours later it had gone and not had one since x

[expatkerry]

Thanks for your replies, in fact I never have headaches so I suppose it was a reaction to the shot. Today it's gone so at least it appears to be transient.

[Flatfred]

If you hit a vein...and this is poss even when muscle popping....you'll get the mother of all headaches.

[MariLiz]

I have suffered from migraine headaches since I was thirteen years old. The low B12 is fairly recent , but I can't say I've noticed any change in my migraines since the injections began. Generally they are less severe than before, although I do still get about thirty minutes of "aura" that precedes the headache. Hopefully, your's will get easier in time. MariLiz

[Hidden]

I know this reply is 3 years late but yes, after the injections, I did have mild migraines, among other symptoms that were not there before the shots. This went on for some 4 or 5 days. Then the migraines stopped.

[mazzamoo44]

Yes I had my second b12 Inj and I have had a migraine for 3 days ans cant get rid of it. Its awful

[expatkerry in reply to mazzamoo44]

Take heart, 4 years on from this post and I now self inject every day but with no migraines!

[mazzamoo44 in reply to expatkerry]

I'm only 2nd inj in. I have 3rd, 4th and 5th this week x