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B12- weight gain

Fiona1039 profile image
26 Replies

Hi am wondering if anyone else has noticed a big weight gain after starting in b12 shots!! I have been having monthly shots since December and have gained weight everywhere on my body my stomach, hips and even my legs feel bloated so much so that I am up a dress size! Am not conscious of eating more than normal either! 

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Fiona1039
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26 Replies
Allyson1 profile image
Allyson1

It's hard to say...when I was initially put on methylcobalamin and methylfolate I swelled up like a balloon. Everything just felt so big. I had a ton of horrendous side effects as well. My doctor at the time said it was building up in my blood because here was some blocked pathway somewhere...no idea about that though, I think the dose was too high.

Oh no, please don't say that. I'm hoping to start injections soon!

morgan45 profile image
morgan45

I must admit I don't find it as easy to lose weight now but I am also menopausal 

Fiona1039 profile image
Fiona1039

Have read a few things that say that rapid weight gain can be a side effect ( I almost feel blown up ) . Just wondered if anyone else felt this too 

ndodge profile image
ndodge

I am on methyl B12 and Cyano before that. It's been about a year and a half total and I have not gained weight. In fact, because now that I have the energy to swim b/c of the B12, I might gave lost a bit of  weight or just gotten in better shape. I did have to increase from once a week to twice a week as the exercise really used up the B12. 

Marz profile image
Marz

Oh dear - I had not made the connection - and had not known it was a side effect.  Maybe that explains why hubby loses and I do not - when eating the same foods ....

ndodge profile image
ndodge

Had to increase the injections, meant to say! :-)

Marianne1 profile image
Marianne1

I have read about this and experienced it too! It seems most people can put on about a stone in a short space of time, it seems quite common

in reply toMarianne1

Were you able to lose the weight after finishing the treatment?

Frodo profile image
Frodo

I'd already begun to put on weight (first time in my life) before the B12, and have continued. I would have thought it would encourage weight loss due to having more energy.

JanD236 profile image
JanD236

No I haven't put on weight. I feel healthier and more active. I'm also more conscious of what I eat as I make sure I have plenty of folate and potassium in my diet so I make definite decisions to eat good food. 

19191919 profile image
19191919

Hi. I put on weight as I was eating more and my sense of taste returned. I feel you should see your GP in case anything else is going on. The anameia I had with the b12 deficiency caused angina which went away after i got treatment.  the neuorological   problems stayed

Secondchance profile image
Secondchance

I lost weight. Perhaps you should get your thyroid checked ?

Agree with secondchance it could be hypothyroidism which is quite common alongside PA. Personally I only Put on weight because I could eat. Had no appetite and nocturnal bouts of diarrhoea before injections.

fbirder profile image
fbirder

I lost quite a bit of weight, but I put that down to the untreated gastric problems. I felt so uncomfortable that my appetite all but disappeared. Since I've been treating the achlorhydria I've started eating again and put some weight back on, so I've had to consciously restrict myself.

grauntieannie profile image
grauntieannie

Agree with the others that you should get thyroid checked out.  I have both and it was only when thyroid medication came close to what was needed that the weight came off.  Worth a shot!

catherinejordan profile image
catherinejordan

I haven't  gained weight. Sometimes I have no appitte  and have to force myself to eat

Bevvy32 profile image
Bevvy32

They advertise B12 for Wright loss. Private you pay a fortune for it. But same thing.

Lily73 profile image
Lily73

B12 deficiency often causes weight loss, and then you put the weight back on once you are no longer deficient (i.e. having injections).  Is it possible that you are regaining lost weight due to having been ill?

Laura5 profile image
Laura5

I lost weight when I started the injections.

Wadesdc profile image
Wadesdc

I gained weight from it swelling in my legs and ankles, etc. I believe it comes from taking too much.

Wadesdc profile image
Wadesdc

I gained weight and swelling in my legs and ankles and I developed bruises as well. I believe it comes from taking too much Methylcabalamin

natyyy profile image
natyyy in reply toWadesdc

Hi! could you lose the weight once you were done with the injections? I´ve gained A LOT of weight when i started with the shots. Now it´s been 2 month off. I managed to los maybe 5 punds, but for sure i need to lose an other 15 or so, but the scale is not moving...

Fiona1039 profile image
Fiona1039

Just an update I have definitely got a link between my weight and the injections each time I have my injection within 1 to 11/2 weeks I seem to retain fluid everywhere ( so bad this month that I could not get my rings on )! When I was going to slimming works I would also get a gain around that time also! Am now 5 weeks post injection and fingers etc are starting to go down but I find am just starting to deflate as I call it and then I have to go again! Think I am going to speak with my doctor about it as ever since starting I have gained over a stone, yes my energy levels are up etc but if it is a sign of levels being to high then maybe I don’t need it as often!! Has anybody else got any experience of this?

daslax profile image
daslax

I see this is a bit old of a thread but I found it through a google search. I’ve been having this issue for a little over a year. I gained 10 pounds almost immediately when starting injections but my doctor didn’t think it could be the injections. In that time, I got pregnant and continued injections throughout pregnancy. My youngest is now 6 months and I’ve only lost 15 pounds of pregnancy weight.

I’m basically stuck with that extra 10 pounds. Now I even feel like I’m gaining a bit more. I’m not finding increased energy from the injections but my labs show I’m very deficient in b-12 & folate so I’m really confused!

Did anything change for you?

SheridanLee profile image
SheridanLee

I started injections of b12 about 6 months ago and I have gained weight. I didn’t realize that I would gain weight. I’m miserable and it seems harder to lose the weight. Any suggestions??

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