Side effect of B12 injections.

[bobbobbing]

I have recently been diagnosed with B12 deficiency and have started a course of B12 injections. I have various cardiac problems too incl raised blood pressure for which I am taking medication. I also have Type 2 diabetes for which I take Metformin plus hiatus hernia which is controlled by Omeprazole. After the second B12 injection I started to feel symptoms akin to angina e.g. tight chest, 'heavy' left arm. I took my blood pressure and discovered that my heart rate was 125 bpm. My blood pressure was also raised at approx 146/97. I went to my GP who referred me to my local A&E dept where various tests were done.

The result was that I was found to have a urinary infection but the doctor also told me that B12 injections are listed as causing increased heart rate. I am now on anti biotics to treat the urinary infection but in view of the B12 side effect should I discontinue the course of injections (due to have four more as part of the loading programme)? Should I also reduce or stop the Metformin and Omeprazole?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

metformin and omeprazole only affect the absorption of B12 from diet - if you are having injections they won't be a problem (in fact there was one study with metformin that implied it might help with metabolising B12 at cell level).

if you had macrocytic anaemia then your GP should really have kept an eye on your potassium levels when you started taking B12 as it can become depleted at that point.

Not taking the B12 isn't really an option - its essential to a number of systems in your body - lack of it is a killer and could lead to permanent nerve damage.

The raising of blood pressure should be a temporary effect so should decrease after a while.

[bobbobbing in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks Gambit62 - the main concern I have is the elevated heart rate which apparently is caused by B12 injections. Not only is it uncomfortable I keep wondering if it's going to turn into a full scale angina attack and ultimately a heart attack! I certainly get the point about B12 and the need to boost my levels as you say there is no alternative option. Thanks for the advice.

[rosyG in reply to bobbobbing]

I have had Vic B12 for many years. I have atrial fibrillation and my resting heart rate is inn the 40s so I would be very surprised if Vic B12 was causing the increase in heart rate. It's worth getting a cardiology opinion if the rate continues to be high but the urinary infection may well have caused the high rate

[KathyN]

Hi, I am an individual case and probably this is different for you but maybe its worth you hearing my experience and maybe be a bit cautious. I too had had cardiac problems in the past. I was found to have a very low b12 And was started on injections. After the second injection I started to have a very fast heartbeat (125) and a feeling of heaviness in my chest but this eventually wore off and I went on with the third injection. I cannot tell you how dreadful I felt after this, really fast heartbeat the heaviness back in my chest and arms but also in my legs, my bp was sky high and I had a temperature. These symptoms and others went on for weeks going into months and now a year later I am much improved but not completely well and my legs still feel heavy and I have much less energy than before. I have seen haematologists and neurologists who after many tests agree that I had a massive auto immune reaction to the injections. I really doubt that this is a common reaction but I really really wish I had not had that third injection. I cope now by having tiny amounts of b12 in children's multivits ( half a tablet) any more and I start symptoms again and having lots of dairy which seems to have a better effect on my b12 than anything else, it remains pretty low of course. Best of luck.

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to KathyN]

Hi KathyN ...interested to hear more about the autoimmune reaction to B12...so you have any information that you could PM to me?

Thanks...and sorry for interrupting your thread bobbobbing 🙃😄👍

[bobbobbing]

Thanks Kathy - that's really helpful. I'm glad I didn't have that third injection! I'll now have to prepare for a serious conversation with my GP. Thanks again and good luck. Bobbobbing.