Injections

[ADELESAXBY]

Is it a good idea to self inject on a daily basis with b12 injections?

[Galixie]

Most people don't need to inject daily. A normal healthy person only loses a few micrograms of B12 each day so they only need to replace between 3 and 6 micrograms daily. Most people on injections tend to inject 1000 micrograms with each injection. The injection doesn't face any of the absorption obstacles that B12 in food goes through. So, as long as your body is able to recycle the B12 normally, 1 injection can last for awhile.

That said, some people do also experience problems with the recycling of the B12 in their body and they tend to need more frequent injections. Finding an injection frequency that keeps you feeling well is an individual thing.

It is important to keep in mind that B12 doesn't work alone. Folate and iron are also needed for blood production. Taking high doses of B12 can also lower potassium.

[fbirder]

Is it a good idea to inject daily? No.

For the vast majority of people it is unnecessary.

What makes you think it may be a good idea for you to do so?

[Ryaan]

No !

Even if you’re deficient and have the worst of symptoms the following method is used;

6 loading doses over 2 weeks(3 in 1 week....like Mon/wed/fri miss weekend and repeat).

Then 1 injection every other day until no further improvement in symptoms.(That is worst case).

Injection is a huge amount.

In my experience I used 1 per week for 12-16 weeks then reduced to 1 per month which wasn’t enough and realised symptoms start coming back in 3rd week so I inject every 2 weeks and there’s no return of symptoms. Depends on how bad and how long you’ve had symptoms, and to find your right dosage you need to monitor your symptoms and inject Before any return of symptoms.

Every day is not good idea.

The above works pretty fast.

Also need to take Folate while injecting and be in good range with Iron and Vit D.

What makes you want to inject every day ?

[deniseinmilden]

Yes, if that's what you need to get you well and keep you alive! Myself and others need 1.5mg daily and some people need 2ml which they split into twice daily injections. When starting out I was concerned about this but was reassured by people saying that they had done daily jabs for decades to good effect.

As Galaxie says if you do you will need to take other supplements. I need a broad spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement plus extra folate, potassium, magnesium and iron.

If you need it, you need it. If you don't then there's no sense in doing it and I'm sure nobody would choose to inject unnecessarily!! 😁

[deniseinmilden in reply to deniseinmilden]

For all of you who say no, just count yourselves as lucky and imagine what you would feel like if someone told you that you had to reduce the frequency of your jabs (whatever that is that suits you) until they weren't effective and you were permanently struggling with deficiency symptoms.

We are all individuals. If we weren't we'd all be OK on the Health Service regime.

[fbirder in reply to deniseinmilden]

This question is just like somebody asking-

Is it a good idea if I amputate my left leg?

The answer is 'No. Unless you have a good reason for doing so.'

Is it a good idea to inject B12 every day?

No. Unless you have a good reason for doing so.

[Howard39]

Hi deniseimmilden

Great reply- we are all different and so long as you take the vitamins you mentioned ( as I do) you can’t overdose on b12. Speaking as someone whose level was 0 it was a long hard climb even getting my level in range.

Yes the set protocol is different but I do not know personally of any one who is not struggling by the time the next injection is due- many with recurring symptoms. If people can manage they are really lucky. In my last job I spoke to circa 34 patients pday.

I don’t profess to be an expert but I do have first hand knowledge of how people struggle.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

ADELESAXBY - you need to go by symptoms and maintenance should be when the symptoms return. There are a few people who find that they do need injections daily but the vast majority don't. Yes, you can't overdose and yes B12 isn't that expensive but if you do need to inject daily then please make sure that you rotate the injection site.

[Fudgemanjim]

I would agree with gambit, ive only been self treating for a short time but i just follow it by my symptoms now,,, i travel to get mine from a dr abroad until i move next month (i just dont trust online purchase of medicine) so i do ration and push myself to go a tad longer than i would otherwise but yes, as symptoms worsen i do a jab and in majority of cases it relieves 95% of issues (usually around every 5 days or so) if it only relives a minor amount the following day i do another and its always helped vastly (not all my symptoms disappear entirley but vastly improve the worst of them).... oh and ensure suplements such as folate etc are being taken if you need them

In saying all that i must say mentally i was never better than during the last few days of loading doses and continuing to improve... but the pain and walking was my main bother to fix, foggyness is a hurdle ill tackle once ive moved... if it can be tackled... im still not quite fit to work really (getting there rhough) but god i hate to think how bad things would be if i was still on 1 every 2 months again... if you need it daily its far better to do it than the option of not doing it enough.... in my opinion anyway... that was hell