Frequency of Jabs question

[Wowo23]

Hi all. I was just wondering why ppl get loading shots, then wait 1-3 Months before another shot? That seems to be the norm I'm seeing. I was wondering why I need 2 weekly shots and even been thinking about adding another. By the second night, my symptoms come back. Is it just what the docs allow and they are suffering or does that work for them? Hope you don't mind. I'm just curious

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Wowo23

We have several years "store" of B12 in our liver but if for whatever reason we cease to replenish that store from our daily diet then we become deficient and like a run down battery we need to "re-charge" it. Hence the loading dose "boost" of "every other day until there is no further improvement" (of neurological symptoms) at the start of treatment.

If the deficiency is ongoing the maintenance shots in the U.K. are either two or three months to keep the liver "topped up" because here hydroxocobamalin is used because its effectiveness is "supposed" to be "longer lasting" lasting than the cyanocobamalin that is used in the U.S. and maintenance injections using that will be every four weeks.

It is not uncommon for some symptoms to appear to get worse before they get better once the B12 you are having injected starts repairing the damage done to your nervous system caused by the deficiency. There is no set time scale as we are all different.

I am not a medically trained person but I've had P.A. (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 45 years.

I wish you well

.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

The idea of loading shots is to fill up your system quickly and give enough to start healing which. Reality is that most of the B12 in the shots will be lost in urine - generally 1/2 goes in the first 24-48 hours - so you are left with 1/2 - you then lose about 1/2 of this in the next 34-48 hours leaving you with 1/4 - lose half in the next 24-48 hours leaving you with 1/8 etc ...

The theory is that 1(-3) month later is the point at which you are getting deficient again and so need another injection of B12. However, we all know it doesn't quite work that way, a) because the theory is based on the mythical average person but b) because your body may react to the raised levels in serum in a way that means that it isn't getting through to your cells when it falls below a certain level that may be much higher than the top of the normal range.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Link to UK blog posts about frequency of injections.

b12deficiency.info/blog/201...

b12deficiency.info/blog/201...

martynhooper.com/2016/08/08...

In UK, most people with B12 deficiency are rationed to 4 B12 injections a year even though those with neuro symptoms should have at least 6 a year and a GP has the right to use their professional judgement to give more.

Animals in need of B12 are sometimes given weekly injections.

b12deficiency.info/blog/201...

Details of UK B12 treatment can be found in

"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Martyn Hooper is the chair of PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society). Book is up to date with UK b12 guidelines.

BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines

b-s-h.org.uk/guidelines/gui...

BNF

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/hydrox...

I am not medically trained.

[Galadriel1]

Doesn't work for lots but Dr's often just think they are being treated for B12 so can't be that and diagnose various other conditions such as fibro, ME, CFS and treat with the usual painkillers, anti-depressants, pills to sleep and stop restless leg syndrome etc. etc. All of the symptoms could be down to B12d but that isn't profitable for the bigpharma (or the Dr's bonus scheme from the pharmaceuticals) ...