Does B12 interact with any other Medications?

[Alesia]

Hi all just wondering if anyone knows of any medications that B12 Hydroxo injections would interact with? My Aunt has just been diagnosed with Dementia/Parkinsons and Orthostatic Hypotension and knowing that all of these are common mis-diagnoses of B12 deficiency we wanted to try her on B12 injections to see if it helps, there is also good evidence to suggest that B12 can slow down the process of Dementia so either way we feel it can do no harm to try but she is worried about having B12 injections in case they interfere with her other medications, I have assured her it probably wouldn't but I'm not totally sure about that, so if any of you lovely knowledgeable people know of any I would be most grateful for any info x

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Alesia I'm not medically trained but personally I would have thought that as B12 is a "natural" vitamin it's more likely that the medications your dear Aunt is on are having a more adverse effect of her B12 levels than would be the case the other way round.

You should see the list of pills and potions I'm on - my pharmacy is thinking of opening a branch counter in my home to save me travelling

The article below makes interesting reading

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

[Alesia in reply to clivealive]

Thank you so much clivealive! I shall read that article today

[Polaris]

I'm not qualified to answer your question Alesia but can only say that it's usually the other way round - many medications deplete B12, e.g. antibiotics, Metformin, medications to treat gastric problems, gout, etc.

I hope the link below helps get your aunt B12 treatment - I wish our family had found it earlier. Reading it made me wonder why we had to fight so hard for relative to obtain B12 testing and early treatment for neurological symptoms (misdiagnosed as vascular dementia) when this information was already out there.....

According to these extracts from the link, B12 deficiency should have been considered and tested for earlier, especially with a history of years of vegan/vegetarianism and ME, yet our letters and pleas to the surgery with guidelines and information on B12 def. diagnosis and treatment, were ignored and obstructed time after time.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ar...

"Evaluating cognitive dysfunction requires involvement of family or other independent observers (not just the patient). "

"We attempt to define and quantify the cognitive impairment, identify any potentially reversible conditions and address comorbidities, such as vascular risk factors in hopes of preventing progression. Much of our effort is oriented towards education of patients and their families".

"Lab testing B12 levels - Methylmalonic acid/homocysteine levels (confirm vitamin B12 deficiency). Potentially reversible syndromes:

- Depression

- Medication induced

- Metabolic derangements

- Vitamin B12 deficiency

- Thyroid disorders

- Thiamine deficiency

- Chronic disease (e.g., renal failure, hepatic failure, malignancy)"

"Laboratory testing should be considered to identify potentially reversible conditions that may mimic dementia. Early identification and aggressive management of such disorders may improve a patient’s thinking and daily function."

Metabolic derangements

Vitamin B12 deficiency The classic dementia work-up includes a vitamin B12 assay. Serum folate should also be measured. An estimated 10–15% of individuals over 60 years of age may be deficient [57]. Hematologic abnormalities may not occur with vitamin B12 deficiency, even with nervous system involvement [58]. In deficient states, vitamin B12 supplementation should improve mentation and prevent the disability associated with progressive myelopathy and peripheral neuropathy. Like depression, vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in AD, although it is unclear why [59]. Physicians need to monitor mental status in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency whose clinical profile is otherwise consistent with AD. If cognitive abnormalities progress even after vitamin B12 levels normalize, a diagnosis of both conditions can be made."

.........

Good luck and well done for helping your aunt 💐

[greenbexy in reply to Polaris]

Yes, I wish that I had even known about B12 deficiency when my mother in law was diagnosed with dementia eight years ago. Even if it wasn't only B12d, she had a poor appetite (even with me providing most meals) I wish I had known to ask about testing it. Sad really that you had to fight for testing, it should be automatically done and injections given before any diagnosis dementia is given, in my opinion. The money saved in care should be incentive enough to rule it out!

[Polaris in reply to greenbexy]

💐 for you too GreenBexy for caring for your mother in law.

It's so hard to see the person you love go downhill while the medics, most of whom are at least 17 years behind research, are unwilling to look deeper and arrogantly dismiss valid research.

As you say, you'd think the money saved on care would be incentive to at least try it when the consequences are so disastrous for everybody involved.

[Alesia in reply to Polaris]

Thank you Polaris for this detailed response very helpful! Being B12 deficient myself I have learned so much and like me my Aunt's serum B12 was in the normal range, mine was 358 and I had so many symptoms which after B12 injections have all but gone! So I'm ignoring her blood test result because quite frankly it means nothing and am trying to persuade her to try the B12 injections, she has such a very poor appetite she can't possibly be getting anywhere near all the vitamins she needs and her dementia seemed to take hold within a year but she had lots of other symptoms like the orthostatic hypotension for some time... My view is it can do no harm to try

[Polaris in reply to Alesia]

I absolutely agree Alesia....

Prof. David Smith agrees levels should be raised. He has lectured at the PAS Conference and carried out studies into dementia:

"In the elderly, it (B12def.) can cause dementia, says David Smith, Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology at Oxford University.

‘B12 deficiency is more common after the age of 60 and, once levels fall below 500 pg/ml (picograms per millilitre — the normal range being 500 to 1,000), the brain starts to deteriorate at twice the usual rate, making memory loss six times more likely,’ he says".

"According to Dr. John Dommisse, an expert in B12 deficiency, the acceptance of high levels as normal in Japan, and the willingness to readily treat psychiatric symptoms with B12 explains the low rates of Alzheimer’s dementia in that country–as well as the reason for the very high rates of Alzheimer’s in the US.20"

[Alesia in reply to Polaris]

Thanks Polaris this is very interesting! Do you have any links to this info so I can have a read please? I'm always keen to arm myself with as much info as possible

[Polaris in reply to Alesia]

Here are some Elisha. I'm passionate about this subject but, having written to MPs, and various organisations, have become quite despondent at the lack of response. The second link gives an idea of why such a simple and cheap solution is ignored.......

pharm.ox.ac.uk/team/a-david...

and an interesting article that gives lots of references to follow up:

damianvit.sk/upload/stuff/f...

"Little research has been published about B12 therapy for AD and other neurological diseases, Dommisse writes, because of the "...heavy pharmaceutical industry sponsorship of research and teaching in medical schools.

Career-track academicians have realised that, if they want to fulfill their ambitions, they have to eschew nutritional research for that of drugs."3 The volume of published research on drugs to fight Alzheimer's disease is overwhelming. To continue their careers, the authors of these studies have a powerful financial incentive to report positive results, whether truthful or not. Yet, the best that Alzheimer's drugs can do is to conceal the symptoms for a while. The underlying cause--notably, deficiency of vitamin B12--continues to worsen unabated"

[Alesia in reply to Polaris]

Thank you muchly I will have a read! I feel so lucky compared to many people on here, i went to my GP today, I had my last b12 jab 7 weeks ago but am feeling unwell again and was not due another for 5 weeks, she gave me a shot there & then and said I can have 8 weekly or sooner if I need them ... If only all GP's were like her!

[greenbexy]

I wish I was as knowledgeable as you when my MIL got diagnosed with dementia. It's fantastic that you are helping her and looking at other possibilities. Good luck x

[fbirder]

The BNF (British National Formulary) lists no interactions with other drugs...

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

[Alesia]

Thank you everyone you're all so very kind x

[Pinkfawn209]

I self inject 1000 mcg every other week. I have had no warnings not to mix any other medications with my b12 shot. Although I have been warned not to use the Cyanocobalamin if I am a smoker. I had a friend who used hydroxocobalamin because she did smoke she had no ill effects.

Fortunately I don’t have that vice and in the USA Cyanocobalamin is the go to choice with Doctors.

My little brother has MS and PA And none of his medications have contradictions with b12.

I buy my own and do not rely on doctors now since my insurance only pays for a shot of b12 for PA every two months. (Ridiculous)

I try to when I can afford it to buy the other forms of B12 Because they are more sound and not man-made as cyanocobalamin is.

I really suggest though that you do talk to her doctor because of her age. Her doctor or neuropath.

I am just sharing my experience with you I am not sure that your mother would be safe with any of it. I got the correct dosage from my doctor before I started injecting at home. I choose the type syringes I use the gauge size and length. I do both intramuscular injections and skin popping… In the muscles I do it in my thigh and skin popping I do it in my belly.

I wish the best luck to all of you. By the way I have been injecting for years now and I am having signs of cognitive issues even with the injections just a sidenote

.

[Polaris in reply to Pinkfawn209]

Have you tried injecting more frequently Pink Fawn ? Some of us on the forum find more frequent and even injecting every day gives better results.

After a conversation with energy provider's complaints ombudswoman yesterday, I was more euphoric about her disbelief at my age than the fact that they'd reduced bill by £100 ! Will use it to buy more B12 as, thanks to injecting every day, I wouldn't have been able to even begin to sort this out eighteen months ago, let alone follow and dispute the figures involved.....

[Mozza127]

Good question.. What about blood pressure tablets..