B12D with neuro symptoms - are there official Guidelines to inform GP to support increased injections

[JillMaryC]

I need backmup information for GP appt this Thursday. I understand there are guidelines regarding treating patients with neurological symptoms, rather than just blood serum level of B12. Would someone kindly direct me to an online link, which I could resent to support my request for load dose / regular injections. Many thanks...

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi JillMaryC

These are the Guidelines a doctor in the U.K. should refer to:

The British Society for Haematology guidelines say on the Diagnosis of B12 and Folate Deficiency "In the presence of discordance between the test result and strong clinical features of deficiency, treatment should not be delayed to avoid neurological impairment".

google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j...

Make a list of your symptoms and present this to your doctor and ask him to treat you according to your symptoms and (perhaps) even start you on loading doses "until there is no further improvement" according to the N.I.C.E guidelines below. Click on the link, then on "Scenario: Management" and scroll down to "Treatment for B12 deficiency"

google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j...

The "guidelines" don't spell out anything about "more frequent injections" but doctors should be "pragmatic" about it.

I am not a medically trained person but I've had Pernicious Anaemia (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 46 years.

I wish you well and bid you goodnight.

[JillMaryC in reply to clivealive]

Good morning Clivealive, thank you for your response and links. Will follow up information and prepare for GP as you suggest. Thank you for your guidance, much appreciated.

[fbirder]

The British National Formulary (BNF) is the prescribers bible. You GP will have a copy (electronic or paper). Here is what it says about B12 injections....

Pernicious anaemia and other macrocytic anaemias with neurological involvement

By intramuscular injection

For Adult

Initially 1 mg once daily on alternate days until no further improvement, then 1 mg every 2 months.

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

[JillMaryC in reply to fbirder]

Dear Fbirder, thank you for speedy reply to my question, with very helpful link. Appreciated. Cheers.