ew months ago, I woke up feeling like I was drugged. I was extremely dissociated, felt like I was on the verge of passing out, rapid heart rate, rapid reflexes, facial numbness, extremely agitated, numb tongue, facial burning, head pressure, panic attacks, paranoid, waking up with my head feeling weird (like water was cold water was being poured down my head to my neck, like my brain was empty/numb, heard to read/focus). I was taking 2-3x/day 1000mcg methyl b12 for 5-6 days before this. Before this I had very little anxiety if any, I had some social anxiety.
I couldn't take it anymore so I went to the ER, the doctor thought it was just a B12 defiency causing this so he injected me with B12. Felt the same the first day, couldn't sleep at all the 2nd, so I went back to the ER. I had the same doctor he injected me with another b12 shot and tried to have me mentally evaluated. I was losing my mind for about a week and then it somewhat calmed down. Few weeks went by I was OK, but by no means back to normal. Facial burning/agitation/weird head sensations came back, so I went in for another b12 shot. All symptoms were really bad + head pressure for a week and then I was normalish for a bit. I started having the agitation again, so I went in for another shot. I've gotten evaluated by a psychiatrist, he seems to think I don't have any anxiety issues. This time It didn't really help much with the agitation. Less than 2 weeks later I had this weird episode - like I was going into shock or something. You know that feeling when someone jumps out and scares you? That x 100, my body got really jittery/vibrating, it got really quiet and then my ears started ringing, lost my senses, my head felt really weird, felt jolted, and my legs were really weak. I was about to call an ambulance. It slightly happened the day before too. I'm not sure if it was just a panic attack or something like a partial seizure. It was the worse feeling I've ever had. I've been really panicky the last couple of days, feeling like i'm gonna pass out, heart sinking feeling/chest tightness, and my neck is really stiff. I can't seem to calm the feeling down. What do you guys think I should do? I have access to a few benzos, should I take one of those?
All this started when you started taking B12. So it seems likely that it was caused by taking B12. Don’t take a trank, stop taking the B12 and see what happens.
Why were you taking B12 in the first place, and why such a high dose?
B12 deficiency is a neuro/psychiatric disease and it sounds as though you may have become severely deficient to have these symptoms.....
Although, B12 def. symptoms are often aggravated before they start to improve, I'm just wondering if part of the problem is low potassium levels. Potassium is particularly needed for muscles and nerves (could be responsible for rapid heart beat, etc.) and more is required when injecting B12.
High amounts are found in avocados, bananas, most fruit and veg. yoghurt and some bottled mineral waters. Probably best not to take as a supplement as you can overdose.
"During the early treatment of severe vitamin B12 deficiency, patients can develop significant hypokalemia because potassium is required for new hematopoietic cell production."
I am sorry you have been experiencing these symptoms :(. I know that things can get worse before better and I am not an expert and apologise for all the questions but could it be that methyl B12 does not suit you? Have you tried hydroxo or cyno forms of B12?
It does however sound like a lot of B12 3x1000mg a day? Is this sublingually?
When were you diagnosed with a deficiency and were shots given initially?
Have you also had all your other B vitamins checked? They could also be low causing you problems so a B complex may help if so.
Have you also been referred to a neurologist regarding your deficiency symptoms?
These sound like my symptoms... and they are deficiency related. I think mine are caused by swelling / nerve damage in my neck and spinal chord. Do you have inflammation at the base of your skull? If you push on it does it cause your symptoms to flare? I don't have all the answers yet.... neurologist appointment next week, but I think my b12 deficiency caused myelin sheath damage and/or inflammation, which is causing the symptoms you described. panic, pressure, egg cracking on the head feeling (this went away quickly with b12), weakness, tremors. I've been icing my neck and shoulders 3 or 4x a day, and that has brought a lot of relief, along with high doses of b12. I'm 4 months in and feeling a lot better, but the swelling is still there. I'm hoping for full healing as I think I caught it soon enough. I would not stop the b12 if I were you, but see a neurologist if you can. hth
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