B12 deficiency

[L_t_jewels]

I have B12 deficiency, injections 12 weekly. By week 8 I'm exhausted, shirt tempered and tearful. My GP says I can't gave thus more regularly. What can I do to stop feeling so rough and lo gong for my next injection?,

[LowB12]

Try oral spray as a top up, it may help a bit, failing that consider self injecting?

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi L_t_jewels O dear O dear O Dear,

Get your doctor to look up the latest B.N.F guidelines on treatment of B12 deficiency as per the link below:

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

Indications and dose

For HYDROXOCOBALAMIN

Prophylaxis of macrocytic anaemias associated with vitamin B12 deficiency

By intramuscular injection

For Adult

1 mg every 2–3 months.

Pernicious anaemia and other macrocytic anaemias without neurological involvement

By intramuscular injection

For Adult

Initially 1 mg 3 times a week for 2 weeks, then 1 mg every 2–3 months.

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.

Whichever category you fall under your doctor can give you injections every eight weeks.

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

I wish you well.

[JoannePA]

You could get an injection top up from health clubs like reviv for about £30 or self inject which is cheaper and you can order the b12 from proper chemists in Germany. Take care

[smish]

Sorry to hear that. clivealive is right. The BNF guidelines only changed last October so you can update your doctor by sharing the information Clive has posted - including the link so that they can verify the information.

This news item on the the Pernicious Anaemia Society website explains: pernicious-anaemia-society.....

Good luck!

[MariLiz]

I used an oral spray ( available from health food shops), until I was able to persuade my GP to trial more frequent injections.

It took some time to get her to agree to more frequent injections, but by asking for it to be on a trial basis, I was able to list the symptoms and improvements that occurred during the trial. Like you, after eight weeks my ‘battery ‘felt as though it was running down. The important thing was to write every symptom down, and every improvement during the trial period.

Maybe your GP would agree to this?

[akanari]

I was in a similar situation. I was diagnosed with PA. 3 weeks after my last injection all my symptoms returned and my doctor was not helpful. After a kind suggestion from this site, I tried a sublingual B12. I now take Jarrow methylB12 1000mcg with 400 mcg methyl folate daily which I patiently dissolve under my tongue each morning. I order it from Amazon. I am in the US but it is also available on Amazon UK. (I am not advertising just trying to give practical help. I have very mixed feelings about Amazon.) Anyway my symptoms have not returned and I have not needed to be dependent on my doctor. I think it is worth trying. It is crucial to educate doctors but it is hard to take on a crusade when you are very ill.