New to the forum. Can you overdose on B12?

[bulgariansmurf]

Hi everyone. Just to introduce myself. I am from Bulgaria, 31 years old. Had a reading of 117 of B12 but no anemia. Doc started me on Hydroxocobalamin 1000mcg injections. 10 amps every other day and suppose to have 1 injection every month. After the loading phase the result came back at >1476. So fast forward 3 weeks later with no injection and all my symptoms returned - vertigo, weakness and panic attacks. What should I do? Do some of you need injections more frequently than 1 month? Can I overdose on B12 if injecting more often than 1 month?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

serum B12 isn't a good way of managing a B12 absorption problem and you really do need to go by symptoms - looks like you need your maintenance doses at least 3 weekly and not 4 weekly ... and actually the serum B12 looks low for just after loading shots.

There is no known toxicity from B12, with the result that hydroxocobalamin is the preferred treatment for cyanide poisoning - using doses that are 5000 x the amount that you are being given in a B12 injection - administered intravenously over 15 minutes (with a second dose 30 min later if needed. The risk from this treatment is hypertension due to the amount of fluid that needs to be injected in to your veins in this process.

[wedgewood]

Read the Stichting B12 Tekort report ( a Dutch research paper ) that you can find on the “Pinned Posts “ on the right of this forum column — No, you cannot overdose on 12 . We all need different amounts of B12 . I need an injection every week . Have been injecting myself for the last 3 years .

It sounds as though the doctors in Bulgaria have as little knowledge of B12 deficiency as the doctors in U.K. They should know that after treatment has started, testing for B12 is a needless waste of time. You must have enough injections to keep your symptoms away THAT IS SO IMPORTANT .My doctor would not do that for me , so I have to resort to self -injecting . In U.K. B12 ampoules can only be obtained on prescription , so I have to get my ampoules from German online pharmacies( no prescription required in Germany ) May be you will need to self-inject if your doctor will not inject you .It is important to keep the horrible symptoms away , or you could get irreversible damage of some form .

Also bear in mind that you should also take a supplement of Vitamin B9 , known as folic acid in the tablet form or folate when found in vegetables and fruit . A modest tablet of 400 mcg would be good -B9 acts together with B12 Best wishes .

[bulgariansmurf]

Thanks a lot everyone.

Yes, I take folic acid 800mcg a day. Also take 5000IU D3.