Side effects from injections?

I was wondering if anyone could share if they've experienced side effects from their injections? I'm in the USA so my treatment involved "loading doses" which were once a week for a month, then were supposed to be every month thereafter. I experienced a significant relapse 2 weeks into switching to monthly. Luckily, my GP has been willing to keep me on a weekly dose, but if I try to stretch it out beyond that, I start getting neuro symptoms again. So far I've had 10 weekly doses, following my "loading doses."

My issue is the side effects that I experience from the injections which include pretty intense headaches, which come on with the injection and go on for several days after. I'm currently taking 1000 mcg/ml of hydroxocobalamin.

I'm also one of those super-sensitive types, so I wanted to see if anyone else had experienced this, and if it eventually improved, or you went a different route for B12 treatment. So far all of my other labs (folate, magnesium, potassium, D) have been normal. I will be seeing a new MD next month who also practices functional medicine.

Thanks in advance to anyone who shares!

[Nackapan]

Yes I used to have a headache for 1-2 days every injection. I'm also sensitive to everything it seems.

I've been on 2 weekly since last April. Started treatment Nov. 2018 I'm still not well but my injection doesn't often bring on a headache any more and if it does not a severe one. .sometimes I feel positive results with fatigue sometimes I get tinnitus more after it. Sometimes seemingly nothing. When I tried 3 weeks I got very weak 3-4 days before so went back to 2 weekly. Some symptoms have gone and only revisit occasionally.

Just the occasional few b12 spots on my neck mainly.

I'm on hydrox too. I had a more intensive start. Every other day then weekly then 2 weekly .

In the UK the loadi g dises ate 6 over 2 weeks then e very 2-3 months.

If neurological symptoms every other day until no further Improvement. Often reviewed after a few weeks.

Alot of people need more than 2-3 monthly

This is not unusual . Go by your symptoms as you are

[Hidden in reply to Nackapan]

I often notice tinnitus after injecting as well. Since I am only doing once a week, it's usually quieted down again before my next shot. How long did it take for the headaches to resolve for you? It actually just recently started happening for me with the last 3 injections. hopefully it resolves soon.

It's good to hear that other side effects have resolved for you. I hope you get to feeling better soon!

[Nackapan in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou. It took several months for the b12 injection not to trigger a headache

I'm still plagued with migraine s ans chronic tension and ? Vestibukar ones. I've not suffered with migraines before b12 deficiency. Just the odd hormonal one.

Hope they resolve soon for you

[Statesideheather]

I've never noticed headaches with injections. I did notice an overall awful feeling with methylcobalamin injections. I tried hydroxocobalamin injections for a while and felt worse as time went on. Now I've been using only cyanocobalamin injections and haven't had the same issues. I've felt better and better on these.I

If you can, it might be worth trying a different B12 type!

[Hidden in reply to Statesideheather]

Thanks for sharing your experience Heather! I started on cyano and switched to hyroxo....which seemed to have less of a anxiety side effect. I'm afraid to try methyl because so many people have side effects from it, and I'm very sensitive! I do still have some cyano left, maybe I will give that a try next week and see if it's different.

How often do you inject?

[Statesideheather in reply to Hidden]

I inject every other day. I worked up to this often. I was supplementing oral b12 often and noticing a peak and then let down after injections when they were monthly, then twice monthly, then weekly, etc. . I just slowly worked up to every other day in an effort to not have symptoms return before next injection. I've been at this frequency probably...9 months. Sometimes I will go an extra day or two. I have felt the best doing it this way. I'm no longer chasing symptoms...instead I feel like I'm working to heal prior damage. ❤

[MoKayD]

When I started receiving B12 shots I would sometimes get a headache. I discovered taking a fish oil capsule prior to receiving my shot seemed to keep the headache at bay. Another side effect was trouble getting to sleep the first night to two receiving a shot.

[Hidden in reply to MoKayD]

Interesting about the fish oil, I'll give that a try!

[MoKayD in reply to Hidden]

The headache I got from B12 shots felt like a vise was clamped on my head, it was unlike any headache I normally have.

[Hidden in reply to MoKayD]

Same here! I actually had a visual migraine from one injection as well, which I've never had in my life! I'm not usually a person who suffers from headaches.

[MoKayD in reply to Hidden]

If it's any comfort to you, I haven't been getting the headaches lately. I've been getting B12 shots for two years and I still seem to be recovering. Recently I've been able to feel heat in my finger tips. I hadn't even realized I'd lost that sensation.

[Hidden in reply to MoKayD]

Wow, it's amazing how long recovery can take, isn't it? And unfortunately, so few doctors are informed and able to give you that information. Can I ask what your dosage is? I'm on weekly, and have been for 3 months. I can't seem to spread my dosages out, or the neuro symptoms all come back!

[MoKayD in reply to Hidden]

After my loading doses my doctor prescribed monthly shots for the rest of my life. I found that I started feeling symptoms returning before the month was out so I asked my doctor if I could get shots every three weeks. He said I could have them as often as I liked. I normally get a shot every three weeks or so. The first year of treatment was very up and down. I feel like I've reached a stable place now.

[LadyNZ]

I tried hydroxycobalamin injections for 3 years and in the end came to the conclusion that they just didn't work for me. I was taking 2 injections a day. I also took 5 mg of folic acid daily plus a vitamin B complex as is recommended if you're on daily injections.

Just before Christmas 2019, I switched to transdermal adenosyl/methylcobalamin and at last I have found what works for me. I still take the 5 mg of folic acid daily and make sure I am getting B vitamins in supplement form also.

Avoid high dose vitamin B6 as you will most likely end up with B6 toxicity.

[Hidden in reply to LadyNZ]

Just wondering, were you having neurological symptoms?