I joined a group on FB during the pandemic....I was quite shocked by how many people were self injecting and how frequently. A couple of the posts were about toxicity - I know everyone is different, but how frequent are B12 shots normally done after the loading doses?
Needless to say, I was also alarmed by how many people have been refused their B12 jabs during the pandemic, especially if they have PA. I have mine every 12 weeks with no problems.
Has anyone been self injecting through choice or been advised to and ever come across the toxicity diagnosis through blood tests or refused?
Kind regards
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JOLLYDOLLY
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After loadind doses , one injection every 3 months is the usual . Or every 2 months .For many people this isn’t sufficient . I for instant need an injection evety week . Many doctors say that too much is toxic , but they can’t tell you how much , because it’s not true ! It’s not known why some P. A. patients need more than others . Length of deficiency ? Genetic reasons ? It’s not known .
There are scientific papers showing that no amount of B12 is toxic . I self inject because my doctor would not allow more than the 3 monthly injection, and I needed to function properly . It’s easy and cheap . If you wish to know how , I’ll send you the information.
The Facebook groups are not well thought of on this forum . You are best off here . But they were right - you cannot overdose on B12 . Best wishes .
There is no known toxicity from B12. The preferred treatment for cyanide poisoning (because of its lack of toxicity) is 5g of hydroxyB12 intravenously over 15 minutes with a follow up dose 30 minutes later, The risk factor with this treatment is hypertension from the introduction of so much fluid. 5g is 5000x the amount in a B12 shot.
There is a risk of functional B12 deficiency if serum B12 levels are high. This seems to be down to some reaction that affects the efficiency with which B12 passes from blood to cells, leaving the cells without enough b12 to do everything that they need to do. This is a known symptom of some conditions (high serum B12 with symptoms of B12 deficiency) such as liver and kidney problems which may result in high serum B12 in the early stages. As it is to do with the efficiency of transfer ithe easiest way of treating it is to raise levels further to ensure enough B12 is getting through to cells (particularly as the reaction also seems to slow down processes normally in place to remove excess B12 from the blood). It is a problem (and one that will manifest in those people who are susceptible as the result of B12 injections but I wouldn't characterise it as toxicity.
A very few people can be allergic to B12 so first injections should always be done under medical supervision .
Any injection carries small risks of contamination so some basic hygeine precautions are necessary.
no type is better than any other - some people do find that particular types suit them better than others but no clear reasons.
The only reason for avoiding a specific type is if you have leber's - a rare genetic condition that affects males more than females and means that the individual concerned has a greater degree of susceptibility to the cyanide molecule which could result in blindness. The cyanide in cyanocobalamin is very tightly bound to the cobalamin element and even with injections the amounts are so small it doesn't get into the toxic range.
Whichever group you look at you will find lots of people injecting frequently because lots of us HAVE to!
There are some people who have been injecting daily, to good effect for decades. There are a few who need to inject twice a day, while at the other end of the spectrum there are a few lucky ones like you who manage OK on two or three monthly top-ups.
Despite various medics making suggestions of "toxicity" there is no evidence, either scientific or anecdotal, to support this, even though we keep asking them to back up their claims. It seems such ideas are "all in their heads"!
I need one and a half mgs daily and, even after 5 years, still start to feel the effects of deficiency creeping back in if I am more than 4 hours late.
The withdrawal of essential injections is scandalous and will, in the long run, cost the NHS £millions - especially when you consider they dish out statins, antidepressants, blood pressure pills and proton pump inhibitors like sweets, all of which can have unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects and only mask the real problem, whereas vitamins and mineral supplements do address the issues of deficiency, even if they can't cure them.
The worst part of it all is that we have found it is driven by government funding! Surgeries get points, leading to financial benefits, for prescribing the above medications but all funding for vitamin and mineral supplements was withdrawn a couple or three years ago and they are now actively being discouraged from prescribing them.
It is really very simple - every cell in our bodies needs a wide range of vitamins and minerals to work properly and if something critical is missing some processes can't happen which produces deficiency symptoms.
Thank you all for your replies - just needed to know.
I was having injections every eight weeks but then was decided every twelve weeks. I have had PA for over 20 years. I also have under thyroid since birth and also vitamin D deficiency. Now I think I may have RA primarily in my hands but now starting in my feet. Just seems to never end.
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