B12 tablets and other medicines

[AngelaWoo]

I'm convinced my Dad who has PA is not getting enough B12 from his 12 weekly shot at the GP and so I gave him some of my B12 tablets 5000mcg methylcobalamin to try. He said he seemed to notice a difference after 3 days but couldnt make an objective assessment as he's now been banned from taking them by my mum and brother because they are worried about them interfering with all the other meds he takes for heart, thyroid etc.

They have said he needs to speak to his heart consultant before he takes them.

I feel so sorry for him as my symptoms were bad enough and if he's been suffering unnecessarily for years it makes me really upset.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice or can point me to any information that would support me to have a rational conversation with my family about this or do you think he should really wait for his next appointment. Thank you

[Gambit62 Administrator]

A pharmacist might be able to give advice but would need to know what medications were being taken to say if the B12 supplement was a problem - though I doubt it would be because the impact of a sublingual is nothing like the impact from a shot of B12 and if he is okay with a shot of B12 then he should be okay with the tablets.

[wedgewood]

B12 tablets couldn’t possibly do your father any harm at all . They could not interfere with any other medicines that he is taking .After all it’s just a vitamin , not a pharmaceutical preparation,. Also B12 is a vitamin that cannot be overdosed . Absolutely benign . By the sounds of it he needs more regular injections , and you should be able to get his doctor to prescribe 8 weekly injections at least .. I’m 84 and self inject weekly to keep myself well . Other members will be able to give you links to an article which explains that one cannot overdose on vitamin B12 . I hope that the rest of your family can be persuaded to realise that it would benefit your father to get the b12 tablets and i hope that he can get more regular injections . Wishing you the best

[AngelaWoo in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you for this. These are my thoughts too from what I have read on here and from the PA society too. I will put my big girl boots on....

[VellBlue in reply to AngelaWoo]

Just wanted to clarify that it is possible for vitamin supplements to interfere with other meds, although he anyway takes injections so presumably the docs are fine with him taking B12. Like Gambit said, can always check with a pharmacist.

[Rainbo06]

Talk to your local pharmacist take all the meds he's on and explain they can advise if what you're giving him will affect his other drugs