insomnia and other symptoms returning with increased B12 injections

Many thanks for all your posts in insomnia. Like so many of you here I’ve been plagued by insomnia for decades. 

Initially on B12 self injections (2 x 1,000mg a week) my sleep improved but recently upon increasing to 3 injections a week, all symptoms are back - burning buzzy feet, restless leg syndrome, whole nervous system feels like it’s trembling and ….. worst of all, the insomnia is back. 

I only increased my dosage with the go ahead from my Dutch GP who told me that you can’t overdose on water based B12 as body flushed out excess.

I feel that often symptoms get worse before they get better. Also that healing process from my chronic deficiency of B12 for decades means that there’s a lot of speeded up repair occurring now.

However it’s very discouraging - your comments would be most welcome. I’d be especially interested to know why B12 definitely causes insomnia.

[jade_s]

I'm sorry to hear you're feeling worse and suffering from insomnia. It's really the worst, been there done that. I don't really have any suggestions, though I'm hoping others might! I had to use sleeping pills for several years (zolpidem).

Your GP is right, you can't overdose on it. Some people here have had to reduce their dose to be able to tolerate their symptoms. I did the opposite, pushed as much B12 as I could manage with the idea to push through and speed up the healing. I don't know if it sped up anything, but at least I felt I was as proactive as possible. I went on daily hydroxo and took 5mg folic acid daily.

Is there any pattern to the insomnia? E.g. worse on days you inject, or don't inject?

What kind of B12 are you using?

[Hidden in reply to jade_s]

I believe I’m taking Hydroxicobalamin1,000 mg/ml now three times a week

No I don’t notice any significant changes but just like you I’d rather endure the burning,, buzzing feet, trembling pounding heart and insomnia than wait for the slower response! Anyway after literally decades of insomnia (I’m 65 now) I’m well used to coping with it and I have many techniques to quieten my mind and find relaxation so I don’t feel burnt out the next day.

My next discipline now is to try and quit coffee 🥲🙁

[JLB80 in reply to jade_s]

Did your sleep improve doing it that way Jade?

[newlandvale]

Before I self-injected my sleep was limited to 5-6 hours a night with no dreaming. After SI my sleeping slowly increased to 7-8 hours with dreaming. Dreams were disturbing or hectic initially but now more mundane! I am wondering if your "trembling" nerves are interfering with sleep quality, in which case things should settle down. After 9 months of my self-injecting, the symptoms you describe are only just beginning to calm down.

[Hidden in reply to newlandvale]

only now getting a chance to reply to you, newlandvale.

Reading that after 9 months of your self injecting these symptoms began to calm down is actually very encouraging. And yes I am certainly woken up by trembling nerves. Thankfully my mind/emotions are calm - but this “reversing out of symptoms” has my whole nervous system jangling and that definitely interferes with sleep.

However I’m happy to keep going with the 3 injections a week, knowing that it’s speeding up the whole healing process.

I’ve developed a fair bit of patience and perseverance over the years, so another few months is nothing !!

[Calise]

Have you had your iron levels checked? This happened to me, pretty much exactly as you describe. The doctor gave me ferrous fumarate then checked my iron levels and my ferritin was very low. I think the extra b12 can use up your ferritin stores whilst making new blood cells, it can cause problems in some people.

[Hidden in reply to Calise]

Another member mentioned this also so - thanks very much. I’ve actually taken a note and will talk to my Dutch doctor about this. Great feedback on this platform. I so appreciate all your support.