skin reaction to B12 injections

[Sparkleros]

Hi,

I was prescribed the 6 injections every 2 days. Soon after the fourth injection I developed red bumpy skin on my forehead some of which looked like spots. After the 5th I developed a cluster of similar spots along my jawline that were uncomfortable. This is very unusual for me. My husband is administering the injection at home so we stopped after the 5th.

I feel the benefits from the injections - tingling gone, reduced anxiety, no leg muscle pain (amazing), less muscle weakness and general increase in energy and clarity of thought.

Has anyone else experienced a skin reaction? Is it linked? I’m wondering whether to use the 6th injection or wait a month. Near on impossible to talk to a doctor anytime soon on this with appointment waiting times!

thank you!

[Permexpi]

If I felt that much better I would definitely keep going. I don't know but I would imagine that some temporary side-effects can happen when you change the balance vitamins in your body.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

These are quite common at the start - along hairline, on face, ears, neck - and usually go after not too long. Even in ears and up nose. They appear soon after an injection, stay for a couple of days, never amount to much although sore, and then go. Each injection for a while might bring a few more, but this should all settle down soon.

I felt quite comforted once I knew this - because it then felt as if at least something was happening ! The benefits far far outweigh this initial discomfort, and it is a promising sign that you are already experiencing improvements.

The only time they reappear now is if I've had a bit of a "blip" - when suddenly for no reason I know I deteriorate temporarily and existing symptoms worsen or rare symptoms return - then recovery is like starting again so the "treatment spots" return too.

[Wheat]

Hello, I have heard that spots and acne are quite commom initial side effects. I would resume s.i. asap as symptoms will return etc if you don't. Best wishes.

[am111]

Skin reactions, including acne, and skin rash, are quite common. In fact, it is a sign that the B12 is working all too well. Just one more injection won't make that much difference. In fact, in my experience, you need to taper off the injections, rather than stopping abruptly, so you may wish to take the last one after some time. Also, if the symptoms start becoming worse, you should take a shot and if you can't, at least take some orals at that point.

[Hockey_player]

If you have pernicious anemia, you will need injections for life. Every other day is recommended until the symptoms are gone. but then you will still need them regularly (for me that is every 2-3 weeks).

[Sparkleros in reply to Hockey_player]

Hi!

Thank you for responding. I don’t know if I do have it. Only know B12 levels were <148 ng/L unclear what the ‘<‘ meant and why an exact figure was not given?! I’m awaiting intrinsic factor, coeliac and something else results… found this forum as not much information given by GP.

Im not vegan or vegetarian. A few years ago when result was 187, I took over the counter supplements and it rose to 320 so I presume I can absorb it?!

sorry to hear you need them so regularly. Injections are not much fun!

[FancyPants54 in reply to Sparkleros]

Having B12 in your blood does not mean you can absorb it. You could still be functionally deficient. Blood tests are unreliable for this.

[Sparkleros in reply to FancyPants54]

May I ask then how it is diagnosed? Is there another way than a blood test?

I did not have any markers for aneamia . However my ferritin was at a lowly 15 and I have read that it can hide B12 aneamia?

So much to learn…

[FancyPants54 in reply to Sparkleros]

It's more a process of elimination. First line is often a blood test, but it will not be accurate if you took any form of B12 in the preceding weeks. That could be from supplements (not just a B12 supplement but other mixed supplement with it in) or fortified foods.

Then they need to look for pernicious anaemia signs other than megoblastic blood cells, that's often a late symptom. MMA and homocysteine tests can show a deficiency but can also be raised by other things. There are parietal cell antibodies to look for too and celiac disease and symptoms should be taken into account. It's a really wooly diagnosis. And doctors don't seem to understand it very well.

[Sparkleros in reply to FancyPants54]

So helpful! Thank you.

Maybe I should ask for the MMA and homocysteine test but perhaps it would not be accurate now I’ve had 5 injections?

Although I don’t want a new autoimmune disease I do kind of want the antibody tests to show positive because at least there’s an answer to the low b12 and why, for a while, I thought I was either going mad or had suddenly aged 50 years.

Thank you!

[FancyPants54 in reply to Sparkleros]

The MMA and Homocysteine tests can be run whilst you take B12. But they can be altered by another illness or inflammation. But if they showed up a problem and you had antibodies, it's looking really rather like your issue is an absorption problem requiring injections for life.

[Hockey_player in reply to Sparkleros]

Some people with pernicious anemia do fine on supplements. I was taking 1000mcg of sublingual B12 daily and that worked for me for many years. But at some point it stopped working so now I get injections. Be aware that the instrinsic factor test has a high false negative rate- if it is positive, you will know you have pernicious anemia, but you could still have it with a negative result. There are some tests that are not sensitive enough to give a numerical result below a certain point and so they report the results as < a value instead of trying to give you an inaccurate number. Injections maybe are not fun, but if the alternative is sleeping 16 hours a day and nerve damage in my toes, it's very easy to put up with them. My husband has gotten really good at it, and it usually does not hurt.

[Sparkleros in reply to Hockey_player]

Really helpful thank you!

Yes I agree. The alternative is worse. My husband too has perhaps missed his calling as a nurse! The tingling is back in my little finger today so I think I need to have the 6th and follow up with GP. I’m a worrier and I think the skin reaction made me think I was giving my body too much B12 (even though I know it is not considered toxic at high amounts!)