Is it possible to overdo the self-injecting of B12?

[New144]

Hello All!

Hope everyone's doing OK today.

I'd welcome thoughts on my SI journey so far. I've been injecting the B12 for a fortnight now (daily, with only one day off in between). I've noticed no improvement as yet - if anything, I feel slightly worse - numb left leg, pain in arms, pins and needles, palpitations, very disorientated and fatigued. I wondered if there are any contra-indications for injecting daily and whether I should back off?

Also, does anyone know if there's any danger of developing thrombosis from B12 overload, please? I've had a pain in my calf and haven't injected for two days as this worried me a bit - I'm wondering whether to recommence or hang fire for a day or so. Feeling very much in limbo at the moment! 🤥 Any advice gratefully received 🙏

[Nackapan]

I would get a full iron panel done including ferritin .If low calf pain is one of many symptoms.

Loading doses in the UK are ususlly 6 over 2 weeks .

Or every other day until no more improvements.

NICE guidelines.

I got worse initially whilst all my heroes were waking up

Also migraines.

It depends on how long deficient and how low your b12 went.

Obviously we all function at different levels.

But if never tested before will nevef know our own individual baseline.

You don't have to be concerned about overdosing.

Go by your symptoms.

Get folate checked too snd vit D .

[New144 in reply to Nackapan]

Thanks so much for your reply. I did see the NICE guidelines but thought I'd try daily to begin with to see if it kicked in more quickly. I was diagnosed with PA almost 22 years ago (after years of not feeling "right" symptoms got really bad, which prompted further tests - virtually no B12 in my system at all, plus IF antibodies). I've been having 3-monthly injections since diagnosis although had very few loading doses before I was told I only needed them 3-monthly from then on.

Over the last couple of years, the B12 jabs just don't seem to be helping at all any more. I was pretty ill earlier this year and think that's probably been the final straw.

I've had ferritin, vit D and folate checked recently - all apparently fine. My haemoglobin was a bit low, RBC and MCHC were outside normal range, but it stated on the report "normal for this patient - no action required" 🙄 Very frustrating!

Good to know that I can keep on injecting without fear of doing any harm, though - thank you! 🙏😊

[PlatypusProfit8077]

It’s a new world isn’t it, trying to treat and manage a deficiency like this.

I’ve just gone through a rough couple of days after a procedure under sedation - I don’t know what or why but I’ve had symptoms come back up that I haven’t had in months. Very frustrating. But my point is, the last 3 days I have been doing 2x daily injections and that has helped me get back to closer to my baseline. I will start tapering down to once a day, and then back to EOD like before.

There is no unsafe level of B12 supplementation, it’s been a very well researched and proven fact.

[Kat_88 in reply to PlatypusProfit8077]

I am sorry you feel this way, i am also right there! After feeling much better for a while and doing sports, now i feel all symptoms are coming back severely as i have been under a-lot of stress in last month. I inject EOD 1000mcg and i am skeptical to increase it to daily injection! I need to work and I feel desperate how to be in class and teach! Do you think i should increase?

[PlatypusProfit8077 in reply to Kat_88]

I would trial it, for sure. There’s nothing to lose and a lot to gain

[New144 in reply to PlatypusProfit8077]

Thanks so much - I was worried I was overdoing it, but really encouraging to hear that you've been injecting twice daily and it's helping! Hope you're feeling much better after your procedure 🤞I'm taking heart from everything I'm being told by the lovely people on here and will carry on as before - hopefully things will start to improve soon. Sending all good wishes for a speedy recovery for you 🙏😊

[AKatieD]

I would join the Vitamin B12 wake up group on FB, run by the B12 society.

Adverse symptoms in the early stage of B12 treatment is common. They call it reversing out symptoms, which mean you can feel worse before you feel better when you start B12 treatment and this is normal.

Any excess B12 is just excreted so you should not be able to cause any problems even if you were to overtreat yourself.

[New144 in reply to AKatieD]

Thanks very much for this 🙏- I'm not on FB much but will have a look at the 'wake up group'. It's so nice to know we're not alone in all this! Reassuring to hear that what I'm experiencing might be 'reversing out' and that I'm not doing any harm by injecting daily - I'll keep on with my current regime until I start to feel some improvement 😊👍

[B12again]

I will SI EOD but under stressful situations will increase to daily. Eg my wife and I are away from home for 8 days, this will entail visiting my wife’s father in care, visiting our eldest daughter, husband and their 3 older teenage sons (always a robust but happy time). Taking walks more than usual, eating out. All good but does introduce stress and stress is a great debilitating weakener in our situation. I do find it helps me through these times.

[New144 in reply to B12again]

Thanks very much for your reply 🙏- I definitely notice things getting worse when I'm stressed or have been overdoing things, too. Everything I'm being told has made me more determined to carry on as I have been and I don't feel anxious now that I could inadvertently have been causing damage! Hope you have a good 8 days away and that the injections help to keep your energy levels up and symptoms at bay! 😊👍