Vitamin b deficiency. Can this result in extreme personality changes?

[LucyDiamond]

Vitamin B

[greygoose]

Which vitamin B? There are lots of them. Is it B12? If that is low, you can get all sorts of nasty symptoms, and it can affect the brain. What was your level?

[puncturedbicycle]

B1 and b12 deficiencies can cause dementia-like symptoms, so I'd say yes, it can cause pretty extreme changes.

[Agapanthus1]

Yes, definitely esp b12 which can lead to permanent neurological damage. The best resource for b12 I know of is the b12d.org website.

[LucyDiamond]

Oh sorry, i mean vit.b12. It is around 250. I have been experiencing extreme anger and aggression. I can't sleep very well and am always exhausted - not simple tired but like I'm tired in my bones and right into my very being. I have no patience, no tolerance, am hyper sensitive, mood swings (which include the anger/rage), depression and feeling so overwhelmed with everything to the extent of feeling completely incapable of coping with every day life. I also feel completely emotionally disconnected to my spouse and children. I can't stand all these feelings

[Nunezhall in reply to LucyDiamond]

Gosh that describes me too. My B12 was around 300 when it was last measured. I've just learned I was supposed to be taking supplements and a drug to promote uptake but my doctor never told me. I am also meant to have regular blood tests but again, my doctor never told me this. I've only just seen the letter from my endo that he wrote 3.5 years ago! I bought 1000ug tablets today and will get a blood test next week. Hope you get your b12 issue sorted. Best wishes.

[greygoose in reply to Nunezhall]

You'd do better with 5000, Nunezhall .

[Nunezhall in reply to greygoose]

1000 was the highest they sold. So should I take 5?

[greygoose in reply to Nunezhall]

That's strange. Are they sublingual methylcobalamin? Or cyanocobalamin?

[Nunezhall in reply to greygoose]

They are cyanocobalamin purchased from a health food supplement store on the high street here in the UK. I will shop around online and see if I can find a higher dose.

[greygoose in reply to Nunezhall]

Yes, but for goodness sake, don't take the cyanocobalamin. Not only will you not absorb it, but cyanide isn't a healthy thing to take.

This is what you want :

amazon.co.uk/Solgar-Subling...

or this :

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...

And, don't forget the B complex!

[Nunezhall in reply to greygoose]

This is very useful. Thanks.

[greygoose in reply to Nunezhall]

You're welcome. And do stay away from 'health' food shops! lol

[Nunezhall in reply to greygoose]

I've just seen the letter from my endo dated three years ago and realised what he was recommending: 50mcg of cyanocobalamin. I was never shown this letter or given a prescription but I'm going to try and get some. Thanks.

[greygoose in reply to Nunezhall]

No, cyanocobalamin is not the right one. Doctors prescribe it because it is the cheapest - and, with the tiny, useless dose they recommend, it must cost just pennies! But you will not be able to absorb it.

What you want is 5000 mcg sublingual methylcobalamin. You can buy that easily on Amazon.

[Nunezhall in reply to greygoose]

Brilliant. I will order some.

[Gambit62 in reply to Nunezhall]

Nunezhall and LucyDiamond , please join the PAS forum for advice and support in getting the correct treatment for B12 problems - it sounds as if you have an absorption problem. The tablets that you have been prescribed will only be effective if your deficiency was dietary.

The amount of cyanide in cyanocobalamin is not enough to be a risk except in some rather extreme circumstances. It is also very tightly bound to the B12 molecule. If you have lebers disease (a rare genetic condition that involves sensitivity to cyanide) then you should not take cyanocobalamin but for the rest of the population it is safe.

Yes, B12 deficiency can cause significant mood swings and affect your personality significantly. It can also manifest as depression, anxiety and even psychosis.

[greygoose in reply to LucyDiamond]

LucyDiamond , That is very low - dangerously low. You should be supplementing with 5000 mcg methylcobalamin daily, for a few months, then go down to 1000 mcg. And, with that, you should be taking a B complex.

However, whilst your symptoms could be low B12, they sound very much like low thyroid, too. Have you had your FT3 tested?

[Hidden]

Same for me never felt so I'll, thought I was losing my mind till I found this site

[LucyDiamond]

Thank you all. Yes i have thyroid but the gp said it is fine. I am desperate for help as my husband is now wanting to divorce because he says i am a different person. I feel that my children are lost to me. I really don't want to live like this anymore, i feel i have lost everything, and myself

[Hidden in reply to LucyDiamond]

So take B12 and B complex, and show your husband the research showing the extreme effects of b12 deficiency. join the PA forum if you haven't already. And ask yr practice for a print out of your last thyroid results and post them here. You will soon be feeling better because there is a clear reason for yr symptoms.

[Hidden in reply to LucyDiamond]

PS Sometimes I hate men. Miss Havisham had a point.