Can I take vitamins instead of inject... - Pernicious Anaemi...

Pernicious Anaemia Society

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Can I take vitamins instead of injections for not absorbing vitamins orally. Is there one strong enough to work? My level is 100 very low.

Yuillepamela profile image
10 Replies

Any suggestions for absorbing b12 without injections.

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Yuillepamela
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10 Replies
spacey1 profile image
spacey1

If your levels are low because you have low levels of B12 in your diet, then taking B12 tablets will work just fine.

If they're low because you aren't absorbing, then really only the injections will properly do the trick. It might be that sublinguals can offer a bit of a top up - some people find them very helpful, and some find no benefit at all.

Yuillepamela profile image
Yuillepamela in reply to spacey1

Thanks

fbirder profile image
fbirder

Very unlikely. You can try high-dose tablets or sublingual lozenges for a few months - 1000 mcg a day . If they work - woo-hoo. If they don’t then it’s time for the injections.

Yuillepamela profile image
Yuillepamela in reply to fbirder

Ok. Thanks

Polaris profile image
Polaris

With B12 levels that low, Yuillepamelan, you may well have an absorption problem and already experiencing neurological symptoms. If so, these should be treated without delay with B12 injections to avoid permanent damage, as there is a fairly short window of opportunity to treat and tablets alone would not be sufficient.

stichtingb12tekort.nl/surve...

Yuillepamela profile image
Yuillepamela in reply to Polaris

I agree. Thanks

toph profile image
toph

I discovered I was b12 deficient after I started taking B12 capsules. I like to told my doctor that I thought I was B12 deficient and he insisted that I come off the B12 capsules for a month and then get tested by using the serum B12 test (upon later investigation this was the incorrect test anyway so my advice is do not trust your NHS GP to understand the intricacies and damage that B12 deficiency can cause). At its peak I was taking 6 capsules a day which was about the level required in order for the B12 to be passively absorbed into the cells. Taking injections is the only way to get B12 into your body cells as it bypasses the ileum. IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I HAVE BEEN WRITING MAY I SUGGEST READING THE VERY INFORMATIVE BOOKS NAMELY

COULD IT BE B12? By Sally Pacholock

B12 DEFICIENCY AND PERNICIOUS ANAEMIA written by Martyn Hooper

Also go on the B12d.org website filling you symptoms and they should be in contact with you within a month or so

Yuillepamela profile image
Yuillepamela in reply to toph

Thank you for the advice.

Sotonowl profile image
Sotonowl

Get the B12 in as quickly as possible, the injections are the best way of doing this.

Yuillepamela profile image
Yuillepamela

Thanks