There is no upper limit for the intake of vitamin B12 because the risk of toxicity or overdose is low.
If you're deficient, your doc may recommend you take about 1,000 to 2,000 mcg of vitamin B12. In a 2018 review, researchers found evidence that taking 1,000 mcg of B12 and getting B12 injections had similar effects on treating B12 deficiencies.
B12 Injections: How Often? Generally, when treating a B-12 deficiency, you'll get a 1,000-microgram shot every day or two for the first week (2). After that, you may shift to once-a-week injections for one to two months, and then to monthly injections.
Injecting in the wrong area can cause an abscess to form under the skin. To avoid this only inject in the area recommended by your nurse or doctor. Do not inject into a painful or inflamed area. Seek medical advice if this happens.
Avoid alcohol for 48 hours after your treatment. Avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours after your treatment. Avoid touching the injection site for 6 hours after your treatment. You may experience a dull ache at the injections site for around 1 hour after your treatment.
Simply put, how long the B12 shot will last is different for everyone. Though it differs a bit from one person to another, the effects of B12 vitamins usually last around 48 hours to 72 hours after the initial injection.
How Often Do You Need a Vitamin B12 Injection? The usual frequency for intramuscular doses of B12 shots is every 10 days, followed by maintenance doses at varying intervals. After this period, injections can be administered once per month, which this frequency is enough to reverse the signs of vitamin B12 deficiency.
B12 injections work quickly; they are the most effective way for your body to absorb Vitamin B12. Within 48 to 72 hours, your body will begin to make new red blood cells. For mild deficiencies, you may need two to three injections over several weeks to notice peak impact.
It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.
Oral B12 supplements often contain higher levels than the recommended daily allowance (RDA). The reason for higher amounts is that the body doesn't absorb most of it. For example, if you take a low dose supplement (less than 1-2 mcg), your body absorbs only about half of it.
This is usually given as an intramuscular injection, every 2-3 months. Alternatives to an intramuscular injection are: Oral Vitamin B12 at a dose of at least 1000mcg per day. It is important to monitor your symptoms if you change to oral B12.
B12 may be injected into a muscle or beneath the skin at 100 mcg every day or alternate days for 7 days, and then every 3 or 4 days for a month. Afterward, 100 mcg must be injected continuously throughout your life for the best results.
If your vitamin B12 deficiency is not caused by a lack of vitamin B12 in your diet, you'll usually need to have an injection of hydroxocobalamin every 2 to 3 months for the rest of your life.
One Possibility: Supplement Allergies
Thus if you're otherwise healthy but still continue to feel tired after taking a B-12 supplement, it could be a sign of a mild allergic reaction. If a rash, difficulty breathing or swelling coincides with taking your dose of B-12, get to the doctor right away.
In diabetes patients with advanced kidney disease, high daily doses of B vitamins (folate, B6 and B12) were found in one study to worsen kidney function and double the risk of heart attack stroke and death (see the Cautions section of the B Vitamins Review for more information).
Vitamin B12
According to health experts at Click Pharmacy, as a general rule of thumb, take your B vitamins in the morning or with a meal. Vitamin B12, for example, should definitely be taken in the morning. This is because it is important for energy metabolism, which may interrupt your sleep if taken at night.
Healthcare professionals have not identified an upper limit blood level of vitamin B-12. The body will typically excrete excess vitamin B-12 that a person gets from the diet or via supplements. The body does not absorb vitamin B-12 supplements very effectively.
People who are deficient in vitamin B12 are often prescribed B12 shots. This method is a very effective way of reversing or preventing a deficiency because it allows for 100% absorption directly into the tissues. These days, vitamin B12 shots have even become popular in people without the vitamin deficiency.
Vitamin B12 is stored in the liver. Once a store of vitamin B12 has built up, this can supply the body's needs for several months. An injection is then only usually needed every two to three months to top up the supply.
B 12 Ampoule Of 2ml Injection Description
This medicine will be given in the hospital by your doctor or nurse as an injection.
The reaction is thought to occur due to impurities in the B12 injection, notes Drugs.com. If a reaction occurs it is usually within several weeks after the first injection. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and airway and hives.
It's harder to get your B12 from food if you're on a strict plant-based diet. That means you don't eat any animal products, including eggs or dairy. Your doctor will likely suggest taking a daily or weekly dietary supplement to keep your levels up.