To see how well your tablets are working, your doctor may ask you about symptoms such as tiredness and lack of energy. You may also have regular blood tests to monitor the levels of vitamin B12 in your blood.
Vitamin B12 Blood Test
Our Active B12 blood test is the most accurate way to measure the amount of vitamin B12 that is available for the body to use, helping to identify any deficiency that could be causing your symptoms.
Experts say the vitamin can boost mood, energy, memory and more in folks who are deficient. B12 is a nutrient needed to form red blood cells, DNA, and brain and nerve cells. In deficient people, the benefits of B12 injections include improved mood and increased energy levels.
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep your body's blood and nerve cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all of your cells. Vitamin B12 also helps prevent megaloblastic anemia, a blood condition that makes people tired and weak.
Vitamin B12 shots work right away and your body will begin to manufacture new red blood cells as early as 48 hours so you will feel the effect in two or three days. B12 injections work faster than oral supplements of B12 and therefore, are recommended for individuals who need quick improvement.
Once you begin treating your vitamin B12 deficiency, it can take up to six to 12 months to fully recover. It is also common to not experience any improvement during the first few months of treatment. If you can, it's a good idea to address what's causing the deficiency.
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.
If you're taking B12 supplements and you accidentally take more than one in a day, nothing bad is going to happen to you. "Since B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, there really is no such thing as too much," Gans says. "Your body will use what it wants and eliminate the rest."
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.
Weakness, tiredness, or lightheadedness. Heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Pale skin. A smooth tongue.
Even the lowest doses in B12 supplements are many times the recommended dietary allowance. Doses up to 1,000 mcg, though unnecessary, aren't harmful.
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.
Using high doses of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) to treat anemia can lead to low levels of potassium and/or high platelet counts in the blood. Severely low potassium levels can cause life-threatening heart problems, and high platelet counts can lead to issues with too much blood clotting.
Diet. Some people can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency as a result of not getting enough vitamin B12 from their diet. A diet that includes meat, fish and dairy products usually provides enough vitamin B12, but people who do not regularly eat these foods can become deficient.
If you have enough vitamin B12 in your system, increasing your intake probably won't supply a jolt of energy like you'd get from a cup of coffee or an energy drink. Remember, it's a nutrient, not a stimulant. On the other hand, a shortage of B12 makes it difficult for your body to convert food into energy.
Vitamin B12 is often used to improve cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and fatigue.
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.
Vitamin B12 is considered an important brain and nervous system micronutrient and is often used for anxiety. It helps to ensure normal function for your nerves, which can help combat physical symptoms of anxiety.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can have distressing neuropsychiatric symptoms. It can have an etiological role in clinical presentations like depression, anxiety, psychosis, dementia, and delirium, requiring screening of at-risk populations.
Interactions between your drugs. No interactions were found between Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D3. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
So does vitamin B12 give you energy? While B12 doesn't directly provide energy, it does give the body the tools it needs to convert food molecules into energy. Getting the recommended daily amount of B12 can therefore help ensure that the body is able to make the energy it needs to do everything you need it to do.