When do doctors recommend B12 injections?

If a person has low vitamin B12 levels due to a health condition, a doctor may recommend oral supplementation or injections of the vitamin. Injections are usually for people with bodies that have problems absorbing vitamin B12 and those who have undergone gastric surgery.

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At what point do you need B12 injections?

If you have had neurological symptoms that affect your nervous system, such as numbness or tingling in your hands and feet, caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency, you'll be referred to a haematologist and may need to have injections every 2 months.

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Who is a good candidate for B12 shots?

Who Is a Good Candidate for Vitamin B12 Injections? Anyone who is dealing with a vitamin B12 deficiency can benefit from these injections. Certain people are at more risk of developing this issue. Due to the fact that this nutrient comes from animal-based products, vegans and vegetarians are at greater risk.

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Why would a doctor prescribe B12?

It's used to treat and prevent vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia (when you have low levels of this vitamin in your body). Your body requires vitamin B12 to make red blood cells. You can get it from your food or supplements, but sometimes there may not be enough vitamins in what you eat.

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Can I ask my doctor for a B12 injection?

This form can be handed in at your surgery's reception if you are unable to get an appointment with your GP. How often will I need the injection?: The injection can be given every 6 months if due to a dietary deficiency, or 2-3 months if the cause of your low B12 levels is pernicious anaemia.

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Are Vitamin B12 Injections Worth Your Money?

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When should you not get a B12 shot?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to Vitamin B-12 or cobalt, or if you have Leber's disease (an inherited form of vision loss). This medicine can lead to optic nerve damage (and possibly blindness) in people with Leber's disease.

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How long does a B12 injection last in your body?

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.

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What are the symptoms of low B12?

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
  • a pale yellow tinge to your skin.
  • a sore and red tongue (glossitis)
  • mouth ulcers.
  • pins and needles (paraesthesia)
  • changes in the way that you walk and move around.
  • disturbed vision.
  • irritability.
  • depression.

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What does low B12 feel like?

B12 deficiency can cause a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, depression, pale or yellow skin, mental impairment, and pain and inflammation in the mouth and tongue. Many of the symptoms caused by low B12 levels are not specific to B12 deficiency, which can cause the condition to go undetected.

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What are the risks of B12 injections?

It is common to experience headaches, dizziness, and weakness immediately after the injection. These should fade fairly quickly. You may also experience some numbness and tingling, depending on the injection location, as well as joint pain.

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Can B12 injections be harmful?

Vitamin B12 injections are generally considered to be very safe. They have no major side effects. However, in very rare cases, some people can experience side effects caused by allergic reactions or sensitivity ( 29 , 30 ). If you experience any side effects, speak with your doctor.

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What is the most common cause of B12 deficiency?

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.

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Can chemist give you B12 injections?

These injections are prescribed by your doctor and can correct a deficiency of this important nutrient. Bring your prescription into the pharmacy and our accreditied pharmacists can administer the dose for you. There is a charge for this service.

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Are B12 tablets as good as injections?

In both studies, high-dose oral B12 was as effective as intramuscular injection at achieving neurologic and hematologic response. Vitamin B12 is available over the counter in the form of tablets (100, 500, 1,000, or 5,000 mcg) and lozenges (50, 100, 250, or 500 mcg).

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Do doctors normally test for B12?

Your provider may also recommend a vitamin B12 test if you have certain nervous system symptoms. A low level of B12 can cause numbness or tingling in the arms and legs, weakness, and loss of balance. Other conditions for which the test may be done include: Sudden severe confusion ( delirium )

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Should I be worried about low B12?

If vitamin B12 deficiency is left untreated, it can cause lasting serious side effects that affect the nervous system and brain. More severe side effects of vitamin B12 deficiency include: Peripheral neuropathy. Degeneration of the spinal cord.

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What happens when you start taking B12?

What is vitamin B12 and what does it do? 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.

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What are the benefits of having B12 injections?

Vitamin B12 shots can help boost your body's energy levels by preventing fatigue, helping you to lose weight and also by lowering the risk of heart disease and other serious health concerns. Vitamin B12 is also essential for the health of your skin, hair and nails.

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What not to do after B12 injection?

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. Avoid any blood thinning medication.

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How often can you have a B12 injection?

For patients who are naturally B12 deficient, more frequent injections about once a month may be ideal. For other patients, an injection every three to four months may suffice. We will help you determine the best frequency to get the results you want.

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Do B12 injections give you energy?

The B vitamins, and particularly vitamin B12, play a vital role in how your body produces what it needs for energy. If you're deficient in vitamin B12, an injection will definitely give your energy level a boost. In fact, one of the first signs of vitamin B12 deficiency is fatigue.

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What happens if a B12 deficiency goes untreated?

A lack of vitamin B12 can cause neurological problems, which affect your nervous system, such as: vision problems. memory loss. pins and needles (paraesthesia)

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Which fruit is rich in vitamin B12?

Bananas also contain fibre and potassium. It helps manage blood pressure, reduce stress, and relieve constipation and ulcer problems. The fruit also helps regulate body temperature. Another fruit that is rich in vitamin B12 is blueberries.

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Can B12 deficiency cause 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.

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Can low B12 make you feel weird?

A lack of B12 may lead to depression, confusion, memory problems, and dementia. It also can affect your balance. B12 supplements are usually safe.

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