Can B12 shots be harmful?

Getting large amounts of vitamin B-12 through vitamin B-12 shots is not likely to harm your health. But vitamin B-12 may affect how well some drugs work. And some drugs can affect vitamin B-12 levels. So if you want to get vitamin B-12 shots, tell your health care provider first.


What are the negatives of B12 injections?

Even though vitamin B12 shots can be very helpful, there's also a chance that they'll have a few drawbacks.
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But you might experience drawbacks including but not limited to:
  • Minor swelling or itching at the injection site.
  • Mild diarrhea.
  • Headaches and dizziness.
  • Nausea.
  • Low potassium levels.
  • Skin rashes.


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.


How often should you get a B12 shot?

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.

What are symptoms of too much B12 injections?

However, supplementing with excessively high levels of B12 has been linked to some negative side effects. Several studies have shown that megadoses of the vitamin can lead to outbreaks of acne and rosacea, a skin condition that causes redness and pus-filled bumps on the face.


Are Vitamin B12 Injections Worth Your Money?



How long does a B12 shot last in your system?

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.

Can B12 injections cause heart problems?

B12 injections may contribute to low potassium levels in your body. Though rare, this reaction can cause muscle cramping, extreme fatigue, and an irregular heartbeat.

Can you get too much B12?

While the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, higher doses have been found to be safe. Your body absorbs only as much as it needs, and any excess passes through your urine. High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause: Headache.


Are B12 shots a good idea?

Vitamin B12 Shots Are Very Effective

An untreated vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to neurological problems or pernicious anemia, which occurs when your body doesn't have enough B12 to produce the amount of red blood cells it needs ( 16 ). Vitamin B12 shots are the most common way to prevent or treat a deficiency.

Is it OK to get a B12 shot every week?

For the majority of people, I recommend once weekly for 4 weeks. Then B12 shots can be helpful monthly as maintenance. If we are treating autoimmunity or pernicious anemia, you will receive B12 weekly or twice weekly for 6-12 weeks.

Can you get too much B12 from injections?

Since B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, it's generally considered safe, even at high doses. No Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) has been established for B12, due to its low level of toxicity. UL refers to the maximum daily dose of a vitamin unlikely to cause adverse side effects in the general population.


Do you gain weight with B12 injections?

Vitamin B12 can help with promoting weight loss and has been linked to weight loss.

How long does it take for B12 shots to start working?

Since B12 shots are injected intramuscularly bypassing the digestive process, they start to work immediately. Typically, our patients experience positive effects between 24-72 hours after the treatment.

What happens when vitamin B12 is very high?

Elevated levels of serum cobalamin may be a sign of a serious, even life-threatening, disease. Hematologic disorders like chronic myelogeneous leukemia, promyelocytic leukemia, polycythemia vera and also the hypereosinophilic syndrome can result in elevated levels of cobalamin.


What medications should not be taken with B12?

As summarized in the table provided, vitamin B12 (cobalamin) absorption and utilization by the body can be compromised with the chronic use of certain medications which include: colchicine, chloramphenicol, ethanol, histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RA), metformin, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI).

Can B12 cause neuropathy?

B12 deficiency may cause demyelination of nerves in the peripheral and central nervous system13 and has been associated with peripheral neuropathy, loss of sensation in peripheral nerves, and weakness in lower extremities in older adults1, 1416.

What are the complications of vitamin B12?

Complications of vitamin B12 deficiency
  • vision problems.
  • memory loss.
  • pins and needles (paraesthesia)
  • loss of physical co-ordination (ataxia), which can affect your whole body and cause difficulty speaking or walking.
  • damage to parts of the nervous system (peripheral neuropathy), particularly in the legs.


Does B12 cause anxiety?

Abstract. 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.

Can you feel better after one B12 injection?

If you are feeling light-headed or short of breath as part of your B12 deficiency, it's a result of your blood not getting enough circulation. With a B12 shot for energy, you will start to notice a change and you'll be on your way to feeling better in no time.

Does B12 give you energy right away?

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.


What happens after your first B12 shot?

Pain/redness at the injection site, mild diarrhea, itching, or a feeling of swelling all over the body may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

How much B12 injection for weight loss?

In one clinical trial assessing the efficacy of phentermine and vitamin B-12 for weight loss, vitamin B-12 (as the sole ingredient) was administered via injections of 1,000 mg per week. Regardless of the dosage, your practitioner will likely recommend weekly shots for several weeks.

Where do you inject B12 shots?

The easiest site when self-administering an IM injection is the middle third of the vastus lateralis muscle of the thigh. Other options include the deltoid muscle of the upper arm and the dorsogluteal site on the bottom. This maybe useful if you have a carer or a family member willing to administer your injection.


Does B12 speed up metabolism?

B12 works by converting the food we eat into sugar and other types of fuel that keep the body running smoothly. B12 is often associated with weight loss because of its ability to boost metabolism and provide lasting energy.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B toxicity?

An overdose of Vitamin B complex usually occurs from the excessive consumption of supplements, The complications that one notices in case of an overdose are skin rashes, insomnia, gastrointestinal problem, Tingling and numbness, Extreme mood swings, and abnormal blood pressure levels.