What happens if your B12 is low for too long?

If left untreated, the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency tend to worsen and irreversible problems involving the nerves and brain may develop. The risk of experiencing a number of serious complications, including heart failure, may also increase.

What happens if you have low B12 for a long time?

Long-term vitamin B12 deficiency can cause nerve damage. This may be permanent if you do not start treatment within 6 months of when your symptoms begin. Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia most often responds well to treatment. It will likely get better when the underlying cause of the deficiency is treated.

Can B12 get dangerously low?

Pernicious anemia, a deficiency in the production of red blood cells due to a lack of vitamin B12, can cause permanent neurological damage that can lead to death if it is untreated.

What can extremely low B12 cause?

Untreated, vitamin B-12 deficiency can lead to neurological problems, such as persistent tingling in the hands and feet or problems with balance. It can lead to mental confusion and forgetfulness because vitamin B-12 is necessary for healthy brain function.

How long can you go without vitamin B12?

People who eat a vegan diet and do not take vitamin B12 supplements or eat foods fortified with vitamin B12, are also at risk. Stores of vitamin B12 in the body can last around 2 to 4 years without being replenished, so it can take a long time for any problems to develop after a dietary change.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms | B12 Deficiency | Vitamin B12 - All You Need to Know

What does low B12 feel like?

extreme tiredness (fatigue) lack of energy (lethargy) breathlessness. feeling faint.

What are unusual symptoms of B12 deficiency?

strange sensations, numbness, or tingling in the hands, legs, or feet. difficulty walking (staggering, balance problems) anemia. a swollen, inflamed tongue.

Will I need B12 injections for life?

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.

Can low B12 cause stress?

B12 Deficiencies Can Heighten Stress and Anxiety

Furthermore, the Finnish based study published in BioMed Central (BMC) revealed a correlation between B12 levels and a patient's ability to halt depression symptoms. Namely, those with higher levels tended to have a higher success of coping with depression.

Can low B12 cause weight gain?

That said, the current evidence is too weak to suggest that a vitamin B12 deficiency has any strong or specific impact on weight — be it weight gain or loss. There's little evidence to support the notion that vitamin B12 deficiency causes weight gain.

Is a B12 shot better than a pill?

B12 injections are absorbed much better by the body because they are administered intramuscularly (into the muscle), and therefore directly into the blood. B12 tablets must pass through the digestive system, which leads to much poorer absorption rates.

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.

What are the side effects of B12 injections?

What are the cons of vitamin B12 shots?

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.

How will I feel after my B12 injection?

Side Effects from B12 Shots

The most common B12 shot side effect is swelling at the injection site. Some people also experience mild diarrhea. Call your doc ASAP if you notice any negative B12 shot side effects.

Why am I still tired after B12 injections?

More Serious Effects

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.

How quickly do you feel the effects of a B12 shot?

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.

Will I have more energy after B12 injection?

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.

Will insurance cover B12 shots?

Are Vitamin B12 shots covered by insurance? Vitamins are typically not covered by insurance. However, vitamin B12 injections are considered specific therapy for some conditions, such as specific anemias, gastrointestinal conditions, and neuropathies.

What benefits do you get from a B12 shot?

Does B12 give you energy?

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.

Does B12 affect sleep?

Vitamin B12 works on the pineal gland, which is responsible for the production of melatonin. The vitamin helps increase the production of melatonin during the nighttime hours, as well as release it earlier, making it easier to fall and stay asleep.

Does B12 make your hair grow?

B12 promotes healthy hair growth by assisting in the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells, which feed hair follicles.

What are the long term effects of vitamin B deficiency?

Vitamin B12 deficiencies can lead to megaloblastic anemia, a condition where the bone marrow produces large abnormally shaped red blood cells that do not function properly. Dementia, paranoia, depression, and behavioral changes can result from a vitamin B12 deficiency. Neurological damage sometimes cannot be reversed.