Why would a doctor prescribe B12 shots?

Health care providers commonly prescribe vitamin B-12 shots to help prevent or treat pernicious anemia and B-12 deficiency.


What conditions require 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.

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.


How do you know if you need B12 injections?

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.

Is it worth getting a vitamin B12 injection?

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.


Vitamin B12 Deficiency Explained - A-Z of the NHS - Dr Gill



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.


Do you gain weight with B12 injections?

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

What does low B12 feel like?

Constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or gas. Nerve problems like numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, and problems walking. Vision loss. Mental problems like depression, memory loss, or behavioral changes.


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.

How long does a B12 shot usually last?

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.

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.


How much does a B12 shot cost?

The cost of a B12 shot can vary based on your insurance. Typically, they cost about $50-80.

What happens if a B12 deficiency goes untreated?

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.

Should I worry about B12 deficiency?

Most healthy people who have a well-balanced diet do not need to worry much about vitamin B12 deficiency. However, for those at risk (such as those with celiac disease), measures of blood vitamin B12 levels and, in some cases, preventive therapy with vitamin B12 may be recommended.


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.

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.

What are the positive effects of B12 injections?

Vitamin B12 injections, also known as cobalamin, is essential for many roles in your body. Its main function is to help cells form and metabolize properly. It also plays a role in brain function, supporting neurons and cell formation. It is necessary for DNA synthesis and red blood cell formation.


How often should you get B12 shots?

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.

Do you feel different after B12 injections?

Though this vitamin is naturally produced in your body, the injection of additional B12 may cause some internal side effects you should know about. It is common to experience headaches, dizziness, and weakness immediately after the injection. These should fade fairly quickly.

How do you feel after B12 shot?

What to expect after getting a 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 persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.


Can B12 injections affect your mood?

Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins play a role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions. Low levels of B-12 and other B vitamins such as vitamin B-6 and folate may be linked to depression.

Can low B12 cause joint pain?

Not getting enough vitamin B12 to the point of a deficiency can cause a variety of serious symptoms including depression, joint pain, and fatigue. Sometimes these effects can be debilitating to the point where you might think you're dying or seriously ill.

What is considered a serious B12 deficiency?

Values of less than 160 pg/mL (118 pmol/L) are a possible sign of a vitamin B12 deficiency. People with this deficiency are likely to have or develop symptoms. Older adults with a vitamin B12 level less than 100 pg/mL (74 pmol/L) may also have symptoms.


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.