B12 VITAMIN INJECTION

What is B12?

Vitamin B12 is a vital vitamin which has many essential functions in the body; keeping your nerves and blood cells healthy, supporting the production of DNA and red blood cells, and maintaining normal brain function. It is the largest and most structurally complicated vitamin. It can naturally be found in meat, fish, dairy products and fortified cereals. However, many different lifestyle factors and age can contribute to B12 deficiency, despite eating a healthy balanced diet.

You cannot ‘overdose’ on vitamin B12, your body will store any excess in the liver for future use, or it is excreted in urine.

What can contribute to a b12 deficiency?

It is very common for vegetarians and vegans to suffer from B12 deficiency, also it is common in people who regularly take anti acids, smoke or consume over the recommended units of alcohol, also in people over the age of 60.

People who suffer with thinning of the stomach lining, pernicious anaemia, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or immune diseases such as Graves’ disease or Lupus can also suffer with B12 deficiency.

What are the symptoms of B12 deficiency

Some of the symptoms of B12 deficiency are listed below, you may only have a few of these symptoms.

• A lack of energy

• Extreme fatigue/tiredness

• Depression

• Weight gain

• Muscle weakness

• Poor memory/judgement

• Gastric issues constipation/diarrhoea

• Mouth ulcers

• Shortness of breath & dizziness

• Pale or slight yellow tinge skin tone

• Yellow eyes

• Shortness of breath & dizziness

• Pins and needles (paraesthesia)

• A sore and red tongue

• Disturbed vision

• Changes in mobility

• Psychological problems

What happens at my appointment?

A B12 injection appointment is a quick procedure. Like a regular injection, The B12 injection is administered into the top of the arm (deltoid muscle) with a very small, fine needle.

Recommended frequency of appointments

The frequency of the procedure would depend on the condition being treated: for mild conditions such as low energy and mood, we recommend a course of 4 injections weekly, then followed by a monthly injection.

For pernicious anaemia, you will require 100 mcg daily for a week, followed by every other day for another week, and then every three or four days for a month. Thereafter, 100 mcg should be injected once a month.

How long before I feel the effects of the B12 Injections?

A response from the injection is usually seen within 48 to 72 hours, with brisk production of new red blood cells. Many people report feeling a difference after just 24 hours, but for people with a higher deficiency it may take longer.