Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Vitamin B12 injections

32 replies

ilikeyourdognotyou · 13/02/2022 09:26

Just after some info from anyone who's had these - where did you go? Did you have a blood test first? Thank you

OP posts:
PostThenGhost · 13/02/2022 09:56

Yes blood test from the GP.
3 monthly injections. B12 injections are a prescription item.
I always find I have symptoms again around 8 weeks after injections.

U.K. “normal range” for B12 is lower than other countries. My friend also has the injections and her GP won’t let her have them earlier than 12 weekly so she ordered some from Germany, where you can buy them in the chemist, and has her mum inject her.

Original poster
ilikeyourdognotyou · 13/02/2022 10:53

Ok thank you, that's helpful. Maybe I should consult my GP. Found a place that offers them for £29 but doesn't specify if they need blood results to administer. Haven't actually confirmed that I have low B12 just highly suspect.

OP posts:
Original poster
ilikeyourdognotyou · 13/02/2022 10:53

@PostThenGhost what are your symptoms?

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Sugarbellaella · 13/02/2022 10:58

I sometimes have them if I’ve feeling really run down - just book at a local clinics. No need for blood tests - I always feel much better afterwards!

Kshhuxnxk · 13/02/2022 11:01

If you are b12 deficiency you get a series of blood tests at go then you do loading doses then b12 is normally every 12 weeks.. Better to get checked properly rather than just paying for it without being properly diagnosed. I have pernicious anemia so get b12 every 8 weeks.

ExactlyThat · 13/02/2022 11:03

Blood tests are largely pointless due to the very low range, lack of knowledge by GPS and the rest they do shows total B12, not which is biochemically available.

Personally I’d say do it but if it says it’s normal but you have symptoms, push for second line testing.

PostThenGhost · 13/02/2022 11:46

My symptoms were bone crushing fatigue
Dizziness
Pins and needles in my hands and face
Palpitations
Shortness of breath.

I really would get a blood test first, even if you do decide to have the injections at a clinic anyway, the symptoms can be similar for lots of issues and if your symptoms are due to thyroid issues, ferritin deficiency, vitamin D deficiency or folate deficiency then having B12 injections won’t help.

NannyGythaOgg · 13/02/2022 12:45

I would definitely ask your GP for a blood test. If you are low enough to get your injections, particularly the loading doses, that is great.
If you are told 'normal' or 'within range' then make sure you ask for a copy of your results. If you are in the bottom half of the range you will probably benefit from injections.
It's a good idea, if you decide to have injections, to get the first one at least from a clinic - and £29 is cheaper than most. After that I would buy from Versandapo in Germany and do your own - or get someone to do them for you. Depending on how many you buy, they are only a pound or two each and you can get syringes and needles quite cheaply too.

SamphiretheStickerist · 13/02/2022 12:50

Just a not if caution. Just before covid hit I was told that I would no longer get my 11 weekly injections as guidance has changed. I was given an injection and told to buy 1000mcg B12 tablets, really cheap to buy anywhere. Then, as soon as they were taking bloods again, I went back and was told that I no longer needed the injections, my body was getting enough from the 'overdose' in the tablets.

After decades of having the injections you can imagine how scared I was. But I have to admit I feel fine. I no longer get that dip just before an injection date and am now, two years on, perfectly happy and well.

Original poster
ilikeyourdognotyou · 13/02/2022 23:57

Thanks everyone. I'm tempted to just get it done if that's an option and it won't cause harm. I'm vegan with a crappy diet so quite likely to be low in b12.

OP posts:
Original poster
ilikeyourdognotyou · 13/02/2022 23:57

@PostThenGhost I have the fatigue, dizziness and shortness of breath

OP posts:
ExactlyThat · 14/02/2022 07:51

If you’re vegan it could easily be iron. Just go to the doctor and have some bloods done.

Those symptoms could be various other things too. If you go and have injections done and then no improvement and visit the Gp, your B12 will be falsely elevated for 4 months.

ihearttc · 14/02/2022 08:28

You need to have a proper blood test first. I have pernicious anaemia which is an auto immune condition so my body does not absorb B12 at all. Without 10 weekly injections I would become very very ill.
It annoys me that people (I’m not meaning you as you have symptoms) think B12 can be administered by any old clinic as a “pick me up” because they feel tired and run down.

SamphiretheStickerist · 14/02/2022 12:15

@ihearttc

You need to have a proper blood test first. I have pernicious anaemia which is an auto immune condition so my body does not absorb B12 at all. Without 10 weekly injections I would become very very ill. It annoys me that people (I’m not meaning you as you have symptoms) think B12 can be administered by any old clinic as a “pick me up” because they feel tired and run down.
Are you still on the injections?

I was worried when they were stopped here but can honestly say I feel better, don't have the drop off and don't have to remember to make the apppintments any more. You'd think that after about 25 years of having the injections I 'd have got used to that Smile

It might be worth discussing the advisability of switching to oral 'overdose'. It turns out that most people do NOT get the definitive pernicious aneamia test so may not need the injections afte the initial loading doses. I was, I do have pernicious and megaloblastic aneamia - just to reassure you oral loads do work!

b-s-h.org.uk/media/18259/bsh-guidance-b12-replacement-covid-1924042020finalversion2020-4-3.pdf

FawnFrenchieMum · 14/02/2022 12:19

Definitely get your GP to run some bloods first before you start changing the results.
Your symptoms could be from several deficiencies, I have 12 weekly B12 injections, folic acid and a really high dose of Vit D. My iron is always fine though. All them cause similar symptoms.

Hairwizard · 14/02/2022 12:27

My sil gives me b12 shots every 3-4 weeks.
I have been getting them from end of June last year after LLETZ procedure. I had one daily for 2 weeks then one a week for 6 weeks then one every 3-4 weeks as part of a supp protocol.
Def felt a difference initially, no fatigue, more alert.

ihearttc · 14/02/2022 13:06

@SamphiretheStickerist

Thank you, that’s definitely something for me to look into. Yes I still have the injections, I’m ok for about 6 weeks then feel awful so I can totally see the benefits of oral dosing. I was diagnosed 10 years ago, I don’t have intrinsic factor (if that’s the test you mean?). I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis. What dosage do you take?
Interestingly my very healthy 17 year old son has just had blood tests done and he is also very deficient in B12. They are trying to establish whether it’s just that or pernicious anaemia.

SamphiretheStickerist · 14/02/2022 13:10

I take a 1000mcg tablet every day. They are easy enough to find on Amazon, I do a bit of research on each to make sure - that was our local pharmacist's advice. Brexit etc has meant the ones I used to get aren't always in stock now. I buy a year's supply at a time, so I don't have to panic if they disappear - as they have done just this week!

www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=nb_sb_noss_1&crid=2S0PQQK78USWL&sprefix=vitamin+b12+1000mcg%2Cdrugstore%2C52&i=drugstore&k=Vitamin+B12+1000mcg&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Original poster
ilikeyourdognotyou · 14/02/2022 21:52

Would they test on routine bloods? I had some done fairly recently so I know my iron is ok

OP posts:
Sidge · 14/02/2022 22:03

So you’re vegan with an admittedly crappy diet but your initial thought is to get B12 injections?!

Why wouldn’t you just improve your diet? Eat better, take an oral B12 supplement and see how you go. You don’t need injections if you can absorb it, and you’ve given no reasons why you can’t.

Desiredeffect · 14/02/2022 23:19

I have them every 12 weeks for life now

Original poster
ilikeyourdognotyou · 14/02/2022 23:22

I do realise that @Sidge but I'm just being realistic. I've been vegan for about 3 years now I think and my track record for balanced eating and remembering supplements isn't great.

OP posts:
Original poster
ilikeyourdognotyou · 14/02/2022 23:28

There are lots of valid points around seeing GP, getting bloods done, considering other causes etc. Also I know it probably annoys some people that it might have become a fad and people get it unnecessarily. However if there's a fair chance my B12 is low, and if I can pay £29 to potentially feel significantly better without doing harm - then I'll probably do it. I'm sorry I'm a quick fix sort of person, I'm short on time and energy.

OP posts:
Elieza · 14/02/2022 23:51

My friends friend got b12 jags and he had terrible nosebleeds. So I’m not entirely sure a potential overdose is harmless.

You should tell the gp your symptoms for sure and get bloods done.

I know jags look like the easy option but if you be any unwell or something and nobody knew you’d had a jag as it’s not noted on your nhs record perhaps it could cause issues?