Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

B12 Experts - Suspension Of Supplements Before A Test?


cristiana

Recommended Posts

cristiana Veteran

I'm looking on advice on whether taking a B12 supplement prior to a blood test will distort the true picture by 'artificially' raising the amount in the blood.

 

I have a few tingles and twitches which surface from time to time and am pretty sure that it is when my B12 is low.  I have started on methycobalimin 1000mcg sublingual supplements in the last two days, prior to that for a couple of weeks I was taking cobalamin supplements and a general B complex, and I feel they are making a difference but my lovely GP, quite rightly, wants to check where my levels are at the moment.  

 

When I was diagnosed my levels were pretty borderline BUT I was taking Berocca so I am never really sure how accurate those were.  My feeling is I might have been offered some shots had Berocca not been helping.  

 

My question is, do any of you know is it necessary to do a supplement fast before a blood test for a truer picture and if so, how long would you give it?  At the moment my test is booked for end of next week.

 

Many thanks!


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



kareng Grand Master

For me, I continue to take my vitamins and see what my levels are. If they are at the high end, I know I can take less. If they are at the lower end or in the middle, I figure I am doing the right thing by taking them. If I am still low, I know I need to take more or heal more. For some vitamins, not taking them for a week wouldn't really effect the levels.... So it might give you a false sense that you don't need them?

ravenwoodglass Mentor

Ask your doctor to be on the safe side. Mine didn't want me supplementing for a week or two before the levels were tested. 

cristiana Veteran

Thanks so much friends.  My GP did tell me that I could keep taking them but I wanted to check with the experts on this board too. The buzzing in my cheek is really playing up now having almost fizzled out (literally!) UNTIL I saw my doctor and she told me she was going to give me a barrage of blood test - B12 is just one of them...  She has ordered so many tests  :(

 

My Gastroenterologist says that I have 'white coat tachycardia' - i.e. my BP soars in a medical setting, seems I have white coat neuropathy too...  

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,200
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Elisa Stutsman
    Newest Member
    Elisa Stutsman
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Redanafs
      Hi everyone. Back in 2022 I had blood work drawn for iga ext gliadin. Since then I’ve developed worse stomach issues and all other health issues. My doctor just said cut out gluten. He did no further testing. Please see my test results attached. I just need some direction cause I feel so ill and the stomach pain is becoming worse. Can this test show indications for other gastrointestinal diseases?
    • Fayeb23
      Thank you. These were the results TTG ABS NUMERICAL: > 250.0 U/mL [< 14.99]  Really don’t understand the results!
    • Scott Adams
      Clearly from what you've said the info on Dailymed is much more up to date than the other site, which hasn't been updated since 2017. The fact that some companies might be repackaging drugs does not mean the info on the ingredients is not correct.
    • RMJ
      To evaluate the TTG antibody result we’d need to know the normal range for that lab.  Labs don’t all use the same units.  However, based on any normal ranges that I’ve seen and the listed result being greater than a number rather than a specific number, I’d say yes, that is high! Higher than the range where the test can give a quantitative result. You got good advice not to change your diet yet.  If you went gluten free your intestines would start to heal, confusing any further testing,
    • Bev in Milw
      Scott is correct….Thank you for catching that!      Direct link for info  of fillers.    http://www.glutenfreedrugs.com/Excipients.htm Link is on 2nd page  of www.glutenfreedrugs.com   Site was started by a pharmacist (or 2) maybe 15-20 yrs ago with LAST updated in  2017.  This makes it’s Drug List so old that it’s no longer relevant. Companies & contacts, along with suppliers &  sources would need to be referenced, same amount effort  as starting with current data on DailyMed      That being said, Excipient List is still be relevant since major changes to product labeling occurred prior ’17.           List is the dictionary that sources the ‘foreign-to-us’ terms used on pharmaceutical labels, terms we need to rule out gluten.    Note on DailyMed INFO— When you look for a specific drug on DailyMed, notice that nearly all of companies (brands/labels) are flagged as a ‘Repackager’… This would seem to suggest the actual ‘pills’ are being mass produced by a limited number of wholesaler suppliers (esp for older meds out of  patent protection.).      If so, multiple repackager-get  bulk shipments  from same supplier will all  be selling identical meds —same formula/fillers. Others repackager-could be switching suppliers  frequently based on cost, or runs both gluten-free & non- items on same lines.  No way to know  without contacting company.     While some I know have  searched pharmacies chasing a specific brand, long-term  solution is to find (or teach) pharmacy staff who’s willing help.    When I got 1st Rx ~8 years ago, I went to Walgreens & said I needed gluten-free.  Walked  out when pharmacist said  ‘How am I supposed  to know…’  (ar least he as honest… ). Walmart pharmacists down the block were ‘No problem!’—Once, they wouldn’t release my Rx, still waiting on gluten-free status from a new supplier. Re: Timeliness of DailyMed info?   A serendipitous conversation with cousin in Mi was unexpectedly reassuring.  She works in office of Perrigo, major products of OTC meds (was 1st to add gluten-free labels).  I TOTALLY lucked out when I asked about her job: “TODAY I trained a new full-time employee to make entries to Daily Med.’  Task had grown to hours a day, time she needed for tasks that couldn’t be delegated….We can only hope majorities of companies are as  conscientious!   For the Newbies…. SOLE  purpose of  fillers (possible gluten) in meds is to  hold the active ingredients together in a doseable form.  Drugs  given by injection or as IV are always gluten-free!  (Sometimes drs can do antibiotics w/ one-time injection rather than 7-10 days of  pills .) Liquid meds (typically for kids)—still read labels, but  could be an a simpler option for some products…
×
×
  • Create New...