How Much B12? --Low Energy

[looking4help]

Hi there everyone! I have a horrible problem with fatigue. I am having so much problems staying awake during the day but at night I sleep so sound these days that I basically have to be shaken awake in the morning.

My general dr has had me on B12 shots for a bit now after doing bloodwork and finding it low. He also wanted me on a sublingual every day.

I am overdue for my next shot and don't have the funds to go in yet. So, my question is how much B12 is too much or can you even take too much?

Is there something else to help with my lack of energy?

Thanks!

[Bobbijo6681]

My understanding with B12 (I am also deficient in this) is that it is disolvable. Meaning if you don't need it you will just purge it. So you really can't take too much. Some signs that you may be purging alot of what you are taking from my doc is a)bright yellow urine, or yellow poo. If you have problems with either of those regularly you may need to cut down your dose, but you should have your levels rechecked and it may be possible to just use the sublingual and not the injections. Much cheaper and pretty painless. I had very low b12 and I only take sublingual and didn't want to do the injections, my numbers increased drastically with just the sublingual.

As for lack of energy, the b12 may help, but you are also still healing, so it will take some time to get over the lethargy. It was amazing but after being off of gluten for a month or so everyone told me that I looked so much better....at first I was offended because I didn't see myself looking so bad, but then when they explained what they ment I realized they were right. I used to be soooooo tired all the time, had dark black circles under my eyes, they were always puffy and itchy, post gluten-free I am back to looking like a living person and not a walking zombie.

Give it some time and hopefully you will be feeling better very soon!!

[lilbit]

I get B12 shots weekly at the moment. According to my doc, B12 is water soluble and whatever does not get absorbed just flushes out and you can't too much of it. At one point I got a B12 shot everyday and didn't have any bad effects. Now its twice a week...

However, I'm not a doctor Hope you feel better soon!

[TrillumHunter]

B-12 is a water soluble, so don't worry about taking too much. It can take a while to build up your stores if you haven't been absorbing it. Most drs order a loading dose-- a shot once a day for a week, once a week for a month, then once a month--something like that is how I did it. I take shot once a month now. If you can learn to give it yourself or get a friend to do it, it is dirt cheap. It's the office visit you are paying for, not the vitamin.

[looking4help]

My understanding with B12 (I am also deficient in this) is that it is disolvable. Meaning if you don't need it you will just purge it. So you really can't take too much. Some signs that you may be purging alot of what you are taking from my doc is a)bright yellow urine, or yellow poo. If you have problems with either of those regularly you may need to cut down your dose, but you should have your levels rechecked and it may be possible to just use the sublingual and not the injections. Much cheaper and pretty painless. I had very low b12 and I only take sublingual and didn't want to do the injections, my numbers increased drastically with just the sublingual.

As for lack of energy, the b12 may help, but you are also still healing, so it will take some time to get over the lethargy. It was amazing but after being off of gluten for a month or so everyone told me that I looked so much better....at first I was offended because I didn't see myself looking so bad, but then when they explained what they ment I realized they were right. I used to be soooooo tired all the time, had dark black circles under my eyes, they were always puffy and itchy, post gluten-free I am back to looking like a living person and not a walking zombie.

Give it some time and hopefully you will be feeling better very soon!!

I have been trying to be gluten free since April of this year. I say trying because it seems every time I turn around the corner I find a new source of the offensive poison.

I relate to what you are saying about others saying you look better. In a conversation with my 9 yr old she said that I look better on the inside. I didn't even have to ask her what that meant. I knew that for so long I have just been there and not really participating in life for almost 6 months straight. I barely woke up long enough to see her off to school or even when she returned. My poor baby would just sit on my bed and begin to tell me her day only to end up waiting for me to wake up again because I had drifted off. I won't even go into how she must have been so scared with the in the middle of the night trips to the ER for excruciating pain I was in.

Today is a bit better. After finally joining the board here and writing my first post I made the decision that I MUST get my diet under control and GET HEALTHY. I made myself get up this morning and instead of eating a gluten free processed food (or worse not eating at all) I cooked a couple slices of bacon and scrambled a couple of eggs. I ended up throwing most of the eggs away but at least it's a start.

I just wish that I could do the dishes in one whack and not have it taking all day like it is.

[RiceGuy]

From what I've read, the body will store what it doesn't immediately need, and can store it for decades. I haven't read anything about it being flushed out. You cannot overdose on B12 either, which is why doctors can give shots of huge amounts. So you can take all you want. No known level of overdose has ever been found.

The sublingual has helped me tremendously. Make sure to get the methylcobalamin form. I'd also suggest the tablet or lozenge type of sublingual, not the liquid, so that it can stay under the tongue longer, thus be more effectively absorbed. Source Naturals makes a 5mg sublingual methylcobalamin tablet.

A co-enzyme B-complex may also help with energy, as might magnesium, vitamin D3, omega-3s, coconut oil, and probably a few other things I'm not thinking of ATM.

[Looking for answers]

It's very important for individuals with stomach issues/intesintal damage to use the form Methylcobalamin vitmain B, which is biologically active (doesn't take our bodies to convert it) like the type that starts with a "c" (sorry, can't recall the name) normally found in the cheaper forms of vitamins you find at the health stores.

[looking4help]

It's very important for individuals with stomach issues/intesintal damage to use the form Methylcobalamin vitmain B, which is biologically active (doesn't take our bodies to convert it) like the type that starts with a "c" (sorry, can't recall the name) normally found in the cheaper forms of vitamins you find at the health stores.

I am confused. How do I check to see if my B12 is the Methylcobalamin form?

I was taking liquid but I didn't see too much difference. I now have a dis solvable tablet thing that goes under my tongue.

Thanks for all of this help everyone!

[Chakra2]

Just to offer another perspective: my bloodwork done 3 months ago showed borderline anemia and low b12. I was feeling very fatigued. My MD asked me to do some supplements and probiotics before we considered shots. So I added a chewable b12 to my daily multivitamin and doubled my dose of probiotics (I think bacteria in the gut can help manufacture b12?). I also started drinking a kombucha (fermented tea) about once a week and made rejuvelac from quinoa (another fermented grain drink). Both of those drinks supposedly have a lot of probiotics in them. When I could get some from the farmer's market, I would drink raw goat yogurt too for the probiotics. I started feeling super-energetic after a few weeks of doing that (and staying gluten-free/dairy-free/soy-free). I recently did follow-up bloodwork and my primary care physician said my b12 was through the roof and that I should drop the b12 supplement ASAP. She said too much b12 can cause acne, dizziness, numbness and possibly be rough on the liver and kidneys.

Here's a link from a thread on another forum with links in the thread to studies about b12 risks. I loooove my b12 but I do feel a little more peaceful now that I've brought my levels down a bit. And not fatigued yet.

Open Original Shared Link

Hope you find ways to feel better soon.

Chakra2

[Looking for answers]

I am confused. How do I check to see if my B12 is the Methylcobalamin form?

I was taking liquid but I didn't see too much difference. I now have a dis solvable tablet thing that goes under my tongue.

Thanks for all of this help everyone!

My sublingual drops list it as Methlcobalamin. Your vitamin should distinguish if the source is Methlcobalamin or cyanocobalamin. I get mine from my holistic doctor, but you can find them online as well.

[Looking for answers]

I also started drinking a kombucha (fermented tea) about once a week

Kombucha is the best!!! I drink it as often as possible. I even got my hubby hooked. Wholefoods in So. Cal now has it on tap too!!

[sickchick]

I take 3 sublingual b-12's every morning (all together) I buy the 2500 mcgs.

I have been gluten free for 3 years in Oct? (yeah... Oct) lol

still tired all the time.

GOOD LUCK!!!

[frieze]

I take 3 sublingual b-12's every morning (all together) I buy the 2500 mcgs.

I have been gluten free for 3 years in Oct? (yeah... Oct) lol

still tired all the time.

GOOD LUCK!!!

on an empty tummy? no food for an hour after....

[looking4help]

It's very important for individuals with stomach issues/intesintal damage to use the form Methylcobalamin vitmain B, which is biologically active (doesn't take our bodies to convert it) like the type that starts with a "c" (sorry, can't recall the name) normally found in the cheaper forms of vitamins you find at the health stores.

Ok I finally figured out that my B12 tabs are Cyanocobalamin kind. Are these bad or were you just meaning the M kind were better absorbed?

Thanks for the help!

[frieze]

Ok I finally figured out that my B12 tabs are Cyanocobalamin kind. Are these bad or were you just meaning the M kind were better absorbed?

Thanks for the help!

the body uses methylcobalamin....a small subest of persons lack the capacity to convert, for them it is nec. to start with the methylcobalamin instead.

[RiceGuy]

Ok I finally figured out that my B12 tabs are Cyanocobalamin kind. Are these bad or were you just meaning the M kind were better absorbed?

Thanks for the help!

Not only are the methyl type more effective, the cyano type uses cyanide as the co-enzyme. That puts an additional burden on the liver, as it not only has to convert it to the methyl type, but it must deal with the cyanide.

[looking4help]

Not only are the methyl type more effective, the cyano type uses cyanide as the co-enzyme. That puts an additional burden on the liver, as it not only has to convert it to the methyl type, but it must deal with the cyanide.

YIKES! Thanks for that info! I definitely don't need to add more problems to my already damaged and hurting insides!

Going to the pharmacy today to get new B12 methyl kind!

[miles]

Is there something else to help with my lack of energy?

I get very fatigued when I don

[frieze]

YIKES! Thanks for that info! I definitely don't need to add more problems to my already damaged and hurting insides!

Going to the pharmacy today to get new B12 methyl kind!

you may not find any, try a "health food" store, or on line

[chasbari]

I found Solgar sublingual yeast/gluten dairy free methycobalamin last week. Decided to give it a try.. I went steadily downhill in the five days I took it and think it is the mannitol used in it. It has made the inside of my mouth raw like I am on the verge of chancre sores. Tom's toothpaste with sorbitol messed me up as well several months ago. I went to use it and as I was brushing, my gums just started to bleed out pretty badly. It wasn't the mechanical action as I have been brushing without anything at all except for a plain toothbrush and water more vigorously with no problem. I stopped the Methycobalamin three days ago and am slowly feeling a bit better. The appetite is outrageous again which had been stable before this. I can't get enough sleep or food and am generally exhausted. Prior to the B12 episode I was really feeling much more stable all around so this is really frustrating. Oh, I also developed a nose bleed for the first time in forever as well. Seems like the only real strategy that works for me is making sure I get my needed supplements as intended.. from large quantities of nutrient dense raw foods. Couldn't believe how quickly a trace amount of something racked the gut and digestion with pain. Back to the drawing board. I am getting used to set backs but don't like them.

[That GF Girl]

Is this Kombucha tea gross? And what about the type of homemade yogert that one can have even if you should not have dairy? I was having Stony Field Organic Yogert, but I think that has can sugar in it? Is organic yougert ok or how does one make homemade youget? I am such a picky eater!

Just to offer another perspective: my bloodwork done 3 months ago showed borderline anemia and low b12. I was feeling very fatigued. My MD asked me to do some supplements and probiotics before we considered shots. So I added a chewable b12 to my daily multivitamin and doubled my dose of probiotics (I think bacteria in the gut can help manufacture b12?). I also started drinking a kombucha (fermented tea) about once a week and made rejuvelac from quinoa (another fermented grain drink). Both of those drinks supposedly have a lot of probiotics in them. When I could get some from the farmer's market, I would drink raw goat yogurt too for the probiotics. I started feeling super-energetic after a few weeks of doing that (and staying gluten-free/dairy-free/soy-free). I recently did follow-up bloodwork and my primary care physician said my b12 was through the roof and that I should drop the b12 supplement ASAP. She said too much b12 can cause acne, dizziness, numbness and possibly be rough on the liver and kidneys.

Here's a link from a thread on another forum with links in the thread to studies about b12 risks. I loooove my b12 but I do feel a little more peaceful now that I've brought my levels down a bit. And not fatigued yet.

Open Original Shared Link

Hope you find ways to feel better soon.

Chakra2