Top Reasons Your Doctor May Recommend Vitamin B12 Injections

Top Reasons Your Doctor May Recommend Vitamin B12 Injections

Vitamin B12 is essential for many important body functions like making DNA, red blood cells and nerves work right. If you don’t have enough B12 in your body, you can develop some big health issues over time.

A lot of people get the B12 they need from foods. But some people have a hard time absorbing enough B12 from eating food. Others might have medical conditions that make it hard for their bodies to use B12 properly.

If blood tests show your B12 levels are low, your doctor might suggest getting B12 injections to raise your levels. Here are some main reasons this treatment could help.

Signs Your Body May Be Low on Vitamin B12

Not having enough B12 can lead to many symptoms that disrupt your life. Some common clues your B12 could be low include:

Feeling Very Tired and Weak

Feeling wiped out and having zero energy even after sleeping is one of the most common B12 deficiency symptoms. Your muscles get tired very quickly doing everyday stuff.

Getting Lightheaded or Dizzy Spells

B12 helps your blood carry oxygen everywhere in your body. Without good B12 levels, people often get spells of dizziness when they stand up or try to be active. Your surroundings seem to spin.

Extremely Pale or Yellowish Skin

Low red blood cells from poor B12 can make skin lose colour and look yellowish. An excess of bilirubin does this.

Short of Breath and Fast Heartbeat

If you have a hard time breathing or your heart pounds doing simple tasks, it could mean low oxygen in the blood from B12 deficiency. This makes exercise tough.

What Causes Low Vitamin B12?

There are some common reasons someone’s B12 levels take a nosedive. Usual causes are:

Not Eating Enough B12 Rich Foods

Adults need about 2.4 micrograms of B12 daily. That sounds tiny, but without enough B12 over months, your levels drop way down. Vegans and strict vegetarians often don’t eat foods with natural B12.

Digestion Issues Absorbing B12

You need stomach substances and gut receptors to take in B12 from foods. If either of those systems don’t work right, your body can’t properly absorb vitamin B12.

Other Health Conditions

Some meds, alcohol abuse, stomach surgeries, digestive diseases like Crohn’s disease, and genetic issues affect B12 absorption and cell function.

Testing for Vitamin B12 Deficiency

If your doctor thinks you might have low B12 based on symptoms, they will do blood tests to confirm it. This includes:

B12 Blood Level Check

This blood test accurately measures how much B12 is circulating to see if stores are low or deficient. Normal B12 range is 200-900 picograms/mL.

Complete Blood Cell Count

Common CBC test looks at all blood components. It shows if red blood cells are right to quantify and size. Odd results indicate B12 issues.

Other Cellular Function Tests

Methylmalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine levels provide details on what’s happening inside cells. High MMA points to functional B12 deficiency and DNA damage.

How To Treat Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Mild drops in B12 might be fixed with high strength B12 supplements by mouth. But anything more requires B12 shots to correct faster.

High Dose Oral Vitamin B12

With mild cases tied to diet, doctors first try supplements from 1,000-2,000 micrograms daily. But poor gut absorption limits how well oral doses raise B12 status.

Vitamin B12 Injection Therapy

For proven deficiency, shots are the treatment standard. Injections dodge poor digestion and rapidly recover low stores better than trying to eat more B12. Reasons it is the top method are:

Better Absorption

Shots deliver B12 straight into the bloodstream with no absorption worries. None gets wasted or lost. Cells start using it quickly.

Bypasses Digestion

People with absorption issues from stomach surgery or pernicious anaemia need shots for good B12 delivery. Oral B12 just passes through unused.

Fast Improvements

Restoring B12 via pills and diet takes many months. With consistent shots, positive changes and higher energy happen within 1-2 weeks.

Who Is Most Helped By B12 Injections?

Certain groups usually benefit the most from Vitamin B12 injection. These higher risk folks include:

Vegans and Vegetarians

With no meat intake, these groups must supplement but absorption is limited. Shots give the levels they require.

Older Adults Over 50

Up to 30% of adults over 50 make less of the stomach substance needed to absorb dietary B12. Shots circumvent this issue.

Digestive Disease Patients

People with Crohn’s, celiac, ulcers, and post-surgery claim trouble absorbing nutrients. B12 shots ensure their tissues get enough.

Those Diagnosed With Anaemia

B12 is required to generate healthy red blood cells. When pills don’t boost low counts, doctors try corrective injections.

Conclusion

In conclusion, B12 deficiency makes you feel lousy and can lead to bad effects if not treated right. Getting tested to confirm low B12 is crucial since symptoms are vague. For those not getting enough from foods, older adults, strict vegetarians, and folks with absorption conditions – B12 injection therapy quickly recovers levels. Most people report improved energy, less fatigue, clearer thinking, and better nerves in some weeks. Plus red blood cell counts show gains.

FAQs

How often do you need B12 shots?

Most doctors recommend 5-10 weekly shots to start, followed by maintenance shots every 1-3 months.

When do you feel better after B12 injection therapy begins?

Most people note more energy, better concentration, less fatigue in as soon as 7-10 days once injections begin. But full cell repair takes 1-2 months.

What symptoms mean I’ve waited too long to treat low B12?

Numbness, walking changes, vision issues, bladder control problems, or mental slowness means don’t delay getting tested and starting B12 correction. Permanent nerve damage can happen.

Does health insurance cover B12 shots?

Yes, most insurance covers injections when blood tests confirm deficiency needing aggressive treatment to prevent bigger issues. Approval varies case-by-case.

What does out-of-pocket B12 injection treatment cost?

Uninsured pay around $15-40 per shot. Multi-dose vials cost less for weekly self-injections. Expect higher prices at med spas and weight clinics. Check your coverage.