There are a range of ailments that require vitamin B12 for effective treatment and recovery, and are described below. If you already take B12 injections as prescribed by your doctor, then you know your dosage and frequency.

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Many other people choose to take B12 every day as part of their regular routine, as they say it helps make them feel less tired, boosts their energy and helps them think clearly (think Monday mornings, or a particularly stressful week at work)!

Whatever your reasons for beginning to use B12 injections are, it’s important to understand how frequently you should be administering them. We’re here to try and help out and give you some guidelines, although it does vary from person to person.

 

image of a woman with flowers wearing a mask on the beachHow often can I take B12 injections?

You will have to test and find the best frequency that works for you on a personal level. The guidelines for self-administering shots at your own pace are pretty much relaxed. It depends on personal choice and the kind of results they give you.

Many choose to administer the shots daily or every two days, as some claim the effects of the vitamin are more noticeable. Others use the shots once a week, bi-monthly or some prefer to inject only once a month. To begin with it may be a good idea to experiment with varying frequencies and dosages.

It’s a good idea to list your symptoms in a daily or weekly diary, taking notes of the dosages and frequencies of your B12 injections. This helps a lot in working out how much vitamin B12 you would like to take to sustain your desired outcome.

You will know how your body responds and you can change the vitamin B12 dosages accordingly – we’re all different!

The dosages we offer in our online store are 1000mcg and 2000mcg and are testified to be effective and regularly used by clinics, doctors and those self-injecting at home.
Some choose to use higher doses less frequently, while others decide to use lower doses more often (1/2cc). As always, you should consult a doctor and check you’re not taking too much B12. You can read about the side effects of vitamin B12 overdose here, Can you overdose on Vitamin B12.

Higher regular doses are often used when there are suspected deficiencies or ailments.

 

How often should you take B12 injections for pernicious anemia?

If you have pernicious anemia you may require lifelong treatment, though this is made simple by taking regular shots.

To begin treatment, doctors may suggest you inject B12 into the muscle (intramuscularly) every day. If you see an improvement in symptoms after injecting daily for one week, it is recommended that you limit injections to once every 2 days, for two weeks (7 doses in total).

Finally, after your B12 levels have returned to a stable state, shots will be reduced to one injection per month. If you begin to re-experience symptoms of pernicious anemia after reducing the frequency of your injections, you could try taking B12 injections more often again. Obviously, everybody’s situation is different, so you should always consult your doctor before you set out to begin a new treatment.


More about Using B12 Injections to Treat Pernicious Anemia (PA)

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Vitamin B12 injection dosages for diseases and conditions

 

  • Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Causing symptoms such as anxiety, nausea, headache and fatigue, B12 deficiency isn’t fun. To reduce symptoms and sustain normal vitamin B12 levels, dosages of 2000mg may be taken daily until symptoms are reduced. Blood levels can be checked to ensure there is sufficient B12 in the body. After this, it is important to maintain B12 levels by taking weekly injections of 1000mg for at least a month, before you are sure your body has returned to its fully functioning state. To avoid future deficiencies, you can take monthly shots or as frequently as needed.

 

  • Gastrointestinal Disorders

B12 shots are the best option for patients with gastrointestinal issues, as injections bypass the stomach and the vitamin is easily absorbed. Gastrointestinal issues are a primary cause of B12 deficiency, so following the dosages and frequencies mentioned above will be useful in overcoming negative symptoms caused by gastrointestinal issues.

 

  • Crohn’s Disease (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and Celiac Disease

In gastrointestinal disorders such as Celiac and Crohn’s Disease is when part of the intestine that absorbs B12 through food and other natural resources is damaged.

Where severe deficiency is seen, daily injections are recommended until symptoms reside somewhat. After this, monthly B12 injections maintain the B12 levels in the body. Monthly injections may be required for life, depending on which other methods of treatment the patient may be using, such as surgery of the intestines.

 

  • Autoimmune Disorders

 

  • Lupus

Lupus patients require B12 injections as the disorder causes deficiencies. Frequent dosages should be maintained to avoid negative effects. Reports also suggest that regular dosages of B12 could reduce flare-ups in lupus patients who are not actively experiencing the negative symptoms of the disease.

 

  • Arthritis

Patients with conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis could benefit from taking B12 on a regular basis. Research shows that symptoms improved greatly in those with osteoarthritis when they took B12 supplements daily for two months. This may be because a few studies have shown that B12 may play a role reducing discomfort and stiffness in arthritis sufferers.

 

Other Factors –

 

  • Alzheimer’s disease

Research shows that taking vitamin B12 injections alongside folic acid and vitamin B6 for a long period of time may hinder the deterioration in mental function caused by Alzheimer’s. You should administer shots of 1000-2000mg weekly or monthly for at least 24 months, in order to ensure the body retains effective B12 levels.

 

  • Nerve Damage

Medical research has demonstrated that vitamin B12 shots may be effective in treating the pain related to nerve damage caused by illnesses such as shingles.

Injections for nerve damage should be administered six times per week, for up to four weeks.

 

  • Post-Surgery Treatment

After surgery, the body has undergone trauma and will often need vitamins to help put a spring in your step again. The post-surgery body is often in need of an extra boost, so many doctors advise taking a short course of high dosage vitamin B12 shots. These could be administered at 2000mg each day or every other day, for a week.

 

  • Lifestyle Factors

If you are a strict vegan or vegetarian, taking B12 shots may be a good idea. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in meat, fish, dairy and eggs. If you eliminate these food groups from your diet due to lifestyle choices, your body could be lacking in vitamin B12. You can continue to practice vegan or vegetarianism safely with the use of B12 injections, reducing fatigue, dizziness and the reductions in mental function related to the deficiency of the vitamin.

 

Summary

Overall, the rate at which you administer your vitamin B12 injections depends on the reasons behind why you are using the shots.

If you have a medical condition that requires B12 treatment, such as those listed above, you should follow guidelines set by medical professionals in order to ensure you are receiving the best dosages. You should take great care in double checking that you are administering the shots at a rate that works with your body to help overcome the condition.

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  1. If you are using B12 shots for a medical condition or deficiency, you should follow the recommended guidelines set by medical professionals, based on your own body and what it requires to overcome the condition or deficiency.
  2. If you are using vitamin B12 for non-medical reasons, such as simply wanting to boost energy levels, increase metabolism and improve mental functioning, you can make your own choices (to some extent) about how often you should be using the injections.
  3. There is little to worry about when it comes to overdosing on vitamin B12. This is because the body naturally filters out any excess vitamin through the urine, however using too much B12 could lead to negative symptoms such as skin problems in some patients.

Whatever reason you are using vitamin B12, you should always speak to your doctor before beginning injecting. They will be able to guide you on the best way that is specific to you and your medical history.

Medical professionals can also demonstrate and give training on how to carefully administer the shots, which is highly important. You can read more about our guide on how and where to administer B12 shots here.

 

Shop our Vitamin B12 products now, and begin your journey towards a more revitalized lifestyle! You can read some of our customer testimonials to find out more about how our products have enriched lives.

 

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The information contained in this article is only for general interest and informational purposes, and is in no way meant to be used to diagnose or prescribe medication or supplementation of any kind to treat any illnesses or symptoms of illnesses. The treatment of illnesses and symptoms mentioned in this article should only be performed in consultation with your physician. It is solely for informational purposes.

Sources:
https://www.medicinenet.com/pernicious_anemia/article.htm
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-926/vitamin-b12
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https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318216.php#Who-needs-shots
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/feb/28/everything-need-to-know-about-vitamin-b12-deficiency-immune-system
https://livestrong.com/article/408263-how-often-can-you-inject-b12/
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https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/natural/vitamins-minerals/guide/vitamin-b-12.php
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