Vitamin B12 Deficiency

I was recently diagnosed with a vitamin B12 deficiency. What are the possible causes for this? What is the course of treatment? Can taking an OTC B12 suppliment help? I have conflicting advice from physicians. One advises taking B12 vitamin; the other says that if my body is not absorbing B12, taking a vitamin will not help and I will require B12 injections. Is this a common deficiency for women?

[caregiver222]

Taking a B-12 vitamin tablet doesn't work too well because the main place where the B-12 is absorbed is at the lower end of the intestine. For decades intramuscular injections of
B-12 were the only suitable treatment, but sublingual B-12 (disolving under the tongue - a very vascular area) has been demonstrated as an effective alternative. Generally the initial treatment is one or two intramuscular injections, followed by a daily dose of B-12 sublingually with folic acid.

[caregiver222]

Taking a B-12 vitamin tablet doesn't work too well because the main place where the B-12 is absorbed is at the lower end of the intestine. For decades intramuscular injections of
B-12 were the only suitable treatment, but sublingual B-12 (disolving under the tongue - a very vascular area) has been demonstrated as an effective alternative. Generally the initial treatment is one or two intramuscular injections, followed by a daily dose of B-12 sublingually with folic acid.

[Sue0509]

A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause Pernicious Anemia - have you had a cbc done recently?

[rachellep357]

Hi, i have vitamin d deficiency, GO GET YOU THE VITAMINS ASAP...TRUST ME IT WILL HELP YOU...my aunt is going threw the same thing as you, so trust me get the vitamins as soon as you can. Take 1 tablet a day 1000mil.

[Cynthia5769]

Thanks for the input!
I thought that OTC B12 would not help. The route advised is the B12 injections or sublingual B12 suppliment.

[caregiver222]

If your levels are really low it is best to start with the intramuscular injections. They are not too painful and the doctor can show you how to do them yourself. Then you can switch to the sublingual B-12, but it has to have folic acid also. Start with four sublingual applications per day.

[mindy1977]

I had that same problem.  They told me I had pernicious anemia.  I took the B-12 shots (one a week for a month, the one a month) and the numbers didn't go up.  It wasn't until I started taking an over the counter B-12 vitamin (it didn't have folic acid) daily that my B-12 count went up to normal.  A few months of the daily supplements and a monthly shot and now I don't need either one.  Hope that helps.