Vitamin B12

[onlyme1]

I just had a pop-up ad on this site for vitamin B12 patches...Years ago doctors would provide b12 shots when you were "run-down" and your system needed a boost to get back on the road to recovery.  Has anyone tried B12 patches or shots to help them over the hump of withdrawal?

[GoingToMakeIt]

I take a B-Complex shot with folic acid added. I am convinced it has helped me. B vitamins, especially B-12 are very hard to digest and absorb. Especially if you are taking any kind of antacid meds.

[worried878]

I give myself a B12 shot weekly til i am back on my feet...withdrawal depletes alot of our b storage and we also need a good B complex like Big 50 by GNC....alcohol, drug abusers are usually found to be malnutritioned to some degree,,,,restoring the vitamins we need are a must..most heavy drinkers are deficient in magnesium...they also need the aminos to clean their receptor sites that alcohol has been hogging up for years

[SableZen]

I used to give myself a B12 injection at work when I was having an off-day or just dragging. It works! lol

I wish I could have tried B12 injections for withdrawal considering how drained and energyless I felt... Unfortunately, as far as I know - taking B12 orally isn't much help like GoingToMakeIt says, and I didn't think about getting injectable B12 beforehand. Would be interested to know if it helps though (I would bet it does). Have no clue about how well the patches work.

[faith_hope_love]

I have been wondering about this too.  I would like to get a b12 shot but how do you go about doing it?  Tomorrow I see my sub dr., could I ask him?  Do drs. prescribe a b12 shot and you take it home and do it or do they do it in the office?  

One other thing, I take a multivitamin (one a day women's formula) and it has b vitamins in it but I also have a bottle of B super max formula and was wondering if I could take that along with the multivitamin or would that be too much.

[worried878]

The B12 can be given sq with a small needle in the fatty tiessue or IM into the muscle with a inch needle...they will fill a bottle for you and you can take it weekly and give the shot to yourself or if u know nurse or something   not hard

[SableZen]

I got curious and looked this up...

Apparently, B12 can be taken orally with no problem... and that it is an old medical myth that B12 is only effective when injected. 0_o    The myth comes using B12 in the treatment of pernicious anemia, where people genetically lack the ability to absorb it from the GI tract. In which case it's pointless to give them B12 orally and it has to be injected. For everyone else though - no problem.

There is also a nasal spray version available.

You are probably already getting enough B12 from your diet, and the excess is just excreted into the urine. So I wouldn't bother taking more than one B12 supplement but it's not likely to hurt you to take more than one.

[faith_hope_love]

Great, thanks for the info worried and sablezen.  I will keep ya'll updated.  Hugs!  Lyn

[onlyme1]

Thank you ...and to all who responded.....where does one get it?  (as I said, this all started due to a pop up ad on this site for the b12 patch, so I might try to order...if it is legal)   I do have an appt with my dr on Friday and will discuss it with him.  He does not know I have been off the vic for amost 3 weeks (with some hycomet for cough during that time) and am suffering ....perhaps he will perscribe some b12 to help me get thru this, and no more vikes...yeah.  Will keep you posted.

[onlyme1]

O.K,,,I went to GNC today and got liquid b12 .You take one dropperful per day...I just took it and will let you all know.  You mentioned that we are probably getting enough naturally daily and the rest would just be secreted ....so, what then does the shot do that the oral can not do, doesnt it also get secreted?  Anyway, I am anxious for anything that can help and if some of thes b12 helps, great....will let you know....Oh, also, one another question for all who have had the shots...how many cc's or ounces (not sure of measurement units) do you get in a shot?  Thank you

[dandeemandee4]

I just wanted to add that I am tapering off on my methadone imon 20 mg. I in the past foru days have been taking vitamin c adn vitamin b (b's) supplements ladn it has worked awesome!!  I have so much energy and feel great.  I got addicted to the rush and high methadone got me, mainly cause i was wanting to be supermom and do everything.  I take this instead of the drugs and it safe and healthy for me. I suggest anyone to do this if they have withdrawals or are feeling sluggish instead of taking more meds.

[onlyme1]

I hate to jump the gun, but I do feel better today and got a lot more done on just my first dose of b12.  Tomorrow I will double up as I read enough about this to know that I can not do damage ......and......anything that helps.  Medhelp does have posts about B12 which vegatarians use ...and ...how to go about getting it legitimately for injection.  

[GoingToMakeIt]

There is something to consider. Addicts and alcoholics have digestive systems that are in need of repair. It takes many many months to get back to normal. In the mean time, extra vitamins and minerals and amino acids can be very helpful. In fact it could be the difference between a successful recovery or not. Especially with alcoholics. Another factor affecting B 12 absorbtion is called the Intrinsic factor. If you have been using antacids or meds like Zantac, you have a lower Intrinsic factor. This will keep you from breaking down the B-12 into a usable form.

[Llardro]

I have pernicious anemia  and inject B12 monthly,   the syringes and the B12 were perscribed by a doc, and is covered by my insurance. My doc went with the auto refill at the pharmacy, because I was not very good at taking the time to go into the office for the shots.  I know this is a rare disease, most people absorb B12 thru diet  or vitamins.......didn't think the shot was necessary if your body absorbs B12 as it is suppose to do.  However, my daughter is on day 15 of oxy withdrawal,  she is doing a lot better, but still is a bit achey  and pretty lathargic........if the B12 helps the w/d symptoms I would gladly give her my dose, I can go a few months without it having a negative impact on my health.       Can you please tell me if the benefit from an injection works faster,  and helps your symptons when going thru w/d?    Thanks!!!

[Llardro]

PS  Sorry  I take 2ml monthly  or bi-weekly depending on my blood count    actually my  B12 blood count.   As someone said above I have Intrisic perniscious anemia  which means  my body  will not process B12, .Your body  and several of it's organs need  B12 to function, and my body will not absorb it  other than by IV muscular injection........   not sure my dosage is the same as people that don't have a blood disorder,  but that is my dosage.

[SableZen]

As far as I understand it, an injection is just more efficient (less is wasted compared to having to go through the IF intermediary). But in a practical sense, that doesn't really matter as your body barely uses most of what you take anyway (we can't absorb much B12 at once at the rest is routinely excreted out of the body instead of absorbed). Also a completely healthy person tends to store several years worth of B12 in the body at a time.

Why it helps with energy or combating fatigue isn't really understood well in people without pernicious anemia. But there is a connection between B12 and SAMe production. Mainly that the body has to have B12 to produce SAMe. SAMe is involved with a lot of detoxification reactions and the production of a lot of the chemicals in the brain - which a recovering addict is likely going to need in great supply. SAMe also increases dopamine levels is might have some promise in treating depression. It also has some anti-inflammatory benefits, which might provide some relief for withdrawal.

B12 also work with folic acid and B6 to keep down levels of homocysteine - which builds up from the normal metabolism of amino acids (another thing a recovering addict will be doing a lot of). There are a lot of diseases that result in increases homocysteine levels and it's effects not really well understood in the big picture... but generally high levels of homocysteine = not good.

But it's all guesses really. There is a lot of evidence that says it helps to take it though - and it doesn't seem to hurt anything. I'm actually going to start taking it routinely myself after researching this! lol

For Llardro - I wouldn't bother with having to stick them (not that you are likely to do any harm). But I'd just get an OTC B12 product or supplement for them and avoid the sting and wasted syringes. Don't think the injection would really be any benefit for her over taking a supplement orally.