If your vitamin B12 deficiency is not caused by a lack of vitamin B12 in your diet, you'll usually need to have an injection of hydroxocobalamin every 2 to 3 months for the rest of your life.
Simply put, how long the B12 shot will last is different for everyone. Though it differs a bit from one person to another, the effects of B12 vitamins usually last around 48 hours to 72 hours after the initial injection.
It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.
Getting large amounts of vitamin B-12 through vitamin B-12 shots is not likely to harm your health.
Upon receiving the B12 injection, you may experience a skin reaction in or around the area in which the injection was placed. Pain, redness, and swelling may occur shortly after the procedure is complete. There may also be some irritation in the area, as well as a risk of infection.
For patients who are naturally B12 deficient, more frequent injections about once a month may be ideal. For other patients, an injection every three to four months may suffice.
Avoid alcohol for 48 hours after your treatment. Avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours after your treatment. Avoid touching the injection site for 6 hours after your treatment. You may experience a dull ache at the injections site for around 1 hour after your treatment.
B12 injections work quickly; they are the most effective way for your body to absorb Vitamin B12. Within 48 to 72 hours, your body will begin to make new red blood cells. For mild deficiencies, you may need two to three injections over several weeks to notice peak impact.
Deficiency of Vitamin B12 can result in hematological changes, neurological and psychiatric problems, which can manifest as irritability, changes in personality, depression, and memory loss [9]. It is also known to worsen depression by excitotoxic reactions caused by the accumulation of homocysteine [10].
Vitamin B12
According to health experts at Click Pharmacy, as a general rule of thumb, take your B vitamins in the morning or with a meal. Vitamin B12, for example, should definitely be taken in the morning. This is because it is important for energy metabolism, which may interrupt your sleep if taken at night.
Of all eight B vitamins, vitamin B12 (cobalamin) may be the best researched for its role in sleep interactions, according to Dr. Breus. Vitamin B12 helps increase the body's production of melatonin, making it important for regulating sleep-wake cycles.
There is no upper limit for the intake of vitamin B12 because the risk of toxicity or overdose is low.
The B vitamins, and particularly vitamin B12, play a vital role in how your body produces what it needs for energy. If you're deficient in vitamin B12, an injection will definitely give your energy level a boost. In fact, one of the first signs of vitamin B12 deficiency is fatigue.
B12 Shots Can Make People Feel Like They've Been “Born Again.” Here's Why. Experts say the vitamin can boost mood, energy, memory and more in folks who are deficient. B12 is a nutrient needed to form red blood cells, DNA, and brain and nerve cells.
Safety and side effects
High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause: Headache. Nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea.
Vitamin B12 is considered an important brain and nervous system micronutrient and is often used for anxiety. It helps to ensure normal function for your nerves, which can help combat physical symptoms of anxiety.
Thus if you're otherwise healthy but still continue to feel tired after taking a B-12 supplement, it could be a sign of a mild allergic reaction. If a rash, difficulty breathing or swelling coincides with taking your dose of B-12, get to the doctor right away.
Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins play a role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions. Low levels of B-12 and other B vitamins such as vitamin B-6 and folate may be linked to depression.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can have distressing neuropsychiatric symptoms. It can have an etiological role in clinical presentations like depression, anxiety, psychosis, dementia, and delirium, requiring screening of at-risk populations.
If you're feeling tired or weak, an injection of vitamin B12 can give you a boost of energy and stimulate your metabolism.