Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in various bodily processes. But before you take a supplement, injection, or IV drip, you must first know the potential vitamin B12 side effects.
In this post, we will discuss this vitamin, its benefits, its side effects, and how you can minimize potential risks.
What is Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is a water-soluble nutrient with an integral role in the human body. It’s necessary for nerve health, cell metabolism, red blood cell production, and DNA production, among others.
Aside from that, vitamin B12 is also used to treat canker sores, nerve pain, and high homocysteine levels when taken with folic acid.
While our bodies need it to survive, we can’t make vitamin B12 on our own. We have to get it from food items like dairy, meat, and fish. There are also oral vitamin B12 supplements and vitamin B12 injections to help boost your uptake.
Those with deficiencies can augment their vitamin B12 levels through nasal sprays, injections, IV infusions, or over-the-counter supplements.
But just like any nutrient, vitamin B12 must be taken in proper doses to avoid adverse reactions. Such a dosage depends on the individual needs, age, and health status of the person.
Take note that too much and too little vitamin B12 are both unhealthy. It’s crucial to understand how this vitamin works and how much is too much when it comes to higher doses.
How much is too much in vitamin B12?
There’s no Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) set for vitamin B12. This means that it doesn’t have an established toxic level, and adverse effects are unlikely even for higher doses.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin B12 among adults is 2.4 mcg.
Meanwhile, pregnant or breastfeeding women must take 2.6 mcg and 2.8 mcg of vitamin B12, respectively.
However, expectant mothers should be cautious when taking B12 supplements. It’s because unborn babies are at risk of autism spectrum if their mothers consume unnecessarily high doses of vitamin B12.
Remember that a higher-than-RDA dose of vitamin B12 doesn’t have any direct benefit, whether you’re pregnant or not. Your body will only flush out the excess and put unnecessary work on your kidneys.
To put things into perspective, your body only absorbs 10 mcg of vitamin B12 for every 500 mcg dose. The rest will be eliminated through urine.
In fact, neon or bright yellow urine after taking vitamin B supplements is a harmless sign that you’re consuming too much.
Nevertheless, higher doses are considered safe if prescribed by a medical professional after a thorough examination. In some cases, a person will benefit from a high amount of vitamin B12 if he’s experiencing a severe deficiency.
Overall, it’s all about the right balance. When in doubt, you should consult a medical professional to know exactly how much vitamin B12 you need.
What are the side effects of Vitamin B12?
While high doses of vitamin B12 are usually safe, experts still warn about these possible side effects:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Weakness
- Tingling sensation on extremities
- Acne breakouts
- Rosacea
- Increased risk of bone fracture
- Contraindications with medications
Aside from that, people with kidney and liver disease should be careful with their vitamin B12 intake. In general, the National Kidney Foundation has advised kidney patients to observe proper vitamin intake to avoid worsening their condition.
Those who have diabetic neuropathy should also avoid high-dose B12 supplements as they can reduce kidney functions quickly.
In addition, persons with blood disorders, gout, heart problems, and high blood pressure should be extra cautious when taking B12 supplements. They must seek proper medical advice before starting any supplementation.
Individuals with an autoimmune condition called pernicious anemia don’t absorb vitamin B12 efficiently. In this case, a physician may prescribe a higher dose of as much as 2,000 mcg through intramuscular injections.
Unless you need it, you should stir clear of these mega-doses.
On the other hand, vitamin B12 deficiency is also detrimental to a person’s health. It causes side effects like numbness, weakness, irritability, and increased heart rate.
According to a 2014 article published in the British Medical Journal, about 6% of adults below 60 years old in the UK and the US are vitamin B12 deficient.
Most of these cases can be easily treated with proper supplementation.
How to avoid vitamin B12 side effects
One way to avoid the possible side effects of vitamin B12 is to get your dose from food sources. Ensure your diet consists of poultry, meat, dairy products, or seafood for an ample supply of the vitamin.
If you’re a vegan, you may need B12 supplements due to the lack of animal products. You can try vitamin pills, B12 injections, or a B12-infused IV drip.
Aside from that, you should consider taking a lab test to know if you have a deficiency. From there, your health provider will recommend the ideal vitamin B12 dose you should take.
Also, you should be careful in taking vitamin B12 supplements if you’re under another medication. You must talk to your doctor before taking B12 supplements if you’re prescribed anticonvulsants, proton pump inhibitors, chemotherapy medications, etc.
You should do the same if you have a history of potassium deficiency. It’s because B12 injections and supplements could make this condition worse.
Overall, if the side effect is due to B12 overconsumption, lowering your intake is the easy solution. Healthy individuals are advised to stick to their RDAs to avoid issues with this vitamin.
If you suspect you suffer from vitamin B side effects, you must seek immediate medical attention. This condition is rarely life-threatening, but it can be severe for those with underlying health problems.
Vitamin B12 and IV Therapy
You should try IV therapy if you’re looking for a safe way to get vitamin B12 without side effects. This treatment delivers the vitamin straight to your bloodstream, which bypasses your digestive tract.
With this, you won’t suffer from stomach upset, especially if you need a higher dose. Also, absorption is much higher with intravenous administration compared to oral supplements.
Aside from that, IV therapy with B12 is personalized based on the person’s needs. This is something you won’t enjoy from pre-packaged supplements. And since the dose is tailored to your needs, the risk of side effects is very low.
Here at IV Concierge, we offer a variety of IV therapy infusions with vitamin B12. Our licensed medical professionals prepare each one for guaranteed efficacy. We also recommend that you undergo our lab testing, and we will formulate your drip based on the results.
Of our 20+ IV drip formulations, the following drips with vitamin B12 are the most popular among our clients:
All-Inclusive IV. This is packed with vitamin B-complex and a potent dose of B12. It’s infused with vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, and glutathione push to promote overall wellness. Our clients who want to boost their energy and immunity always ask for this drip.
Stomach Flu IV. If you’re suffering from stomach upset, this IV drip can help reset your tummy and combat dehydration. We infused this with the right amount of vitamin B-complex, vitamin C, and Zofran to help you recover quickly.
Food Poisoning IV. We infused this IV drip with vitamin B-complex to give your immune system an added kick. It will also help restore your energy after a bout of food poisoning.
Restore your body with vitamin B12 IV Therapy
IV therapy is an excellent way to boost your vitamin B12 intake within the advisable amount. Its dosing is controlled and personalized, making it way better than over-the-counter supplements.
If you’re looking for a mobile IV therapy company that provides B12 drips, IV Concierge is the top choice in Miami. We service the North Miami Beach and Delray Beach areas by delivering IV therapy to your doorsteps.
Our licensed nurses will ensure you’ll have the most comfortable experience during your session. We can go to your house, hotel room, office, or any location you prefer in Miami.
Our IV therapy with B12 will restore your body. Unlike tablets and pills, IV infusions guarantee fast and high absorption. This means that your body will receive and use its much-needed nutrients.
Call us to schedule your IV therapy anytime you like. You can also get an express lab test from us so that we can target your deficiencies in every drip.
