Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jaby on February 19, 2003, at 10:35:12
A doc Iother than my pdoc) has recommend I start these and I'm wondering if anyone has done the same in the past. I don't expect this to be anywhere near as powerful as the slew of psych meds I've taken, but I'm running out of things to try. Anyhow, I had my first yeasterday and my body maybe felt a little better, but my head and my vision (derealization-wise) seemed a little worse. Any experiences?
Posted by Lia Mason on February 19, 2003, at 12:39:08
In reply to B-12 shots-Any input?, posted by jaby on February 19, 2003, at 10:35:12
Hi,
I gave myself B-12 injections when I had chronic fatigue syndrome--about 9 years ago. I can't tell you if they helped. I did get better, but I was doing a slew of treatments simultaneously. I had no ill effects from them at all. Also... I encourage you to learn to inject yourself. It was very costly for me to have them done in a doc's office. Finally, a lab technician taught me to do it (through my tears of anxiety!) and it really was SO EASY. I did them in the fatty part at the top of my butt.
Best,
Lia
Posted by Greg A. on February 19, 2003, at 14:10:48
In reply to B-12 shots-Any input?, posted by jaby on February 19, 2003, at 10:35:12
I got fed up, a few years ago with ADs and went to a naturopath who assured me he could help more effectively. For a price. I went through a number of 'analytical procedures' and treatments. (i was off of all ADs) When I reached a point of feeling absolutely horrible he started me on B12 injections. Like Lia, I learned to inject myself. Aside from preparing myself for future use of hardcore injectable drugs, I found the B12 to be of no use. The naturopath, however was $1500 to the good.
Just my own experience though. Maybe others have had some success.
Greg
Posted by missliz on February 20, 2003, at 2:12:07
In reply to Re: B-12 shots-Any input?, posted by Greg A. on February 19, 2003, at 14:10:48
B-12 shots are a kind of old fashioned idea, and one that passed out of vogue for a reason...
However- I started using a good quality B complex pill every day, along with some fish oil and calcium/magnesium supplements and I'm doing so much better. Coenzyme Q 10 is helping,too. A lot of people on this board have found that vitamins and/or supplements help, I just think the B-12 shots sound like a scam. You need a whole package to get anywhere. I'd round up a few good comtemporary books and do some homework. There are some excellent ones out about stress and cortisol overload that give usefull info for people in our situation. Your money's better spent at a good health food store on super B complex tabs, or even a good mulrivitamin.missliz
Posted by etoc on February 20, 2003, at 3:03:12
In reply to B-12 shots-Any input?, posted by jaby on February 19, 2003, at 10:35:12
Generally, B-12 will not have any lasting effect, mentally, for most people unless they have a B-12 deficency (pernious anemia) which by the way is rare, unless you are an over-drinker or elderly.
It is often used as a 0 side-effect, placebo. But if it works for you, then go for it. It's a hell of a lot safer than many if not all psych meds!
Posted by noa on February 21, 2003, at 7:52:25
In reply to Re: B-12 shots-Any input?, posted by etoc on February 20, 2003, at 3:03:12
> Generally, B-12 will not have any lasting effect, mentally....unless you are an over-drinker or elderly.
Or on a completely vegan diet and not taking B12 supplements.
Posted by jane d on February 22, 2003, at 4:28:30
In reply to Re: B-12 shots-Any input?, posted by noa on February 21, 2003, at 7:52:25
> > Generally, B-12 will not have any lasting effect, mentally....unless you are an over-drinker or elderly.
>
> Or on a completely vegan diet and not taking B12 supplements.
>Or perhaps on the Dunkin Donuts/Ring Ding/Pringles Diet some of us live on when we get depressed? I've often wondered how relevant the studies saying vitamin supplements don't help most people are to me. It's very nice to say that you "just" need to eat a balanced diet. The daily effort that involves has sometimes been beyond me for years at a time but I can usually manage to buy bottles of vitamins every few months and remember to take them more days than not.
Posted by Larry Hoover on February 22, 2003, at 7:31:13
In reply to Re: B-12 shots-vitamins in general, posted by jane d on February 22, 2003, at 4:28:30
> > > Generally, B-12 will not have any lasting effect, mentally....unless you are an over-drinker or elderly.
> >
> > Or on a completely vegan diet and not taking B12 supplements.
> >
>
> Or perhaps on the Dunkin Donuts/Ring Ding/Pringles Diet some of us live on when we get depressed? I've often wondered how relevant the studies saying vitamin supplements don't help most people are to me. It's very nice to say that you "just" need to eat a balanced diet. The daily effort that involves has sometimes been beyond me for years at a time but I can usually manage to buy bottles of vitamins every few months and remember to take them more days than not.I think the latest figures show that at least 10% of the population are B-12 deficient. Common contributing factors are: hypochlorhydria, or low stomach acid, often artificially induced with drugs like Nexxium or Prilosec to treat heartburn or GERD; malabsorption disorders including celiac sprue, and lactose intolerance; irritable bowel and Crohn's disease; pernicious anemia; and those other things mentioned by other posters.
It was long believed that oral B-12 was not well absorbed, so depo injections were developed. The B-12 in the shot is actually mixed with a substance that doesn't dissolve the B-12 properly. It gradually diffuses from this mixture, and thus provides a long-standing supply of B-12.
It has recently been found that oral B-12 has multiple routes of absorption, and the one that involves intrinsic factor (deficient in pernicious anemia), although a major route, can easily be bypassed. There are sub-lingual B-12 tablets which dissolve under the tongue. The B-12 is readily absorbed across the oral mucosa. There are high-dose B-12 tablets which do not require liberation by stomach acid and combination with intrinsic factor for uptake. The dose is high enough that passive diffusion across the intestinal membrane allows a few per cent of the dose to be absorbed.
The link with GERD is more that coincidence, by the way. B-12 deficiency is a cause of GERD. I used to require Prilosec to function, day to day. I took part in clinical trials for Nexxium. I no longer take either one. One of the reasons is that I started taking high-dose B-12.
Lar
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