Re:Re: Methyl-cobalamin Question/to Carol and Kim

[Guest guest]

Dinah

I double-checked my latest bottle of B12 serum, and see it is cyanocabalamin. I thought it was methylcobalamin; maybe it was at some point but since changing primary care physicians and getting a new script it was changed and I didn't pay enough attention. My body tolerates this new bottle of serum just as it did the last one so I didn't check.

Anyway, my experience (and my research confirms) that when your B12 levels are low it is common to have daily or weekly injections for a period of time then you gradually lengthen the time between shots. All depends on your initial test result, and what other medical conditions you're dealing with. Perhaps this is what your doctor has in mind. I have seen emails from people in my Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction support group who need B12 injections every 3 to 5 days.

But 3500mcg/day is certainly a large dose. 1000mcg/day also seems a large dose to me when it is daily over the long-term -- but again, it depends on whatever else is going on. Maybe methylcobalamin works differently than cyanocobalamin, so you need more of it??

I haven't done the research into whether B12 when in serum form has as high a level of excretion as oral doses. I would guess not -- but there is bound to be some excretion. I have interstitial cystitis (bladder lining inflammation) so I'm very sensitive to excess B and C vitamins (and other meds., both supplement and prescription) that end up in the bladder because so little is absorbed. I don't experience anything after a B12 injection, other than the improvement in my balance, coordination and muscle response. I much prefer serum injections over oral simply because my body absorbs it better and there is less excretion.

I'll do some checking. Now I'm curious to know more about this.

Kim M.