Vitamin deficiencies are more common than you’d think. The good news is that there are plenty of options to ensure that your body gets the nutrients that it needs when you aren’t getting the vitamins from diet alone. Vitamin B-12 injections are very common because this is a vitamin that people frequently suffer from a deficiency of. By reading on, you can learn more about B-12 injections to make an informed decision as to whether or not this is a treatment option that you can benefit from.
Vitamin B-12 Injection Overview
Vitamin B-12 also referred to as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an essential role in how the brain functions and produces red blood cells and DNA. This vitamin can actually be stored in the liver for quite a bit of time, so you may not realize that you are suffering from a vitamin deficiency for a few years. Injections use an artificial version of this vitamin, which is called cyanocobalamin.
The reality is that it’s very common for people to have a vitamin B-12 deficiency. One reason is that you can only get vitamin B-12 through eating animal products, so vegetarians and vegans are more likely to suffer from this type of deficiency. However, anyone can suffer from a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Some people, despite eating meat regularly, may not be able to absorb vitamin B-12. One’s ability to absorb vitamin B-12 depends on a protein produced within your stomach, known as the intrinsic factor. This factor binds to the vitamin, allowing it to absorb into the blood. If you don’t produce enough of this protein in your body, you will be more likely to become vitamin B-12 deficient.
Signs of a B-12 Deficiency
A vitamin B-12 injection can be a highly effective treatment for a vitamin deficiency.
Some signs of vitamin B-12 deficiency include:
- Fatigue
- Decreased cognitive function, including problems with understanding and memory.
- Headaches
- Feeling faint
- Constipation
- Vision changes
- Heart palpitations
- Depression or irritability
Risk Factors That May Increase Your Chances of a Deficiency
Vitamin B-12 shots are only available through prescription, which is why you need to see a doctor get this product. This can be a better approach to resolving the vitamin B-12 deficiency, especially when taking B-12 supplements and fortified foods may not be enough to get the vitamin B-12 that your body needs.
There are risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing a vitamin B-12 deficiency, such as:
- Aging
- Smoking
- Abusing alcohol
- Gastric bypass or surgery to remove part of the stomach
- Eating a strictly vegan or vegetarian diet
- Various prescription medications, including some type 2 diabetes medications or antacids.
- Some gastrointestinal disorders like Crohn’s disease
- An endocrine-related auto-immune disorder, such as a thyroid disorder diabetes.
Vitamin B-12 Injection Benefits (Uses)
Taking vitamin B-12 injections can offer a lot of benefits. This section will take a closer look at some of these benefits.
Improved Levels of Energy and Concentration
If you notice that you’re still exhausted no matter how much you slept the night prior, a vitamin B-12 injection may be needed. As previously mentioned, vitamin B-12 is necessary for producing red blood cells. Red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body, which is important for fueling your body to produce energy. A reduction of red blood cell production can be the cause of your excessive fatigue.
Improves Metabolism
Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause anemia which means that the person might not convert proteins and fats into energy. This can lead to difficulty losing weight even when you exercise and eat a proper diet regularly. You may notice an improvement in your weight loss with vitamin B-12 injections.
Boosts Your Immune System
When you have a B-12 deficiency, your body isn’t able to properly produce white blood cells. White blood cells are crucial for fighting off infections and having a strong immune system.
Improves Your Sleep Patterns
Vitamin B-12 plays a major role in producing tryptophan, which is important to get a good night’s sleep.
Can Sometimes Stop Some Types of Hair Loss
Hair loss may be dismissed as a normal part of getting older, but there may be a vitamin deficiency that you are dealing with.
MIC B12 Injections
Methionine inositol choline (MIC) B12 injections are used in weight loss treatments. These lipotropic injects contain a blend of nutrients that help your body burn fat. Inositol stimulates fat removal by your liver, while choline prevents cholesterol buildup and deposits. Methionine is an essential amino acid that helps inositol and choline work together more efficiently.
MIC injections combined with vitamin B12 stimulate your metabolism and give you a boost of energy. This is excellent for those who do not receive enough B12 throughout the day. When methionine, inositol, choline, and B12 are combined into one injection, you have a higher chance of getting rid of excess fatty deposits, thus meeting your weight loss goals.
Treatments & Dosage
The dosage for vitamin B-12 injections can depend on your specific condition and how you are responding to this treatment. As you first start treatment, you will need to take these injections regularly. There are certain conditions like pernicious anemia that do require you to continue with these treatments every month. You can work closely with your doctor to determine the best course of treatment.
Be sure to follow the dosing instructions as prescribed by your doctor. You will inject the medicine under the skin or into a muscle, as directed by your doctor.
B-12 Injection Side Effects
There are side effects that you can expect when taking these injections. Common side effects of these injections, including:
- Joint pain
- Injection site reactions such as irritation, redness, pain, and swelling.
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Itching
- Rash
- Headache
- Numbness/tingling
- Joint pain
- Fever
There is the potential that these injections can also cause low levels of potassium in your blood.
It’s important to know that if you are experiencing the following symptoms, you should contact your doctor right away:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Muscle cramps
When consulting with a doctor about taking these injections, you should let them know which medications you are taking as these injections can interact with certain medications. If you are experiencing any side effects that worry you, you should talk to your doctor.
Conclusion
Vitamin B-12 injections can be a highly effective way to resolve any B-12 deficiency that you may be suffering from. You should talk to your doctor or qualified telemedicine provider like EVOLVE if you feel like you have a B-12 deficiency so that they can create a treatment plan that best works for your specific needs. A doctor can only prescribe these injections, so you need to consult with one before getting treatment. Contact EVOLVE patient care to resolve your vitamin B-12 deficiency and optimize your healthy lifestyle goals!
