Pipbub...I tried foods to increase b12 levels, no good in my situation. I must take subligual methylcobalamin and use the Pure Encapsulations brand because it gives me the least amount of side effects. I am also allergic to metals, cobalt included. Two yrs ago when my b12 level was quite low, I saw my Rheum, endo, allergists, ENT, neuro, surgeon and primary docs on a weekly basis. All recommended this form of b12 supplement.

I haven't taken a medication, not even tylenol, for 25 yrs due to untoward side effcts. Having had many small bowel obstruction surgeries, my ability to absorb b12 is limited, at best. I also have psoriatic arthritis, which clouded finding this b12 malabsorption for many yrs. My symptoms were devastating: surgeries planned, neuropathy in hands and feet, I could nolonger read, walking was diffcult, glucose control concerns showed up, unable to lift my purse, pulsatile tinnitus, heart irregularities, my memory was gone, extreme pain, vision problems. I didn't have the usual depression associated with lack of b12 so b12 was overlooked. Had I not read up on it, I wouldn't be alive.

You're concerned about side effects of taking the b12. My docs wouldn't give me the injections due to my extreme allergies. My initial dose of sublingual methylcobalamin, 2000mcg, resulted in a cough and sinus drainage. As expected, it was extreme, but I lived... Taking a med to fend off the cough and sinus attack wasn't an option for me. But, because the level 10 pain I'd lived with for many yrs was cut to a level 5, I continued dosing each day. After a wk of coughing, I called my primary, who suggested I cut back the dose, which I did to 1000mcg... still the cough. I then revisited the allergist, ent, neuro, etc... New side effects started after a few wks, node swelling, vivid and bad dreams, hormonal issues..more doctors, orders to stop taking the b12 for 2 wks then to take 20 mcg and work up to a dose that gives me relief. During the 2 wks, all side effects disappeared. Pain and neuropthy reappeared.

After 2 yrs, I take very small doses, 150mcg-250mcg, a couple times per day. When the cough gets too disruptive, I skip a day. It's a miserable day, though.

My advice to you is to try the liquid drops of methylcobalamin and start at a low dose schedule. Depending upon your side effects, seek out foods that supply other nutrients to help b12 do it's job. Study b12 deficiency, understand it's importance. I am still studying.

Hope this helps. You're probably not going to find anyone else that has a sensitivity to cobalt but if you do, please let me know. Oh..explaination to my metal allergy was determined to be from injesting cobalt blue paint for yrs. Oh, yes, I did. I'm an artist, and back in my young and stupid yrs, I was instructed to wet my paintbrush by sticking it in my mouth.

enjoy the day...
deb