hey all,

I have been on different B-12 for a few years, on various forms (standard pill, sub-lingual pill, sub-lingual liquid, extended-release pill, etc.) and dosages. I've been taking at least 200% USRDA every day, well before my neuroinfection got into my brain (i.e., when my encephalitis started) and set things there ablaze.

I just wanted to know what dose/form y'all tend to take... When my encephalitis blew up on me in 2005, I increased to about 5,000% USRDA (taken by standard B-complex w/extra B-12 pill daily).

In 2006, I switched to a similar B-complex with an even higher dose (17,000% RDA) in order to possibly prevent/slow down my neuro symptoms. Then, I went to take what was essentially the same dosage of B-vitamins, except in a sublingual liquid form. I was on that for a while before switching to an extended release B-12 only preparation with 30,000% RDA B-12 (whilst staying on a B-complex with more normal B-12 levels). This is also when I started supplementing additionally with 200% each folate and vitamin C.

A couple months ago, I switched to 50,000% RDA B-12 (in addition to my normal B-complex) in sublingual pill form. I think this was too much/too soon of a release, since I started experiencing pins/needle sensations (parasthesias) within a couple hours of the first dose. Within a few days, I cut the B-12 back down to my former 30,000% RDA XR and the sensations got better.

Strangely, I know that B-6 in high doses can cause peripheral neuropathy, but I looked everywhere to find out about a B-12 toxicity syndrome (and I don't even mean serious symptoms, I just mean published case studies and personal anecdotes showing what side effects patients had). Haven't had any luck, and it seems that the medical world says that one could take my entire bottle of B-12 sublinguals at once and still feel nothing bad.

So I do really want to know what dosage and amount of B-12 that y'all take, and if anybody has had side effects from too much B-12.

(P.S. - My other issue could be not increasing my vitamin C and folic acid intake to match the higher B-12 load. I noted this when I started having a huge craving for citrus fruits and juices during and a few days after my sublinual 50,000% B-12 regimen... and citrus is a big no-no for me around bedtime since my esophagus stopped functioning properly, giving me bad acid reflux!)

(P.P.S. - I also take a daily standard multivitamin, chewable since I can't swallow large pills.)