Not sure if this helps or if anyone who is B12 deficient is interested but I recently heard about a new oral prescription alternative to the injections called Eligen B12. I recently read that it works even if you don't have intrinsic factor (so even if you don't have normal gut absorption). Apparently it came out a month or two ago. Has anyone heard of it or tried it??

This Eligen product is mentioned on our B12 thread on the PN forum...

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread85103.html

It has been in the pipeline for several years.

I see two disappointing things concerning it.

1) it does not have the methylcobalamin in it...which is superior to cyano form. We now know that 10-30 % of adults cannot methylate properly and convert cyano to its active form in the body. So this cyano product will not work for them.
This is called the MTHFR mutation.

2) And it is RX only and therefore expensive. All other forms of B12 are OTC.

As a dosage form improvement, it does look promising. But why pay so much when Methylcobalamin is easily absorbed on an empty stomach (even when intrinsic factor is missing), for pennies a day?

I have pernicious anemia, and am wondering whether I must take my methylcobalamin as sublingual. Or if I chew and swallow a tab will some still get in my system?

The reason is that I am wondering whether the sublingual (or injection) just goes straight to the bloodstream, and won't replenish the stores in the liver. I've been treating since Nov 2014 but I still don't feel right and need B12 a lot more often than one shot a month. I have nerve damage as my deficiency was undiagnosed for so long. Perhaps a body process got "broken" (I'm thinking methylation) and that's why I need much more?

How long will it take before I feel normal again? I'm hoping my nerves will eventually recover so I can walk again (small nerve fiber neuropathy) and sweat again (developed anhidrosis due to the neuropathy).

Welcome GeekGirl.

Hello GeekGirl,
Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

I'm sure someone with more knowledge than I have will be able to answer your questions, but in the meantime I just wanted to post the link to a thread in the Peripheral Neuropathy Forum here regarding Vitamin B12.

STICKY - The Vitamin B12 Thread

It's very long, but is a very informative thread.

There's a good search feature here too. Just type in keywords (need to be longer than 4 letters though) and that will bring up posts or threads across all forums or you can choose to search one particular forum.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/search.php

all the best to you.

Hello and welcome, happy to see you have come to be with us, it a great place to be. As you can see we have a great number and caring fellow members here, where you have find a supportive and relaxing place. Have fun looking into the different forums. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

Welcome Geekgirl, I was in a car wreck (minor) and three days later started having a burning path from inside knee to outside of hip on right side. Soon after learned that b-12 was at 119. I have had dx of PN, Amyotrophy plus with a b-12 that low, deficiant. I started taking shots monthly plus a supplement. My balance went south and my muscles in my legs also. I started falling and went to a walker. My b-12 went from 119 to 300 to 900+ and then stopped the shots and I will continue Foltanks (b-12+folic) as long as I continue to take Metformin for my diabetes. I am free walking now but still shaky, balance is better as I don't have to hold on to something all the time. I believe that it took me about six months to hit bottom. I only had one or two injections where I felt any stronger. After my numbers were up 900+ I stayed on the walker about six or eight months(spin bike daily). I have been off the walker for about 4 or 5 months and believe that anything you can do to promote nerve healing,ie,nitrition, excersize. etc, is what you need to do. I have tried the Swartsenegger big loads low reps and the muscles are just not going to respond any quicker than the nerves are going to heal IMHO. It has been two years going from normal to handicapped and back to not quite either. Wishing you the Best, Ken in Texas.