I had to google that one....

I haven't checked in for a while. Well that's just not very smart. Howdy everyone, I noticed some comments about about "slacking on vitamins, etc" and things getting a bit worse when you do. Let me chirp in on that: Last time I posted I think I was a salesman for Methylcobalamine, it was seemingly that effective.....70 mgs. Well, I got lazy about it, Betho, ALA, and everything else I was taking. Big Mistake!! I got my order in to refill all that stuff. If it helps ya, stay wid it.

Hi Newstown - I remember you saying the Methyl B-12 works well - after I saw that, I found 5000 mcg dissolvable pills (as opposed to the puny 1000 mcg ones that I had been taking). I have been taking five 5000 mcg pills each morning on an empty stomach (MrsD had recommended taking vitamins on an empty stomach). Question: so you are taking 70 mg, which equates to 70,000 mcg ? I am confused on the mg / mcg thing. If I am figuring right, I would have to eat 14 of these 5,000 mcg pills to get the dosage that you are taking...am I figuring it right? Forgive me if I sound dumb I just want to make sure I am getting enough.

I take 40 mgs, not 70, sorry bout that. So yes, that is 8 of the 5 mg daily.

Thanks! So I have been taking 25 mg - maybe I should up it to 40 as you have been doing. From what I have read, it's not harmful to take too much. MrsD?

Just watch out for side effects. Really high methyl doses may activate stored mercury in the body.
http://www.whale.to/w/b12.html
However, this remains to be confirmed further.

Those high doses were done with medical supervision. And in the studies were IV I believe. Taking orally is very different. Most of the B12 will remain in the intestines.

High dose B12 in the past had acne as a side effect, but I believe that was with Cyano form. (the cyanide in it might be problematic for some people).

I would space out your multiple doses. This is because there is a carrier in the small intestine which has limits on how much it can latch onto. This carrier is called transcobalamin.

One can search all day about these topics online. I don't really think it is 100% safe to take such huge doses orally. This might become more of an issue over time, as well. The B12 itself is not toxic unless someone is intolerant to cobalt, which is rare.
It is the other effects that B12 may have on the tissues that haven't been studied in depth yet.

Oral B12 is not well absorbed normally, so a true toxicity is not likely from it.

Well, according to my own history it is actually better absorbed from the daily 5mg methylcobalamine than from the 3x/week 2mg injections I used to get (hydrocobalamine). But I agree there is a limit beyond which you basically just pee B12 .

I'd say 10mg in the morning and 10mg in the evening would probably make more sense if you want to take a high dose (but I'm not a doc etc.).

Most important I think is to have a steady supply. 5mg every day may be more valuable than taking high doses switched with not taking any for a while.

It's not likely to be toxic, but one can not be sure. It's like iron: most people are deficient or normal, so "fortified" foods were once the norm. Great when you are "normal" and potentially deadly when you have hemochromatosis. On the other hand: people who survive a house fire are often treated with up to 15 gram (yes, gram) of B12 over the course of a day (monitored obviously), so I guess it's safe to say it's safe in most cases.

Mind you, all this is based on my experience and reading over the years; there is very little hard science on these things it seems, so I might be proven totally wrong in the future no doubt. I've recently seen it happen with the LD50 of nicotine. For decades nobody ever doubted the established values, and now it appears to be off by a factor of 10 to 20.

Hi folks,

I'm hoping you can help me.

My brother - unbeknownst to me because I live overseas - is a chronic alcoholic. He was taken to the hospital after he could no longer walk. Well, three weeks later, what they thought were DTs and alcohol psychosis - are, in fact, alcohol neuropathy evidently. He is, among other things, still confused ( thinks for instance he is on a cruise ship rather than in a hospital), doesn't make much sense when he talks, is incontinent (urine), can not walk and could not swallow until a day or two ago (after 3 weeks). Contemplating things is that our mother is forgetful and quite up in years. My question: have you known someone exhibiting all of these symptoms and how much did they recover? I read on the Internet that the nerve damage from alcohol neuropathy is generally permanent but then read some posts from Icehouse where it sounds like he is doing well (and good for you! congratulations!). Please give them the straight story folks....Need to know what will happen. Thanks

Sorry to learn about your brother. If he has severe liver damage, that could be why also he is delirious. Severe liver damage causes encephalopathy which affects behavior and cognition. Some never recover from this.

While in the hospital, they will help him heal. But it will take a long time I fear.

Welcome wrist.