A few days ago i posted some questions about autoimmune neuropathies. Melody recomended that i take Methyl b12, because of the benefits she's received from it. So when i read her post, i decided to take it. I had some difficulties because iherb does no ship to Mexico, but i finally found someone from the Staes who is willing to order it and take it to me here. So before i start taking b12 i would like you to help me understand somethings because i have been reading all kinds of contradictory information.

First i read on another post it is recommended to take ONLY Methyl b12, since b12 is the vitamin required for nerve repair. But i read on another post that taking all the b complex is better because having just one type of the b complex can actually lead to some sort of imbalance. So what is the truth, or what do you think is the best in my case (i have an autoimmune neuropathy, i expirience pins, needles, numbness and other weird sensations in my legs). I also read taking only Methyl b12 is better because it can better be absorbed by the body. So, what do you think?? should i take methyl b12 or the whoe b vitamin complex?? I case i decide to take only b12 vitamin (which i am likely going to do, due to Mel's incredible improvement), how should i take it?? What is the recommended dose??

I was also reading someone mentioned vitamin b6 can worsen neuropathy. Is this true?? Is this suppossed to mean that taking b vitamin complex is not a good idea??

An other question. Do you think Methyl b12 can only hel people with diabetic neuropathy. My neuropathy is, as i mentioned before, immune mediated, so taking methyl b12 is as useful no matter the underlying cause of the neuropathy??

I would also like to know if you think taking so many vitamins can lead to mor issues. I am currently on vitamin c and e (it was prescribed by a doctor) and i am also on imuran, novotiral and other stuff. What do you think guys???

Well, last but not least. I decided to give hyperbaric medicine a try. Here in Mexico it is not as expensive as it is in the states. I am paying 350 pesos per session which is about 35 american dollars. To me that's affordable. I have good expectations about it, i know no medicine is magic and i know that if ti works it will take time. The doctor explained how healing occurs, and how important oxygen is in this process. There'e a woman in the clinic who told me how better she was after 15 sessions. I have been experiencing what i call "healing sensations". I think this might be to a healing process acceleration. I will definetly keep you informed about the outcome, just in case you're interested.

Thank you everybody.

Hi,

Most people can convert the cyanocobalamin form to a smaller amount of methylcobalamin. The reason to take methylcobalamin if you can get it (thanks to your angel you did ) is that it covers some unlikely possibilities. It just makes sense to take the best when you can.

Cyanocobalamin has saved lives and helped people repair for decades. Methylcobalamin is just better.

It is good to take a B complex (also, and at a different time) just because you might not have the optimal amount of one of the other vitamins, and the body can't do its best work if it doesn't have the tools. With B12, there isn't a need to worry about imbalance.

Methylcobalamin isn't the only one that can be absorbed. When a large enough dose is taken at one time, even those with severe malabsorption can benefit.

Methylcobalamin dose: at least 1000 mcg, and many times more is safe.

Too much B6, or too little B6, can cause nerve problems. Don't take huge doses. Most B complex keep it down to 50 mg or less. That is good, although damage is very rare even at 200 mg.

Yes, methylcobalamin is good to take no matter what the cause. And studies have shown it helpful even in some cases where there is no deficiency.

If you read my website (not a lot, but very important information), more of your questions about B12 will be answered.

rose

Rose has been the resident B-12 expert here for quite some time. I do not believe anybody has gone wrong by following her advice. I have been taking a good B-complex, supplemented with B-12 for quite awhile.

It is just one of those things that is a no-brainer, within reason due to finances. I take the methyl just in case I have trouble absorbing the cyano . . . I have no evidence of such, but when trying to heal damaged nerves, I want to do anything safe that might help. I go for 5 mg (5000 mcg) every night, sublingual, long after I have taken all the rest of my pills.

I am certainly interested in your experience with hyperbaric therapy. I would urge you to post periodic follow-ups. And good luck with your treatment!

rafi

always nice to hear from you,and i hope you listen to Rose. And i agree
with R come back and let us know how you are. Sue

Hi Monica, i think a lot of people here will be interested in your progress with the
hyperbaric therapy, so please do keep us up to date.

We here in Australia can't get the best form of B12 [ Methylcobalamin ] in supplement form either, unless we import it in, but it costs about 70 bucks a bottle so i use 2 or 3mg of B12 Cynocobalamin daily, which still does the trick
but i think it takes longer to get the benefits, i also get shots of b12 Hydroxocobalamin off my doctor which with the two types combined has really helped me a lot.
good luck with it all
Brian

Brian:

You can't go to iherb.com and pay with a credit card and they won't ship the Methyl to you in Australia?????

Mel

Brian, I have bought Methyl B12 from Mr Vitamins in Chatswood. http://www.mrvitamins.com.au. It is classified as 'Practitioner only' and is kept behind a counter. Manufacturer is Thorne (USA) and it is only available in 1000 microgram capsules. It is quite expensive. No idea of the quality.

I ordered methyl B12 from Iherb about a year ago but never received the goods - I assume they were confiscated by Aus customs. I am interested to hear more about people who have successfully purchased from Iherb as methyl B12 is much cheaper (per microgram) from them even with the delivery costs.
Martin

Just wanted to thank Rose for her time to put in a website with info and that answered questions as well as putting in additional websites' addresses with even more info. I know the last question that I saw that Rose answered was in 2007 with her website listed below but time doesn't matter, I found it today, and it confirmed what I started to believe about B12. I've been where you are, Rose, with Burning Mouth Syndrome, getting information out just because and I know it takes time so I just wanted to say thank you. Me, I've got a brain tumor, had radiation and have been having some weird symptoms no one can figure out where they came from. I've a sneaky idea B12 has something to do with it.

Aloha nui loa
angie4074

Hi Monica,

Gosh, I see why you would get confused.

I will, for myself, try to write more clearly from now on.

When I say that someone should get Methylcobalamin and only Methylcobalamin, I mean that they should not get the cyanocobalamin form... which works if someone is not very deficient, but isn't as effective if someone needs a lot of repair.

And yes, you should take a B complex with it.. B vitamins work best as a group.

It's good to remember that Folic acid can mask the signs of low B12...

this last summer I was taking a lot of B Complex to rid me of my allergies, which it does, and very well, I might add.

But then I wasn't having many syptoms of low B12, so I began to have less B12 injections. Everything was fine for a short time, then not so fine.

So I now realize that if I take a lot of the B vitamins it seems to relieve symptoms of low B12... and I suppose in fact it relieves those symptoms because they are also symptoms of low B vitamins of other kinds, as well.

So yes, do take the Methylcobalamin and a B complex to go with it.


As an aside, there's an internet vitamin company that does ship to Mexico:
Vitacost.

I order from them every month, and have been very satisfied.

You should be able to google them.



****

Oh Gosh, re the hyperbaric...

I looked into it when I had the hydrogen sulfide poisoning ... and I found one really interesting article about some team, I forget if it was NFL or baseball, but they got a chamber for injured players, but then all the players started using it and then they stopped EVER winning home games.

The author of the article was attached to the team in some way, but I forget how.

He guessed that the reason they stopped winning home games was the hyperbaric chamber... apparently it depletes negative ions...

He guessed that the reason they won away games was that they were able to get more negative ions into their systems...

So then I read about negative ions and they come from the sea air, pine forest air... and Epsom salts baths' steam...

At the time I was on Celebrex to reduce the swelling around my sternum that was causing a lot of chest pain... but I would still get major swelling in my ankles, and the Epsom salts helped a lot.

I have a neat page on Epsom salts... Maybe if you Google it will come up for you.

Cyanocobalamin is not just for people who aren't very deficient. If that is the form someone can get, and they are very deficient and even malbsorb B12 severely, it is almost a sure thing that they will be able to convert to methylcobalamin and repair what is repairable.

However, more methylcobalamin is an extra edge that is very important to a small minority of those who need B12. It's like buying a rider on your insurance policy. And since the price is not high, if you can get it, why not?

Please, those who can only get cyanocobalamin, do not believe that cyanocobalamin is not for people with serious problems, even near death due to B12 deficiency. It has been saving lives for over half a century! Only if you are in a small minority will it not give you what you need.

rose