Mark, if you get lessoning of symptoms whilst taken Methlycobalamin that fantastic, but if its repairing the damaged nerves its common to get flaring of symptoms, i found that the flaring were only short periods [they were not really terrible either] but the normal symptoms can persist for a long time but gradually over months the symptoms can get slightly less after some flaring.

Have you had a test for your b12 levels ? but anyway 5mg is a good amount to take, it will NOT hurt you, your body will store what it needs and get rid of any excess, overseas they treat PN with massive amounts per day, its a shame really that some so called medical people don't know nothing about B12 Methylcobalamin supplements, use a good multi B too but don't take it at the same time, its works better that way, if you haven't read Roses site about B12, here is the site - http://roseannster.googlepages.com/home
well worth reading,
good luck with it all anyway,
Brian

Hi Brian, its all very strange and I am still trying to work out why when I start getting weird sensations in my arm, then why does it also come on in my face at exactly the same time,and my back also feels more numb,it makes no sense. I did start to get less symptoms a few weeks after starting the b12 but now its sort of coming back,I hope it is just a flare up whilst the nerves are repairing,it would be interesting to know the largest amount of b12 taking by anyone in any one day. Like I say in reply to glenn I am not sure if I am taking a strong enough b complex, I really want to take stronger but without too much b6 I guess...

I did have a b12 test,it was in normal range but as of yet I haven't got the exact figure...

Hi Mark,
I don't think it's useful to think about what the largest amount is that was taken by some person in one day.

What's important is finding the right amount for you to be taking.

If you take additional lozenges when you get the symptoms, do they reduce or go away?

That is what would interest me... I'd like to know that.



I hope you are keeping notes of your symptoms, day by day, and not trusting it to your memory...
.

I will probably try taking 10mg instead of 5mg for a few days and see what happens Karen.Would you know if it is better to take each tablet at a different time or both together? :-)

--I agree with ConsiderThis' idea that you want to very carefully track your symptom exacerbations/remissions, to see just how closely related they might be with taking your supplements. It's a good idea to do this in diary form--memory can be unreliable.

Remember, too, that increased sensory symptoms may well be a good sign, as previously dormant nerves "wake-up" and try to reconnect to their targets; since they don't do this in the same pattern that was there originally, the process often is accompanied by a lot of weird symptoms that may appear to be "worsening", as the brain learns to reinterpret the signals/sensations. The real test is whether or not these sensations persist months to years. Neural "progress", given the slow rate of nerve regeneration/reconnection, is best measured over the long-term.

Regarding the taking of B12 at a different time from anything else--Brian's got the idea. The cobalamin molecule, in its various forms, is the largest molecule among any of the basic building-block nutrients or enzymes humans process, and therefore it is very easy to interfere with it's absorption (it's very easy to crowd it out). This is why it's recommended to take one's B12 seperately from anything else by at least an hour or so each way. I'm chewing on my lozenge right now, two hours post-breakfast and two hours (at least) before lunch.

repairing nerves...

In this book...there is a chapter on nerve repair:

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag99/sept99_review.html

This author suggests (and I agree) that essential fatty acids in addition to
B12, B6, and folate are needed. Since many people may have genetic errors in metabolism of the B's...using the activated forms may be necessary (he does not go into that area however). Nerve sheaths are composed of fatty acids, and our diets are typically lacking the good ones. Avoid trans fats at all costs. Fortunately food products and restaurants are discontinuing using them now. Even in the remote boonies this summer, one of our fave eats spot had signs on each table explaining the new non-trans fat they were using.
It was a combo of a little corn oil (to raise smoke point for frying) + canola. So it is getting easier now to eat out safely.

And it follows if you take essential fatty acids in food or supplements, you need adequate magnesium to convert them. (the book does not go into that either).

Since one wouldn't be in tough straights unless "something" is wrong, I tend to
recommend the activated forms. These are found in Metanx Rx product.
You can also get them separately...but the methylfolate is no longer available, only the Folinic acid form. Merck greedily stopped providing it to distributors to beef up the RX sales. Source Naturals is providing folinic acid now.

I keep promising myself that I am going to keep a record and never around to actually starting it, looks like im going to have once and for all.I too am munching on a quarter of a 5mg methyl b12, I had 5mg around 10:00am and sometimes take a quarter in the evening.

I will take on board what you say and I really hope that is the case, and that the increased sensations are occuring because of the healing process.Thanks for that info.

OMG, that is very interesting about the B12 molecule being bigger than the others and therefore being at a disadvantage to compete.

(Being really tall, I can see that)

Thank you so much Glenntaj for explaining it so clearly.

Mark --

When you say, "munching," you don't mean that literally, do you... you're not chewing it or anything?

I'm sure you were just using a more interesting word than dissolving, but just to be sure, I want to say that it's got to be dissolved under the tongue so that it can enter the body via the tissue there... (boy, would it be great if Glenntaj explained why that tissue is able to take in the B12)

[QUOTE=Brian;145219]
its a shame really that some so called medical people don't know nothing about B12 Methylcobalamin supplements, use a good multi B too but don't take it at the same time, its works better that way,

Why shouldn't we take the complex B and the Methylcobalamin together?

I read somewhere once that you shouldn't have a B12 shot and a B12 lozenge at the same time...

and I was so careful for the longest time.

But now, I've never been able to detect that to be true...
(true is obviously not the right word - I've failed to go to sleep)