[julleri]

I was reading earlier posts in this thread that brought up the patented B12 product, Eligen B12. Has anyone tried this form of B12? It's supposedly supposed to be better absorbed (through patented technology) and enter your bloodstream with peak at about 30 minutes versus peak of 6 hours for OTC oral B12 supplements. I think it's only available as cyanocobalamin, though, so what's the point?

[mrsD]

I have not seen it yet.

But searching now I see Life Extension has it.

http://www.myhealth-store.com/elb12100mg30.html

Very pricey too for 30. Some people may not try it because of the expense.

For those without the MTHFR mutation, it is an option.
The carrier developed for it, I believe may be used for other drugs in the future.

Studies show oral B12 does work even without this carrier that this product has. So it is the buyer's choice in the end.

It would have been nice to see it as methylB12.

[julleri]

Thanks for all your quick replies to my questions, MrsD! I'm really grateful

I have another question about some of my symptoms. I have been having a lot of mental confusion and some scary memory issues (can't remember details of things I did earlier in the day, for example). I also sometimes get these jamais vu feelings (being somewhere I know I've been feels "new" to me). Could this be related to low B12? I honestly don't know how long I have been low but I suspect it has been over the last few years, as that's where some other symptoms have come up (depression episodes, feelings of apathy, and then in the last year hunger loss and more confusion). I know you're not doctors so you can't say for sure. I see a neurologist tomorrow and I want to express these concerns. I'm just afraid I have subacute degeneration of the spinal cord or something, and that any damage from low b12 can't be undone. Can it?

I've also stopped nearly 10 years use of antidepressants a little over 2 months ago (I'm on a support forum for antidepressant withdrawal). They said the cognitive loss can be from that as well. It's sad, but over the last few years I've attributed everything going on with me symptom wise to those damn antidepressants and their withdrawal, but it could have been from this vitamin and I never knew it! I'm also low in D which I'm working on repleting as well. All these problems...

[mrsD]

It is difficult to say with the antidepressants in the mix.

These drugs were put on the market without long term studies.
And millions and millions of people took them.

Each person reacts differently depending on their brain make up.

Subacute degeneration also has motor issues. Vision loss etc.

There is a point where damage is permanent.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subacut...of_spinal_cord

See what your neurologist says.

[julias690]

Hi again,
I guess I'm wondering what the treatment was that you used. On Monday May 7th, I started my husband on 1000mcg of vitamin B12 intramuscular every day. I am also still giving him Jarrows Methyl B-12 5000mcg sublingual tablets every morning on an empty stomach. He is still very upset daily and constantly asks me what is wrong with him and tells me that he is scared. He wants to know if he is going to make a full recovery. On April 23, 2012 his vitamin B-12 was 195. It seems like his long term memory has improved as well as his short term some. Every night his leg cramps are so bad he cannot sleep in bed and he has sores in his mouth. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely Julia

[mrsD]

If you are having him hold that B12 in his mouth? Sores can result. The oral can be swallowed, instead. Some people get very poor gum and mouth health, from long term illness and nutrient deficiencies.
Vit C, zinc and Co-Q10 are often used to improve oral mucosa.

The injections...are they cyanocobalamin? Daily use would expose the patient over time to cyanide, as it is cleaved off to activate the cyanocobalamin. Some people cannot handle this much cyanide (which is a poison) metabolically.

I don't think daily shots are needed past 7 days, as long as the oral is being done, and correctly on an empty stomach.

Also rapid treatment with B12 may lower potassium levels, temporarily, as the B12 stimulates the bone marrow to make more red blood cells.
Low potassium can lead to leg cramps and generalized weakness. So eating a diet rich in potassium is important.

What other drugs is he taking? That could factor into response and side effects too.

[deb54]

Originally Posted by julias690

Hi again,
I guess I'm wondering what the treatment was that you used. On Monday May 7th, I started my husband on 1000mcg of vitamin B12 intramuscular every day. I am also still giving him Jarrows Methyl B-12 5000mcg sublingual tablets every morning on an empty stomach. He is still very upset daily and constantly asks me what is wrong with him and tells me that he is scared. He wants to know if he is going to make a full recovery. On April 23, 2012 his vitamin B-12 was 195. It seems like his long term memory has improved as well as his short term some. Every night his leg cramps are so bad he cannot sleep in bed and he has sores in his mouth. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely Julia

Julia, I had leg cramps as well as burning feet and legs for the first month after starting methyl-b12 sublingual. I saw 3 of my docs for this, all of which said the cause was my feeling nerves regenerating. They also said to increase my potassium because this process requires more potassium than I normally needed.

Without much b12 coursing around, doing it's thing, building, repairing, allowing simple body functions possible, things most take for granted, our body just don't use much of the good nutrition we eat. B12 is a key that allows everything else to work properly. Put in that key and wham, things we've long forgotten, start happening again. In my case, a life altering surgery left me with little b12. Many of the changes I experienced during recovery were not just due to healing, but due to a b12 deficiency. I was grateful to be alive, the changes were assumed to be caused by the surgery.
Until that first dose of methylcobalamin I hadn't yawned, coughed, or been able to stretch my muscles. I "miraculously" was relieved of all allergies. (no b12=no immune system. Allergies are due to an over-active immune response.) Fibroids and psoriasis was gone
.
Many of my psoriasis friends are on biologic injections to supress their immune sytem. In essence, this is what my b12 deficiency did to/for me. With that first dose, everything changed, some not so good, but certainly wouldn't give up my memory and pain relief I've experienced.

Within a month of treatment, burning pain was gone, leg cramps still occur on a day when I take more b12 than usual. I eat a banana or a sweet potato and all is well. I've found rebuilding b12 to be very uncomfortable. The leg cramps are the worse pain I've ever expeienced.

I've had to stop using b12 several times in 8 months. Each time I stop, numbness and pain returns, as well as digestive problems, but allergies subside, no coughing, sinus, etc...As soon as I restart, leg cramps restart, though not as bad, I increase my potassium and all goes back to my somewhat normal function.

I use Pure Encapsulations liquid Methylcobalamin 5000mcg. I only use a small dose of this each day. I have never experienced mouth sores from it. This can be found online as well as some pharmacies. This is the brand recommended by all of my doctors. Perhaps a switch in brands would be helpful. I would also check with his doc to get their take on the mouth sores.

Hope some of this helps you all and best luck.

deb...

[mrsD]

This link will help you select high potassium foods:

http://nutritiondata.self.com/

example:
8 oz of V8 juice:
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/...oducts/10449/2
469mg potassium
The 12oz can has close to 800mg

The low sodium version of V8 has more potassium in it:
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/...oducts/10452/2
819 mg of potassium!
I use V8 after a work out for this reason.

The daily intake suggested today for potassium from the diet is
4.5 grams
So take a look at what your hubby eats, and figure out if he is low in potassium intake.
Each category on nutritiondata.self.com has a serving size listed, so please pay attention to that so you get accurate data.

This is a really good resource to also detail your magnesium intake, and that site also gives an inflammatory index which is helpful to lower inflammation in the body.