B12 questions
 

Been reading through the board here and saw a few B12 threads. But have a few questions I didn't find answers for.

The last few months I've had some muscle twitching, numbing/tingling sensations in feet and hands, and even occasional lightheadedness, etc... went to doc and blood test was good except for B12. I am low to mid 300's. (funny I had another doc telling me the low B12 isnt really a concern but as I've researched it, a lot of my symptoms can be explained by this so I'm hoping this is it).

Anyways my new doc did think it was a concern and gave me a B12 shot yesterday. Supposed to do one a week for the next month. Its a 1000mcg shot. I asked about taking B12 pills and was told I could but it may not help me since she doesnt think my body is absorbing it hence causing the deficiency. As I've researched it sounds like if I do the sublingual then I might be able to absorb it better.

So my question is, for some at my current level of B12, would a 1000mcg sublingual suffice? Would I be better off doing 5000mcg to get my levels up and then cutting back? Or maybe somewhere in between like 2500? Is there any fear with 5000?

If I were to do 1000 or 5000 (or somewhere in between), how often should I take them? Once a day? Multiple times? What would be a good regiment?

After researching, sounds like I should use methyl- instead of the cyna- version of B12. But what is a good brand to use? I ran over to whole foods this morning and saw a variety. Jarrow. Solgar. etc... Is there a particular one that is better than others?

One more, not sure if there is a great answer for this, but I was reading that if you swallow a pill, you may only absorb a small percentage of the B12. However what if you do a sublingual? Is 30% of the B12 making it into the bloodstream? 50%? And if I'm doing 1000mcg sublingual and only 50% makes it into the bloodstream, is it half as effective as the 1000mcg shot I took yesterday?

Thanks for the help! Sure hoping this will fix my issues. If nothing else I at least feel like I have a possible answer and can get in a positive frame of mind which can be half the battle.

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

I am on vacation with only an iPhone so
This will be brief.

Yes oral works and there are no studies
Showing sublingual is any better.
One study did measure blood levels after
various oral doses. 1000mcg yielded
13 micrograms absorbed and that is
3 times the RDA from food

But you have to take it on an empty stomach
(No food present).

It is best to use methyl cobalamin form
Which is the active type, as some cannot
Convert Cyano type properly.

Our Peripheral Neuropathy forum has a
long informational thread in the sticky section
With medical links to good sites with
More documented information.

If you begin with 5 mg of methylb12
You can test at over 1000 within 3
Months. Once you reach your goal oral is
enough to maintain. This works out to
pennies a day.

Welcome flback. :Tip-Hat:

Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

Here's the link to the B12 thread in the Peripheral Neuropathy Forum
that mrsD mentioned above.

STICKY - The Vitamin B12 Thread:

Thank you for the responses all. Right now I've got the 1000mcg pills but I may pay up for the 5000. After reading through some of those links, and based on the first reply, sounds like sublingual isnt necessarily any better than oral. Part of me wonders if I'm able to absorb it as well but I supposed with 5000 I'll probably get enough of it as is.