Can You Take Too Much Vitamin B12 And What Are The Side Effects? Copy

What Can Happen if I Have too Much Vitamin B12?

While vitamin B12 is generally safe, excessive amounts can lead to some side effects. Side effects can depend on how the vitamin B12 is administered (for example, orally or via injection).

What are The Side Effects of Vitamin B12?

• Frequent Headaches 
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tiredness
• Feeling Weak
• Tingling sensation in hands and feet
• Increased Risk of Bone Fractures

Vitamin B12 Injection Side Effects

Often used to treat severe deficiencies, vitamin B12 injections come with additional potential side effects, which include:

• Itching (at injection site)
• Skin rashes (at injection site)
• Dizziness
• Swelling

Severe Vitamin B12 Injection Side Effects

More serious side effects from vitamin B12 injections can include:

• Pulmonary Embolism
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Vein Thrombosis/Blood Clots
• Anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction (rare)
  
  Anaphylaxis is life-threatening and causes swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, making it difficult to breathe and swallow. Immediate medical attention is necessary if this occurs.

Medication Interactions

While vitamin B12 supplements are generally considered safe at appropriate doses, interactions with certain medications can affect B12 absorption. These include:

• Aminosalicylic Acid
• Colchicine
• Metformin
• Proton Pump Inhibitors 
• Vitamin C supplements 

What is the Correct Dosage of Vitamin B12? 

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for Vitamin B12 varies by age, sex, and individual health factors. Below are the general guidelines:

Infants:

• 0-6 months: 0.4 mcg
• 7-12 months: 0.5 mcg

Children:

• 1-3 years: 0.9 mcg
• 4-8 years: 1.2 mcg
• 9-13 years: 1.8 mcg

Adolescents & Adults:

• 14-18 years: 2.4 mcg

Adults (19 years and older): 2.4 mcg

For those with a vitamin B12 deficiency, a dose of 1,000 mcg via the intramuscular route is recommended once a month. Newly diagnosed patients should receive 1,000 mcg intramuscularly once a week for four weeks to replenish stores before switching to once-monthly dosing.

Pregnancy and Vitamin B12

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for pregnant women is 2.6 mcg. For women who are breastfeeding, the RDA is 2.8 mcg.

When Should I see a Doctor?

Consult a doctor about Vitamin B12 before beginning any vitamin supplementation regimen to determine if a deficiency exists and if there are potential adverse reactions with any current medications you are taking.

Consult your doctor immediately if experiencing any of the severe reactions noted above from IV injections of vitamin B12.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their OB/GYN about potential vitamin B12 deficiencies and if supplemental action is required.

FAQ

Can Too Much Vitamin B12 be Harmful?

Vitamin B12 is generally considered safe even at high doses. There is currently no Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for B12 because there isn’t enough scientific evidence to establish one. 

With that said, in one case study, a young woman taking high doses of vitamin B12 injections for pernicious anemia developed acne, face redness, insomnia, headache, and palpitations. Her symptoms improved on their own within two weeks of stopping daily vitamin B12 usage. Additionally, a recent study found that high blood concentrations of vitamin B12 appeared to be linked with early death, though researchers are unclear why at this time.

Is it Okay to Take 5000 mcg of B12 a Day?

There is no upper limit for vitamin B12 since there isn’t enough scientific evidence to establish one. However, while doses up to 2,000 mcg or 5,000 mcg can be safely used to treat vitamin B12 deficiency, you should not take such high doses without a deficiency and your doctor’s recommendation.

How to flush out excess B12?

Vitamin B12 is water-soluble and any excess vitamin B12 that your body doesn’t absorb gets flushed out in your urine.

Your body only absorbs about 10 mcg of a 500-mcg dose if you do not have a vitamin B12 deficiency. This is because the absorption of vitamin B12 is dependent on an intrinsic factor, a protein made in your stomach. Conditions like pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, and certain gastrointestinal surgeries can affect the production of intrinsic factor, thereby impairing vitamin B12 absorption.

I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Research suggests that taking 25 mcg or more per day might increase the risk of bone fractures. Vitamin B12 injections, often used to treat severe deficiencies, come with their own set of potential side effects. Mild side effects include diarrhea, itching, skin rashes, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and swelling.

• Should You Get a Vitamin B Complex Injection
• Can B12 Shots Boost Your Immune System?
• Vitamin Spotlight: Vitamin B12
• How to Improve Your Energy Levels with IV Therapy and B12 Shots

Research suggests that taking 25 mcg or more per day might increase the risk of bone fractures. Vitamin B12 injections, often used to treat severe deficiencies, come with their own set of potential side effects. Mild side effects include diarrhea, itching, skin rashes, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and swelling.

More serious side effects from vitamin B12 injections can include pulmonary embolism and congestive heart failure, especially early in treatment. There’s also a risk of vein thrombosis, which increases the likelihood of developing blood clots. In rare cases, vitamin B12 can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which happens if you are allergic to cyanocobalamin or cobalt. Anaphylaxis is life-threatening and causes swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, making it difficult to breathe and swallow. Immediate medical attention is necessary if this occurs.

It’s important to note that while vitamin B12 supplements are generally considered safe at appropriate doses, interactions with certain medications can affect B12 absorption. These include aminosalicylic acid, colchicine, metformin, proton pump inhibitors, and vitamin C supplements. To avoid interactions with vitamin C, take it two or more hours after your vitamin B12 supplement.

Vitamin B12, combined with folic acid and vitamin B-6, was once thought to reduce heart disease risk by lowering homocysteine levels. However, studies show this combination does not significantly impact cardiovascular disease or stroke risk. Although B12 deficiency is linked to dementia and low cognitive function, it’s unclear if supplements can prevent or treat these conditions. Also, there’s no evidence to prove that B12 boosts energy or athletic performance unless you have a deficiency.

Vitamin Toxicity occurs when a person takes an excessive amount of a vitamin or vitamins, typically through supplementation. Different vitamins have different thresholds, with varying degrees of symptom severity depending on the vitamin.

“Vitamin B12 toxicity” refers to an overload of this vitamin. However, there isn’t an established toxic level for B12, and most people are unlikely to experience an overdose. This is because the body metabolizes B12 efficiently. When you consume B12, your body absorbs what it needs through a protein called intrinsic factor in your stomach. Any excess B12 is quickly processed by your kidneys and flushed out through your urine. This rapid elimination process helps prevent the build-up of B12 in your system, making toxicity very unlikely.

With that said, in one case study, a young woman taking high doses of B12 injections for pernicious anemia developed acne, face redness, insomnia, headache, and palpitations. Her symptoms improved on their own within two weeks of stopping daily B12 usage. Additionally, a recent study found that high blood concentrations of B12 appeared to be linked with early death, though researchers are unclear why at this time.

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for Vitamin B12 is 2.5mcg, which most people can obtain through their diet. If you want to increase B12 levels without using supplements, you can obtain this vitamin through foods such as meat, poultry, eggs, fish, fortified cereals, and dairy products.

ust be obtained from outside sources such as diet and supplements. Most people can obtain the recommended 2.9mcg of B12 through their daily diet.

Vitamin B12 supplements may offer many potential health benefits, including helping improve mood, supporting bone and eye health, promoting healthy DNA and red blood cell creation, and more. There is currently no established Tolerable Upper Intake Level for Vitamin B12 because it is water-soluble, not stored by the body, and excess amounts are naturally excreted as waste. As such, it is unlikely for most people to experience a B12 overdose from taking too much of this vitamin.

If you want to supplement with Vitamin B12, it’s important to speak with your doctor first. They can advise you if doing so is safe and can help you reach your health goals.

• Should You Get a Vitamin B Complex Injection
• Can B12 Shots Boost Your Immune System?
• Vitamin Spotlight: Vitamin B12
• How to Improve Your Energy Levels with IV Therapy and B12 Shots