How long do the benefits of a vitamin B12 injection last?

The Benefits of Vitamin B12 Injections

You are picky about how you take care of your body. You eat right and exercise, and you don’t hesitate to go the extra mile when it comes to your overall wellness. The key is picking the treatments that give you the most benefits. B12 injections can give you that boost you need to feel your best.
Doctors frequently recommend B12 shots to help protect against seasonal illnesses but improving immunity is only one of the potential benefits. An injection may improve your body’s function in several ways:

• Increases energy
• Boosts metabolism
• Improves focus and concentration
• Regulates sleep patterns
• Prevents some forms of hair loss

Before you get any type of injection, though, it’s good to have a basic understanding of how you can expect it to affect you. Here are the three questions a client typically asks before getting a B12 vitamin injection.

How Long Do B12 Injections Take To Start Working?

Some people get injections because they have a B12 deficiency. The symptoms of a low level of this vitamin in your body can range from something as mild as minor fatigue or a headache to more disconcerting factors such as memory loss or significant muscle stiffness and pain. If you are starting from a low level of deficiency, you may need several injections over the course of a week to start seeing any real improvement.

If more severe symptoms are what prompted you to get the treatment, however, it may take more time to make a noticeable difference. In this case, your body must repair the damage that is causing your dizziness, tingling in your extremities or balance control issues. Multiple doses of B12 will likely be necessary to facilitate the recovery. Only then will your symptoms subside.

When used as a maintenance or preventative measure, however, you may notice a difference as soon as the day after any of your B12 injections. If you notice a significant increase in your overall well-being, consider making the injections a regular habit.

How Often Can You Get a B12 Injection?

If you enjoy the effects of the injection, there’s no reason not to continue to get them for the rest of your life. B12 is a water-soluble vitamin and has a low risk of toxicity. You are unlikely to overdose on it even if you get frequent treatments.

Every person has different needs, though, so it’s important to pay attention to your body when deciding how often to get injections. You may get several shots the first week or two after you start and then decrease the frequency to once a month. If the benefits don’t taper off at all, you may be able to increase the length of time between injections. Try changing the interval to six weeks and then increase it to two months between shots.

There are a few things that can make your B12 injection less effective or shorten the length of time you can enjoy the benefits. People with certain liver disorders may need the shot more often. If you do not eat a diet rich in B12 vitamins or drink alcohol regularly, you may need to supplement with an injection sooner rather than later. To prolong the effects of the extra boost, be sure to eat a well-balanced diet that includes fish, beef, liver, eggs, dairy and foods fortified with B vitamins, and limit your consumption of alcohol.

What are the Potential Side Effects of a B12 Injection?

In most cases, an injection of vitamin B12 is going to make you feel fantastic. Right after you receive the shot, however, you may see some slight skin irritation at the injection site. Redness and swelling may occur, and the area may be painful for a few hours. Give yourself the time to avoid vigorous activity right after the treatment to minimize these side effects.

You may also experience some other reactions immediately after the injection is administered. The sudden increase in B12 can cause nausea, dizziness and headaches when first injected into the muscle. The human body is usually quick to adjust, though, so these symptoms should fade soon afterward.

In rare cases, B12 can affect your potassium levels, causing muscle cramps or spasms. Other signs that you have a potassium deficiency are an irregular heartbeat and extreme fatigue. If you experience any of these symptoms or develop a persistent, low-grade fever, call your doctor.

Taking care of your body is already a priority for you, but B12 injections can give you an extra boost. Contact Treadwell for more information or to schedule your appointment today.