Why Would Someone Need a B12 Shot?
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that is commonly available from food sources. It can also be obtained from B12 supplements, which are available in oral, sublingual and injectable forms. Vitamin B12 shots are given for a number of reasons.
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Vitamin B Deficiency
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These shots are one of the standard treatments for Vitamin B12 deficiency. This deficiency is common among people over the age of 80 as well as strict vegetarians whose diet does not include any meat or dairy products. It can cause some neurological and psychiatric complications for the patient. Some of the symptoms of a B12 deficiency include muscle weakness, hypotension, incontinence and dementia. A Vitamin B12 shot helps alleviate and reverse these symptoms.
Pernicious Anemia
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Also referred to as Biermer's anemia, pernicious anemia is a blood abnormality that is characterized by a drastic drop in the patient's red blood cell counts. It is caused by a malabsorption of vitamin B12 that results from the absence of a substance called "intrinsic factor." Treatment for this condition involves lifelong B12 supplementation, often in the form of B12 shots.
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Large B12 Dosages
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Vitamin B12 shots provide an efficient means for administering large doses of Vitamin B12. This is necessary in cases of extreme B12 deficiency, which require daily doses of 1,000 mcg. Unlike B12 shots, when large doses of the vitamin are taken orally, the vitamin is poorly absorbed into the body. A shot is also the preferred method of administering the vitamin for conditions such as fatigue, asthma, Bell's palsy and diabetic neuropathy.
Shaky-leg Syndrome
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Cyanocobalamin, an injectable form of Vitamin B12, can be used to treat shaky-leg syndrome (orthostatic tremor). This condition is characterized by tremors that begin when the patient stands up, but stop as soon as he or she begins walking. The treatment regimen for this condition includes administering B12 injections in 1mg doses for up to a year.
Malabsorption
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Vitamin B12 shots are an essential treatment for patients whose bodies cannot properly absorb vitamin B12 from their food or from oral B12 supplementation. This is the case, for example, in patients who have undergone bypass surgery. B12 shots may be prescribed to treat and prevent any resulting deficiency. The B12 shot is injected into a muscle, where it is easily and rapidly absorbed into the patient's bloodstream.
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