Vitamin B12 As a Treatment for Dizziness
Feeling dizzy is one of the most common reasons adults see a doctor. Most often, dizziness is not the result of a life-threatening illness. Treating dizziness involves treating the cause, of which there are many. One such treatment includes vitamin B12 therapy.
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Causes
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Eye, ear, nerve, joint and muscle problems can all cause dizziness. Blood pressure drop or elevation and anxiety disorders are additional causes. A Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause dizziness.
Causes
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According to Dr. Timothy Hain, B12 deficiency is common in adults over the age of 80. Malabsorption, poor nutrition, vegetarianism, stomach disorders, alcoholism, medications and anemia can lead to a deficiency in B12 and thus dizziness.
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Identification
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Low B12 levels are detected through a complete blood count test. The range of normal levels is 200 to 900 pg/ml, according to the National Institutes of Health. The test is often done if there is weakness, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs; loss of balance; and dizziness.
Options
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B12 can be administered orally in doses of 1 to 2 mg tablets daily. Monthly injections are also given, with the first dose at 1000 ug, and subsequent doses at 100 ug. Nasal B12 is also an option.
Considerations
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The liver can store enough B12 needed for two years, so it may take that long for a deficiency to be noted. Aside from vegans and those with underlying conditions most people have a three- to five-year B12 supply in their body, the Southern Cross Healthcare website reports.
Symptoms
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Along with dizziness, symptoms of a B12 deficiency include pale skin, hearing problems, fatigue, shortness of breath, weight loss, depression, anxiety, hallucinations and optic nerve damage.
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