B12 injections can be an effective treatment for people with a vitamin B12 deficiency. But how do you know if the injections are actually having an effect? Here are some signs that your B12 injections are working effectively.
Improved Energy Levels
One of the most common symptoms of B12 deficiency is fatigue and low energy. If the B12 injections are successfully increasing your vitamin B12 levels, you should start to feel more energetic and less tired within a few weeks. You may notice you have more motivation and stamina to complete daily activities without getting wiped out.
Decreased Numbness and Tingling
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause numbness, tingling, or strange sensations in the hands, feet, arms, and legs. This is due to damage to the myelin sheath that surrounds and protects nerve cells. As your B12 levels improve thanks to the injections, you may notice these odd nerve-related symptoms decreasing or going away completely.
Better Mental Focus
In addition to physical symptoms, low B12 can also impair mental function. You may have trouble with focus, memory, orientation, or just an ongoing “brain fog.” If the injections are increasing your B12, you’ll likely see a clearing of that fog within 4-8 weeks. You may find it easier to focus, recall information, and think clearly.
Less Mood Disruption
Vitamin B12 plays an important role in producing brain chemicals like serotonin that regulate mood. Without enough B12, you may struggle with depression, irritability, and mood swings. If the injections are working, your mood should start to stabilize and lift as your brain is able to better produce these important chemicals.
Improved Sleep
Insomnia and disrupted sleep patterns are very common with B12 deficiency. This is often due to impaired melatonin regulation and nervous system dysfunction. As your B12 levels increase, you’ll likely find it easier to fall and stay asleep. You’ll feel more refreshed in the mornings after more solid sleep at night.
Less Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath and cardiovascular symptoms are common if you have a severe B12 deficiency due to anemia. B12 helps produce healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen. As the injections replenish your B12 and anemia improves, you should notice an easing of shortness of breath, even when exerting yourself.
Increased Appetite
Low appetite and unintentional weight loss can occur with B12 deficiency. The injections can help stimulate a healthy appetite as your metabolism and digestion improve. If you notice you feel truly hungry more often and are more interested in eating within a few weeks of starting injections, it’s a good sign they are working.
Hair Regrowth
Some people with very low B12 notice hair loss or thinning hair. This usually reverses as B12 levels improve. If you’ve noticed excess shedding or thinning, and you start to see new baby hairs growing in at the roots, it’s a sign the injections are raising your body’s B12 stores.
Skin Appearance
Vitamin B12 plays a key role in cell regeneration and skin health. Deficiency can lead to hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, jaundice, pale skin, and easy bruising. Often the skin will start to look noticeably brighter, clearer, and healthier when B12 levels increase after injections.
Improved Reflexes
Slow reflexes and response times are an early sign of B12 deficiency. Nerve conduction starts to improve as B12 levels increase. You may notice better reflexes and responsiveness just in your daily life. Your doctor can also test reflexes during a physical exam to look for improvements.
Better Balance
Low B12 can impair balance and coordination, leading to frequent tripping or loss of balance. These symptoms should start to improve within a few weeks of B12 injections if your levels are being restored. Less episodes of clumsiness and improved stability when walking are positive signs.
Less Nausea and Diarrhea
Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, cramping, and bloating are common if you have a B12 deficiency. As your levels improve, you should notice less GI upset. If the nausea and diarrhea ease up within a few weeks of starting injections, it indicates a good response.
Decreased Fatigue
As mentioned earlier, fatigue and exhaustion are hallmark symptoms of low B12. If you notice a substantial increase in your energy levels within 1-2 months of starting injections, it’s an excellent sign your B12 status is improving. You’ll just feel less drained overall on a day-to-day basis.
Positive Lab Results
The most definitive way to tell if your B12 injections are working is to get repeat bloodwork done. After 2-3 months of weekly injections, your doctor can order new B12 and homocysteine lab tests. If your B12 levels have significantly increased from your baseline, and your homocysteine decreased, it confirms an excellent response to the injections.
When Effects Are Noticed
Most people will start noticing subtle improvement in symptoms within 4-6 weeks of starting B12 injection therapy. However, it can take 3 months or longer to see dramatic or complete resolution of symptoms. It depends on factors like how deficient you were to start with, your age, genetics, diet, and whether you have any conditions interfering with absorption. Work closely with your doctor and be patient. Often things continue getting better over the first 6 months as your body replenishes its stores.
Non-Responders
About 5-10% of people given B12 injections will show no improvement in their B12 levels or symptoms. This may be due to:
- An inability to absorb B12 properly due to gastrointestinal conditions or autoimmune factors.
- Very severe deficiency that is resistant to standard injected doses of B12.
- An underlying condition that is causing symptoms mistaken for B12 deficiency.
- Inadequate frequency/length of treatment.
If you are a non-responder, your doctor will investigate other potential causes for your symptoms and may recommend alternative treatments to get your B12 levels up, like very high dosed injections, sublingual tablets, or nasal sprays.
Stopping Injections
If your B12 deficiency was caught early and you respond well to injection treatment, you may be able to stop after 3-6 months once your levels normalize. However, many people with a severe deficiency or absorption issues will need to continue with maintenance injections to prevent recurrence of symptoms.
Your doctor can monitor your symptoms and B12 levels to determine if you are ready to discontinue injections. Make sure you are also eating well and treating any conditions that might interfere with B12 absorption in the future.
Other Factors Supporting Positive Response
While B12 injections are effective for deficiency, there are some other things you can do to get the best results from your treatment:
- Take a good B-complex supplement to help metabolize and use the injected B12.
- Address any underlying gut issues that may have contributed to malabsorption.
- Eat iron and folate rich foods to support production of healthy red blood cells.
- Manage stress levels which deplete B12 stores.
- Get lab testing done 3 months after starting injections to confirm levels are optimal.
- Be patient. It can take weeks to months to see the full benefits.
Signs of Excess B12
While not common, some people actually end up with excessively high B12 levels from injections, especially if getting too frequent or high doses. Symptoms may include:
- Rash or itchy skin
- Anxiety
- Rapid heart rate/palpitations
- Diarrhea
- Bloody urine
High B12 is rarely dangerous, but let your doctor know if you experience these symptoms after injections so the dose can be adjusted if needed.
Conclusion
When administered correctly, B12 injections can resolve deficiency symptoms like fatigue, memory problems, and nerve pain. You should start noticing positive effects within 1-3 months if your body is responding well. Pay attention to increased energy, better sleep, improved mental clarity, re-growth of hair, resolution of tingling/numbness, and results of follow up bloodwork to determine if the B12 injections are effectively restoring your levels. Work with a doctor to make adjustments to your treatment if needed.