Vitamin B-12, also called cyanocobalamin, is a water-soluble nutrient your body needs to produce red blood cells and keep your normal brain function intact. Though vitamin B-12 is present in a variety of food sources, including beef, fish and clams, you can also increase your intake of this nutrient by receiving treatment with oral supplements or vitamin B-12 injections. Be sure to talk with your medical provider about any questions or concerns you may have regarding vitamin B-12 injections before receiving this type of treatment.
Indications
The primary indication for vitamin B-12 injections is vitamin B-12 deficiency in people with pernicious anemia. Pernicious anemia is a condition in which your body does not produce enough red blood cells due to insufficient supplies of vitamin B-12. Vitamin B-12 injections are also purported to aid in weight loss, though no concrete data is available to substantiate such claims, MayoClinic.com warns.
Adverse Side Effects
While receiving treatment with vitamin B-12 injections, you may experience unpleasant adverse side effects. Your skin may appear unusually red, irritated, inflamed or tender to the touch at the site of the injection. You may also experience mild side effects of dizziness, weakness, stomach discomfort, diarrhea, fever, body aches or headache pain. If these side effects arise, they are typically temporary and subside within a few hours of treatment. Severe side effects occur infrequently but may include chest pain, sudden weight gain, shortness of breath or unusual warmth or pain in your extremities. Seek prompt care from your medical provider if you develop any of these severe side effects after receiving a vitamin B-12 injection.
Medication Interactions
Always discuss all medications and supplements you are currently taking with your physician before beginning treatment with vitamin B-12 injections. Do not take vitamin B-12 in any form in conjunction with the antibiotic tetracycline. Concomitant use of these treatments may interfere with the way your body absorbs tetracycline and may reduce the effectiveness of this antibiotic, the University of Maryland Medical Center warns.
Contraindications
Talk with your medical care provider about any health problems or concerns you may have before receiving a vitamin B-12 injection. Your doctor may need to adjust the amount of vitamin B-12 you are receiving if you have kidney or liver disease, folic acid or iron deficiency or a current infection, Drugs.com reports. Additionally, women who are pregnant or nursing should not receive vitamin B-12 injections unless otherwise instructed by a medical professional. Improper use of vitamin B-12 during pregnancy or breastfeeding may cause unintended harmful side effects on your developing fetus or baby.
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