Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in dairy, meat and fish; the synthetic version of vitamin B12, cyanocobalamin, is available as a dietary supplement. The vitamin helps you to produce healthy cells and blood and promotes proper growth in children. MayoClinic.com states that a B12 deficiency occurs only rarely in healthy people, but a deficiency may occur if you have problems absorbing it correctly, a condition known as pernicious anemia. Your doctor may recommend taking vitamin B12 to help treat this disease. Synthetic vitamin B12 may induce some side effects, some potentially serious; consult a health care provider if you experience any of these symptoms.
Angina
If you use supplements of vitamin B12, you may experience angina or pain in your chest, according to Drugs.com. This side effect classifies as serious and needs immediate attention from a medical practitioner, either from your physician or at an emergency room. Chest pain may occur because of cyanocobalamin's effects upon your respiratory system. Do not neglect chest pain.
Pain
Vitamin B12 supplemental use can induce some pain in your body as side effects that do not classify as serious and should dissipate on their own. For example, you may develop headaches as a result of your initial use of the vitamin. B12 may cause a feeling of pain in the joints throughout your body. These problems may feel uncomfortable, but over-the-counter pain medications may help. If pain persists or occurs severely, seek the counsel of your physician.
Breathing Problems
Breathing problems constitute serious side effects of vitamin B12, Drugs.com indicates. When you take the supplement, you may discover you have some difficulty drawing a breath or getting the proper amount of air into your lungs. This shortness of breath requires urgent medical aid, so contact the doctor immediately. If she is unavailable, seek medical attention at an emergency room.
Digestive Difficulties
Cyanocobalamin may make you feel sick in your stomach, usually upon early use of the supplement. You may feel nauseated or simply have an unsettled sensation in your stomach. Lower down your digestive tract, your bowels may become unbalanced because of the introduction of vitamin B12 supplements and may cause cramps leading to diarrhea. None of the gastric problems associated with vitamin B12 usually occur in a serious form, but if they do speak with a medical professional about them.
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