Side Effects of Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is the most complicated and the largest of all vitamins. Although external supplements of these Vitamins are important to balance the metabolism of the body, an overdose is equally dangerous. These supplements are taken if the body faces deficiency problems and the patient shows symptoms like dizziness, headache etc. The Vitamins are safe in general and side effects are quite rare. However, there are cases reported where patients have suffered allergic reactions to injections and shots. Although the exact reasons are still not clear. We do not know whether or not the allergy is due to the vitamin or the preservative added to the injections.

Some common side effects of Injections of Vitamin B12 are: - Mild diarrhea, headache, joint pain, Nausea, Upset stomach etc. An overdose of the vitamin can lead to Insomnia, Breathing problems, Chest pain, Heart palpations, etc. Technically these side effects can be categorized to different branches. The primary of them is the cardiovascular side effect where the cyanocobalamin includes heart failure and vascular thrombosis. Dermatologic side effects like skin eruptions resembling acne rosacea are highly probable. Iodine is suspected to be the cause of skin eruptions associated with this vitamin shot. Other dermatological side effects include severe itching, transitory exanthema, inflammatory acne and follicutis.

Hypersensitivity like anaphylactic reaction is also reported with the administration of B 12 and is considered to be the result of vitamin injections. The vitamin also affects the Nervous system resulting in abnormal gait, asthenia, anxiety, dizziness nervousness in coordination and hypoesthesia. The Respiratory system gets affected and the patient suffers from dyspnea. Here the patient feels a lot of swelling of the entire body and body-ache. It is important that people suffering from Leber’s disease are not injected with Vitamin B12. This disease is hereditary and causes the patient to lose vision, starting from one, and ultimately damaging both eyes.

There are few medications and substances that interact with the B12 injections/shots. These include Folic acid, Phenytoin, vitamin products, alcohol, antibiotics, chloramphenicol, Colchicines and Neomycin. Because of other medicines the vitamin’s evolution results in some potential side effects. Antibiotics are considered to have the adverse effect on Human body where it interferes with the effectiveness and absorption of the medicine. Diabetic patients should be cautious as the vitamins levels may be altered to a large extent. In this condition a physician should immediately be discussed with. Ideally any person taking B12 shots should be aware of drug interactions and should watch for other conditions in the body so that the injections are much safer.