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[CLKD]

Vit B12 can kill if taken with the food stuffs I mentioned - I know, my Dad took them for years.

[Wrensong]

CLKD I agree that pharmacists are the best people to ask about drug interactions, but suggested Elliemay consider taking B12 only with agreement from her GP (even if she had to buy the tablets herself), so that not only are any possible interactions considered before starting, but Elliemay's levels can be retested a little while afterwards & her symptoms monitored. 
My Endo was happy for me to start a course of B12 tablets when my levels tested lower than optimal but still within range, but as I already have quite a few prescription meds, I asked him not to ask my GP to also prescribe the B12.  It would have cost the NHS when my levels were not deemed deficient (my scripts are free due to medical exemption) but were nevertheless sub-optimal & I could afford to buy the B12 myself, as it's inexpensive.  I did ask my GP if she was happy with this as I always do before supplementing, as I don't want to risk interactions or jeopardising any prescribed treatment.  I also like to gain GP & consultant approval out of courtesy - if I am under their care, it feels as though it should be a two-way thing & that I should involve them in any decision that might affect my treatment.   

[nearly50]

Vit B12 can kill if taken with the food stuffs I mentioned - I know, my Dad took them for years.

If this is the case, why are people who have injections not told this?

Do you have a link as it's something I've never heard, I thought the body just got rid of any excess B12 it didn't need as it is water soluble

[Maryjane]

My husband was under a top B12 specialist and nothing has been mentioned about interactions at all , he has soluble under the tounge ones as per specialist.

[nearly50]

Mine is 691 and I was amazed it was so high.

[nearly50]

Hmm, maybe there was some in my multivitamins now that I think about it! Doh.

[Annie0710]

My husband was under a top B12 specialist and nothing has been mentioned about interactions at all , he has soluble under the tounge ones as per specialist.

I've never heard of interactions either. 

[Butterfly22]

I'm actually in a Facebook group for b12 it's people who self inject as get nowhere with doctors, they don't ov say go and do it but I no a few including my partner do as when you get desperate you will try anything.

I'm hoping to start when settled on a HRT as living it's ME is just existing not living.
I had a long list of symptoms and was so tired but had to keep pushing and pushing as at the end of the day we know our bodies and if something isn't right we can tell. It's tiring but you need to keep pushing don't be fobed off and don't feel like a pain something is up and you need to no what.
Hope you can get somewhere with it xx

[Hurdity]

Hi Elliemay

Oooer - a lot to think about there - sorry to hear about all of this!

Firstly re the Vit B12 - I must have missed this but did you say you were deficient? There seems to have been a lot of talk about dangers or not so here's a link to the mayo Clinic site:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/vitamin-b12/safety/hrb-20060243

As you can see there are loads of warnings and interactions but in the US they are always overcautious about this sort of thing.

Here is what it says on NHS website:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/Vitamin-B.aspx#B12

"Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is involved in:

making red blood cells and keeping the nervous system healthy
releasing energy from food
using folic acid
A lack of vitamin B12 could lead to vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia.

Good sources of vitamin B12

Good sources include:
meat
salmon
cod
milk
cheese
eggs
some fortified breakfast cereals

How much vitamin B12 do I need?

Adults (19-64 years) need about 1.5mcg a day of vitamin B12.
If you eat meat, fish or dairy foods, you should be able to get enough vitamin B12 from your diet.
But as vitamin B12 isn't found naturally in foods such as fruit, vegetables and grains, vegans may not get enough of it.
Read about the vegan diet for nutrition information and advice.

What happens if I take too much vitamin B12?

There's not enough evidence to show what the effects may be of taking high doses of vitamin B12 supplements each day.

What does the Department of Health advise?

You should be able to get all the vitamin B12 you need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take vitamin B12 supplements, don't take too much as this could be harmful.

Taking 2mg or less a day of vitamin B12 in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm."

As always - just make sure you have a healthy and balanced diet - and if you have digestive problems maybe you would be taking in less, although it doesn't say this here, and it says that taking under 2 mg per day is unlikely to be harmful.

It is a myth to say it is fine to take excess vitamins because the body just excretes them! NO!! Overdosing on certain vitamins can most definitely be harmful!

Re your tooth - sorry I haven't seen a tooth thread but I don't look at the other health section very often. You must get this treated. If you have a localised infection then surely this can be treated relatively cheaply on NHS ( maybe start a new thread on this?). This is what I found about abcesses - specifically I had not come across painless ones! http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/hc/dental-abscesses-3168413/

About your general symptoms - well as long as you are getting them checked out by the appropriate specialists and provided everything is generally OK (including the brain lesions) then yes they could be due to menopause and prolonged oestrogen deficiency. Do you have any hot flushes or sweats?

If they are menopausal symptoms that you are experiencing then ADs are not the answer! HRT is the first line of treatment ( provided other health problems have been ruled out and you are not contra-indicated for HRT). You say you've tried herbal treatments - these will really do not much good at all, especially long term, except probably mainly as placebo for mild emotional symptoms.

I would attend to the other issues (tooth and brain lesions), make sure you are eating a really good diet, increase your activity (if this is necessary) and think about HRT. It is not really medication as such ie not a drug if you are just replacing a deficient hormone - I am similar to you - I tend to shun most meds apart from aspirin, ibuprofen, paracetamol and anti-bioticas if I have an nfection. Whever I;ve been prescribe something ( eg in the past Omeprazole for stomach, Amitriptyline for nerve pain, Ranitidine for stomach - the medication has sat in my cupboard until I've thrown it away!!).

I agree with Lil22 - keep pushing for an answer and don't let them say you're a hypochondriac if you have real and disturbing symptoms.

Hurdity x