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Headache after B12
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Posted by ghoghunter Zone6b SE PA (My Page) on Tue, Jan 29, 08 at 10:03
| I tried taking Vit B12 at the recommendation of my acupuncture therapist. Well within 45 minutes of taking the first dose I got a terrible pounding headache. Has anyone else had this type of reaction to B12? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Headache after B12
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| No, but it's possible. B-vitamins can affect neurotransmitters, vascular relaxation, and a wide variety of other things that might trigger a headache in susceptible people. I have experienced 'niacin flush' a few times, and it wasn't particularly fun. Some of those reactions fade over time - the body becomes used to it. Others might require dividing the dose. Could also be an excipient (non-active ingredient). |
RE: Headache after B12
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After reading your respose I went back and read the label. This is what is in the product.
Vit B12 1000 micrograms
Folic acid 400 micrograms The extra stuff is
Sorbitol
Natural Cherry flavor
Stearic acid and
Magnesium stearate It is the type of pill you take sub linqually |
RE: Headache after B12
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| What are you supposed to be taking that much vitamin B12 for (there are suggested uses, including possible help in migraine prevention, but that's lots more than the body's nutritional need for B12)? The occurrence of the headache is likely coincidental. Sorbitol can cause diarrhea, by the way. More on vitamin B12 here. |
RE: Headache after B12
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| I did know that sorbitrol can cause diarrhea. The therapist didn't say exactly why I needed the B12. She was treating me for migraine. I am already on Petadolex, Magnesium, Co Q10 and B2. The other supplements were suggested by my neurologist. I had been taking Topamax but came off it because of side effects so now I'm trying other things to prevent them but so far nothing is working. When I actually get the migraines I have Maxalt to treat them and it works pretty good but I get around 8/month..sometimes more. |
RE: Headache after B12
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| Have you tried Imitrex? It is the gold standard med for migraines. |
RE: Headache after B12
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Lucy..The imitrex is used to treat a migraine once you have it. I take Maxalt when I get the headaches. They are a second generation drug that works orally. Imitrex works best if you take the injections which I used to do before the newer oral drugs were developed. Imitrex oral didn't work very well. I am trying to prevent the migraines and having no luck. The Topamax worked but had a lot of side effects that I couldn't tolerate. It did help prevent them though. I wish I could still be on it.
Joann |
RE: Headache after B12
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| Happened to me too... a guy at a vitamin store offered me a free sample of a sublingual B12- very soon after I got a terrible headache, I've been dealing with it ever since. I found this thread while googling to see if anyone else had the same issue. |
RE: Headache after B12
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| I just started taking B12 to see if it would help stop me from having constant headaches, its only been 6 days but the mild to severe headaches that I use to always have have gone away, although i am still in denial and that there is no way that it could have been this simply to stop the headaches, but so far it is working, I take a liquid form that i put under my tongue |
RE: Headache after B12
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| I found this while googling "Can B12 cause migraines?" I started taking a multivitamin and B12 supplement 500mcg as part of a weightloss plan. I have been having left side migraines. I stopped taking the B12 today to see if it was the cause and so far no migraine. |
RE: Headache after B12
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| Yep, same here. I thought it was my imagination and my husband thought I was just trying to get out of wifely duties. Every time I took vitamin B12, I'd get a major headache. I stopped taking them and the headaches stopped. Then I tried the B12 patch. Same thing. You wear it for 24 hours and then take it off. At exactly 24 hours, I get the headache. I guess that's when the meds hit your system. This is crazy!!!!! |
RE: Headache after B12
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| Like many of you when I took B-12 I got a MAJOR headache and looked online for an explanation. That's how I got to this thread. I'd experienced sudden weight loss due to extreme stress from a major life change this month. I took sublingual B-12 which I bought at Whole Foods today on the recommendation of the Healthy Living clerk. I took one tablet as I was exiting the store and drove home, a ten minute drive. As soon as I was pulling into my driveway, I said to myself: "My God! Where did this headache come from?" I drew the curtains closed in my room and put myself in bed thinking I had a migraine coming on. Not quite, it turns out, but damn near! |
RE: Headache after B12
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| Henry's Market always offers B12 shots at various scheduled times/days. I often thought of trying it, but never happened to be in the store when they were doing it. Today they were there and I got a shot. I have a headache right now, left side. Whenever I take the little pink sublingual B12, I get a headache. I mentioned it to my doctor and he looked at me like I was making it up. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this site. At least I know other people have the same reaction and it's not just me. But now I wonder WHY we would have such a reaction to B12. |
RE: Headache after B12
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I don't know the mechanism that causes us to get headaches after B12 but it sure is interesting. I wonder why no docs seem to know..probably because they don't have much experience with people on B12. It seems like an avenue that would benefit from some clinical testing! For awhile I was actually thinking about getting bariatric surgery but now I realize I would be in misery because you need B12 after those surgeries because the stomach doesn't absorb B12 anymore and you need to take B12 shots..I'm so glad I never actually went through with it!
Joann |
RE: Headache after B12
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| Yeah that could be overdose of vitamin B 12. Or that doesn't suits you. You should probably change that doctor. |
RE: Headache after B12
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Interesting... my reply is long.. but please read..
I have researched vitamins for personal use for couple years..
I too get headaches from B12. I noticed headaches when I was just a little boy, and I asked my mom to take a centrum vitamin tablet.. I tried this maybe 2-3 times before swearing.. and telling myself never again.. 19 years later B12 - Cyanocobalamin
is converted to its active forms, first hydroxocobalamin and then methylcobalamin.
Cyanocobalamin is the cheap form most all stores sell. I found only 1 methylcobalamin B12 supplement searching Walmart, shoppers drug mart and london drugs. I eventually found methylcobalamin 1000mcg at a vitamins & minerals pharmacy. At first I could take a whole capsule without any side effects.. I was very surprised the mental focus and determination I had.. I eventually took B12 with other super foods and supplements.. WOW.. ever tried GliSODin ??? Anyways.. I hit a low point in my life and took a mega dose of B12, SOD ... (2-3 B12 and 2-3 SOD) SOD - Super Oxide Dimutase is an melon extract and is very beneficial.. I dont take any medications... But I do have a long history of head and neck traumas.. When I was a baby 2-4 years old I think I was.. I split my forhead by jumping on a couch and knocking my forhead on a corner of a table.. plus years of crazy snow boarding wipeouts .... and before I took this mega dose.. I hit my head directly in the top forehead region by walking down some very steep stairs into a boat. My head hit a thick steel beam.. and If I had fallen Im sure I could have broke my back.. so I absorbed the pain in an instant and walked on.. What happened from this mega dose.. was I gave myself a month long headache !! This headache was like being on the edge of a cliff.. If Iam not focused on doing imminent tasks that are in direct relation to my life survival and dreams.. inside my forehead becomes very tense and constricted is how it feels... However years later I have learned to position my neck and head and relax and think certain thoughts which will immediately make the headache disappear.. usually only momentarilly, but the higher the dose the harder it is to do this.. Another thing to do is have a quick sleep or nap ... depending on dose a much longer sleep is required... These days... I cannot take B12.. although I have not tried smaller doses than 1000mcg.. it is too scary.. and I do take SOD sometimes I can take a 1/4 tablet or about 40-60mg without a side effect which I can easily tolerate or make disappear on my own.. which is kinda a neat excersise... If i do say so ... --
Maybe if anyone can describe the headache they get from B12 for other people to reference.. My B12 headache is different than a headache I get when I have a cold or stress.. my eyes are not sensitive to light for example.. B12 makes me super sensitive to EVERYTHING!! the problem with this is their is a very thin middle ground.. peace |
RE: Headache after B12
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mytzer,
Did you only have problems with your megadose of b12 or did you also have it with 1000 mcg?
My problem is i am really low in b12 so I probably should supplement, but I had some very uncomfortable side effects (head crackling, pressure, pain, crackling in ears, etc.) But I wonder if this would go away if my body just got used to it. I will say I felt very sharp and focused while on the B12, and for the first five days or so I felt really great.
I took at the recommendation of my doctor after doing a blood test for B12 levels and mine was not even in the range. I took it for two weeks and now have been off two weeks and still have the problems. It's been pretty awful, and for some reason the symptoms haven't gone away yet. Not sure what to do. |
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