How Often Should You Have B12 Injections?
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Approximately 1.5% to 15% of people have a vitamin B12 deficiency, and our risk increases as we age. A B12 deficiency can cause fatigue, mood swings, shortness of breath, memory issues, numbness or tingling, and poor balance.
At Flawless Salon and Medical Spa in Butte, MT, certified women's health care nurse practitioner Patience Peale administers B12 injections to those who want to improve their overall health and address vitamin deficiency.
Keep reading to learn how often you should get B12 injections to see the maximum benefits.
What's the purpose of a B12 injection?
People with a B12 deficiency may be in good health and only discover their need for B12 injections after medical testing. However, unexplained fatigue, moodiness, memory loss, or other neurological challenges may also warrant testing that reveals insufficient B12.
The purpose of B12 injections is to replenish your body's supply of this essential vitamin. Injections can be particularly helpful if your body does not absorb the vitamin sufficiently from your diet.
How often should you get B12 injections?
At Flawless Salon and Medical Spa, Patience Peale will assess your current B12 levels, lifestyle factors, diet, and any symptoms of B12 deficiency to craft a customized treatment plan.
Some patients with severe B12 deficiencies need daily B12 injections – at least at the beginning of their treatment. As your body replenishes its store of the vitamin, patients may cut down their B12 injections to once every 7– 10 days. Other patients show good results with monthly injections.
The frequency of your B12 shots will also depend on your dosage. More isn't always better, so more frequent injections of smaller doses may help your body adapt at the beginning of your treatment.
We continuously monitor your progress to ensure you get the right amount of B12.
Do B12 injections hurt?
B12 can be injected into the muscle or under the skin. In most cases, patients don't report much discomfort since B12 is injected into the thigh, which is a less sensitive area of the body.
A B12 injection will likely feel like any other injection you get from a doctor.
How long does it take B12 injections to work?
After your initial appointment, you can expect your injection appointments to take just a few minutes. And since the B12 enters your bloodstream almost immediately, you should feel the effects right away, especially when it comes to improving your energy.
Within a week, you should see a reduction in many of the symptoms of B12 deficiency, including:
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Improved mood
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Boosted energy (which can help speed metabolism)
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A reduction in numbness and tingling
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Improved concentration
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Better sleep
B12 shots can also help you boost your immune system. And if you use your extra energy to become more active, you may also experience weight loss. Your experience with B12 injections will depend largely on how deficient you are in this crucial vitamin, how well your body absorbs it, and the frequency with which you get your injections.
Get B12 injections in Butte, MT
Vitamin B12 injections are generally considered safe though some may experience mild side effects such as diarrhea and itching or pain at the injection site.
If you're interested in learning if B12 injections are right for you and live in or around Butte, MT, schedule a consultation today at Flawless Salon and Medical Spa with Patience Peale.