B-12 question...again..

Hi guys...
Just got a series of B-12 shots...now back to where I need to be, but have to start taking B-12 by mouth.  Dr. suggested two 250 mcg. tablets a day.  I have always heard sublingual is better for us wls patients...  What do you guys take to keep it where it needs to be?  Can you "overdo" on B-12?  Any advice would be helpful...for instance...what does two tablets of 250 mcg translate into sublingual?  Thanks all!  Theresa 

I take 1000mg a day.  I initially was told to take one every other day, but it was just easier for me to remember once a day.  I take sublingual for the very reason they absorb better.  Got mine from Bariatric Advantage and also GNC carries them.

My last labs had my B-12 just a tad high, but nothing alarming. 

 Hey Theresa,

Long time, no talk to.. Sublingual do work well. The can be found at Walgreens, Walmart, Kroger.
I have been told that you can't overdo b12 because it will flu****self out- but do't hold me to that one.
Mine was fine last time- (lab wise) but, results were with taking it, so I do take one every day.
Take care..
Amy H

Jim who does a Flint support group, says he got his from Sams.

 go with sublingual. 
it absorbs better, thats why people with pernicious anemia use it. 
it should work much better than tablets. 

Are you sure he didn't mean 2500mcg???  (not 250mcg) 

Ok, so I have been hearing a lot of chatter on the forums here on OH about two different types of B12 sublingual tablets.  If you are having problems getting and keeping your B12 levels up where they need to be (RNY'ers need to hover around 1000) ... then you might need the "other" kind. 

Almost all types of sublingual B12 is the type called: "cobalamin" or "cyanocobalamin."

However, many people are having a lot of luck using the other kind that apparently is more potent and better absorbed in the body.  It's called:  "Methylcobalamin."

It looks like Vitalady carries it:
http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&k eywords=vtmnb&template=Templates/sr_vtmnb.html

However, it seems like you should be able to check with your local pharmacy and ask for them to order it if they don't carry it everyday (and probably a lot cheaper than what Vitalady offers too!). 

So look for the "M" kind rather than the "C" kind. 

I personally use the sublingual B12 tablets (2500mcg) from Walmart.  It's the "C" kind but my body seems to be accepting it just fine.  In fact I'm now down to just 2 doses per week rather than daily and that is maintaining my levels around 1500. 

As for overdosing on B12.  It is VERY rare to become toxic from B12.  All the B Vitamins are water soluble so as a general rule what your body doesn't use, it just pees out.  However, in rare cases it can become toxic to your body.. so you want to keep a close eye on  your labs over time.  It is GOOD for us to be high on B12 ... like I said earlier, we want to hover around the 1000 mark on the lab results, but even numbers up to 2000 are just fine too.  If your labs show a number down around 400-500 you are already causing damage to your body and you want to get the number up quickly. 

B12 is stored in the body for very short periods of time.  Depending on the person it can be as short as 6 weeks or up to about 6 months.  So that's why we have to stay on top of this particular vitamin.

HTH
Pam