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Suggest Dosage Of Vitamin B-12 Injection For Pernicious Anaemia
Question: I had blood test done as was found to have pernicius aniemia i was given a B-12 injection should i have been given multiple shots to build my B-12 reserves?
Brief Answer:
Yes, you definitely should have continued treatment with Vitamin B12
Detailed Answer:
First it would be a good idea to see if there is a treatable cause of your pernicious anemia. While it's not always possible to identify the cause, some of the causes are a vegan or vegetarian diet, taking stomach acid reducers for a long time, taking metformin (for diabetes), gastric bypass, and autoantibodies to intrinsic factor.
Some of the tests that are helpful in diagnosing pernicious anemia:
Vitamin B-12 level (which it sounds like you may have had)
CBC with microscopic exam
Folate levels since folate can also be low when Vit B12 is low
Tests for autoantibodies to Intrinsic Factor
Iron and iron binding capacity
Blood levels of methylmalonic acid or homocysteine which are indicators of Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Standard treatment is an intramuscular shot of B12, typically 1 mg (1000 micrograms) weekly for 8 weeks, then 1 mg IM once a month thereafter.
Sometimes oral Vitamin B12 is prescribed instead of IM. The dose is 1-2 mg/day.
If you want more detailed information about pernicious anemia, here is a good article that may be helpful: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0615/p1425.html
I hope this information helps.
Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Yes, you definitely should have continued treatment with Vitamin B12
Detailed Answer:
First it would be a good idea to see if there is a treatable cause of your pernicious anemia. While it's not always possible to identify the cause, some of the causes are a vegan or vegetarian diet, taking stomach acid reducers for a long time, taking metformin (for diabetes), gastric bypass, and autoantibodies to intrinsic factor.
Some of the tests that are helpful in diagnosing pernicious anemia:
Vitamin B-12 level (which it sounds like you may have had)
CBC with microscopic exam
Folate levels since folate can also be low when Vit B12 is low
Tests for autoantibodies to Intrinsic Factor
Iron and iron binding capacity
Blood levels of methylmalonic acid or homocysteine which are indicators of Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Standard treatment is an intramuscular shot of B12, typically 1 mg (1000 micrograms) weekly for 8 weeks, then 1 mg IM once a month thereafter.
Sometimes oral Vitamin B12 is prescribed instead of IM. The dose is 1-2 mg/day.
If you want more detailed information about pernicious anemia, here is a good article that may be helpful: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0615/p1425.html
I hope this information helps.
Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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