Vitamin B12 side effects and Daily Recommended Dosage

Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient that our bodies can’t produce on their own. However, we needed it for the normal functioning and development of many parts of the body, including the most important ones like the brain, nerves, and blood cells. Although this vitamin has many benefits for our overall health, if we pass the limits of the daily recommended dosage, that can cause some bad side effects. In this article, we will talk about exactly that!

What are the side effects of vitamin B-12?

It is generally safe to take oral supplements with vitamin B-12 at recommended doses for healthy people. However, in some cases when there is a significant deficiency and an injectable form of the vitamin is needed, that can lead to these side effects:

•mild diarrhea

•skin rash

•itching

•headache

•dizziness

•nausea

•vomiting

•pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure early in treatment

•sensation of swelling

•vein thrombosis

It is also possible that Vitamin B-12 could cause a very rare but serious allergic reaction, known also as anaphylaxis. If this occurs, the patient will experience swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, and have difficulty swallowing and breathing. 

What is the Daily Recommended Dosage for Vitamin B12?

The National Institutes of Health recommended dietary amounts for this micronutrient to be not larger than:

•2.4 micrograms (mcg) daily for ages 14 years or older (men and women)

•2.6 mcg daily for pregnant women

•2.8 mcg daily for breastfeeding women

In case you want to try to get your daily intake of Vitamin B12 through your diet, here are the foods that contain it:

•cheese

•eggs

•fish

•red meat

•kidney

•liver

Medications that are known to interact with Vitamin B12 

There are medications, that could interact with this vitamin and cause bad side effects. That is why you should always consult a health professional before starting to supplement with any micronutrients. Here is a list of the medications that Vitamin b12 can interact with:

•chloramphenicol

•aminosalicylic acid

•cimetidine

•lansoprazole

•arsenic trioxide

•esomeprazole

•dexlansoprazole

•nizatidine

•omeprazole

•pantoprazole

•famotidine

•ranitidine

•potassium chloride

•rabeprazole

Summary

In case you develop any side effects from supplementing with vitamin B-12, you have to stop taking it and the symptoms will most likely subside in a few days. However, you should consult your doctor during this time and if you want to continue taking this micronutrient to establish a healthy dosage.