B12 injections are an increasingly popular wellness treatment, used by healthy people who don’t have a B12 deficiency to increase energy levels and boost mood. They’re also used to treat B12 deficiency, pernicious anemia and other conditions like diabetes.
B vitamins are important for the function of our brain, nervous system and red blood cell synthesis. B12 is also involved in the production of melatonin, which aids sleep and promotes a healthy metabolism. While B12 supplements are available in pills, tablets and sublingual drops, injections have a faster absorption rate and can be more effective than other forms of the vitamin.
The most common issue with B12 injections is hitting a nerve. This can occur when the needle pierces muscle tissue instead of fat, or when it is injected too deep into the skin. It’s very important to use short angled needles for the subcutaneous delivery method, and to wear medical-grade gloves before administering the injections. This minimizes the risk of infection and injury to nerves. It is also important to rotate the injection site so that each area of the body receives a fresh dose every other time, rather than one spot being exposed to the shot on a regular basis.
Another possibility is when the injection hits a blood vessel or artery. This can lead to bruising, bleeding and other serious complications. It is important to know whether or not you’re taking any other medications and to ask your doctor before deciding on an injection location. Also, if you take metformin, H2 receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors, you may be at an increased risk of adverse side effects from your B12 injections.