What is the treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency?
You will need vitamin B12 injections. About six injections are given at first, one every 2-4 days. This quickly builds up the body’s store of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is stored in the liver. Once a store of vitamin B12 is built up, this can supply the body’s needs for several months. An injection is then only needed every three months to top up the supply. If you have pernicious anaemia the injections are needed for life. You should have no side-effects from the treatment as it is simply replacing a vitamin that you need. If the cause of your lack of vitamin B12 is diet related rather than due to pernicious anaemia then treatment may be different. That is, after the initial treatment with injections of B12, dietary supplements of B12 (cyanocobalamin tablets) may be advised instead of injections. Follow up The symptoms of anaemia usually improve quickly once treatment has begun. You may be advised to have a blood test every year or so. This will check that the anaemia is being treated s
