[jbug]

Have any of you heard taking B12 for depression? I am so tired all the time and my depression is coming back and I think its because I'm low on B12. I had bloodwork done last week and my levels came back normal. He didn't check my B12 level and when I asked him about it he told me that if my B12 was low that my other levels would be off. Do any of you know anything about it?

Jbug

[abilifyguy]

I'm sorry you feel as if your depression is returning. It probably wouldn't hurt to take B vitamins, but I'd recommend a B multiple, rather than just B12. The B vitamins work together. Fatigue can be a symptom of depression. If you are getting depressed the fatigue might just be a harbinger. I feel that way when my depression is returning, and then I start "self-medicating" with vitamins and supplements. The real answer is usually a medication adjustment. Sometimes when my effexor starts to poop out, I use l-tyrosine and it seems to help. I don't know what you're taking, but there may be supplements that could help

[jbug]

Thanks abilifyguy. The main reason I think my B12 level is low is its a potential side effect of my surgery. I had Gastric Bypass surgery last year so my body doesn't absorb all the nutrients i need. I already take iron, calcium and a multi vitamin. Thanks for the info on the multi B vitamin I will check into that.

Jbug

[psisci]

If you have gastic bypass you need to be on a B12 supplement daily, period.

Dr.S.

[charlajustin]

hmm..i had gastric bypass 5 years ago. i no longer take anything stopped taking iron, clacium, multi-vitamin probably at least 3 years ago. Every time I have blood work done with my reg. doctor it comes back fine and they are fully aware I have had gastric bypass.

Oh btw, i have gained back like they say will eventually happen. Haven't gained it all back though, actually lost 22 pounds in the last 3 months without trying to lose weight. And the hair loss never goes away. Luckily I was born with EXTREMELY thick hair so when I take a shower and a ton of hair comes out. Its not even noticable.

[zoidy]

If your B12 levels were low, then this would be indicated on a regular full blood count - you'd have low haemoglobin levels and large red blood cells. If this stuff has come back normal, then it's very likely that your B12 levels are normal.

Regarding the effect of gastric bypass surgery on B12, absorption of B12 is dependent on a substance called intrinsic factor for absorption to occur. Intrinsic factor is made by the cells in the stomach and then B12 is absorbed further down the gut after binding to IF. So if B12 levels are low after gastric bypass surgery, it's not going to be fixed by oral B12 anyway because it's the intrinsic factor that's the problem, not the actual amount of B12 ingested.

When I had my phsyical a few years ago, my internal medicine doc called me & said my liver enzymes were off. She said either I had liver damage or anemia.I feared liver damage/used to be a heavy drinker. She said to not drink alcohol or take anything like Tylenol for a week & come back for another blood test. Well, it ended up I had pernicious anemia, which can cause depression (like I needed help in that dept.), fatigue, dizziness (which I had been having), & if not treated, insanity. It is called pernicious which means "deadly." My husband said it was too late for me in regards to the sanity issue.

My doc started me on monthly B-12 shots which helped a great deal. The dizziness subsided & my energy level increased. I'm already on meds for bipolar so I don't know which or if both are helping my mood.

After a few years of the monthly B-12 shots she said a new study showed high doses of B-12 taken orally can be absorbed by people with this problem so I started taking 1,000 mcq of B-12 in the morning & 1,000 again in the evening. After 3 mos. she tested my level & it was normal so that is what I've been doing. Hope this helps.--Suzy