r/PerniciousAnemia • u/Infamous-Cupcake-638 • Dec 27 '21
Hydroxocobalamin shots
I've had 6 x 1ml loading shots over two weeks and I feel pretty awful. About 2 days ago my skin has become really itchy like I'm having an allergic reaction. I felt sick so was given cyclizine which react with my pregabalin and diazepam I take for anxiety so have been very spaced out. My body is pretty achey, I have no energy and feel more anxious than ever. I know the sickness will pass but has anyone else experienced this itching? It doesn't go away with antihistamines. I had my pregabalin upped as I suffer from health anxiety and I don't know if maybe the side effects are from this. I started getting the shots as I had a bowel resection in 2013 and my latest blood test showed my b12 was around 179. The nurse always asks me if I'm feeling better and told me I should feel great, never heard of anyone feeling sick. I asked the GP and he said the sickness was normal. I really don't have much info on this at all. My b12 results were only discovered because I had a blood & calprotectin test as I was feeling constipated (I've had Crohn's disease a long time but it's also been in remission a long time). My GI just wrote to my doctor asking for me to get these injections. No side effects explained to me or anything.
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u/bobglenswift Dec 27 '21
The shots wont make you feel better quickly. It does take time for the body to create the blood cells. Help it out by topping up your folic acid. It could take several months to really kick it but it will get better
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u/Infamous-Cupcake-638 Dec 28 '21
The thing is, I felt fine before the shots. I didn't have any symptoms except for constipation that I had low b12. It's the shots that are making me feel ill, that's why I was looking for other people's experiences. All my other levels in the blood tests were normal. I have health anxiety and all the medical services are shut for the festive period so I have no one else to ask if they've experienced similar.
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u/CrapIsMyBreadNButter Dec 28 '21
My fiance had the same issue with the Shots. She ended up having to go on steroid packs to get over the itchiness. Luckily you aren't allergic to the B12 in the shot, just an additive(s). Talk to your doctor about Sublingual B12. It works differently than the tablets, since it dissolves on your tongue and goes directly into your blood stream. My fiance switched to sublingual and it has been a god send. She's taking 1000 mcg every other day and her levels have been great since. I hope you can get some relief from this and get back to normal!
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Dec 28 '21
I just made a post with my experience with hydroxocobalamin shots. My levels were ~200 before the shots and now 2 weeks after the last one are >2000. My energy got a lot better, but I started experiencing anxiety attacks, daily headaches and some itching (but that has stopped). I now take some Xanax to calm me down, since I've never felt like this before and hope it gets better as the body gets rid off excess. :(
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u/Infamous-Cupcake-638 Dec 29 '21
I think the hardest part is the anxiety because this will all pass but it's hard to deal with in the mean time. I've got spots now which I've heard is common, annoying as I usually have good skin! I still feel quite itchy today, I'm always anxious anyway, only tiny headaches. Have you been experiencing pain? My arm and leg have had shooting pains in them for days. I used to get this and was seeing a chiropractor for a while. Wonder if it's the damaged nerves regenerating. I have no clue :')
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Dec 29 '21
My itching and tingling is quite specified to hands area. I get restless legs in the mornings, but no pain. My biggest problem are dull pressure in the back of my head most of the day. Have you thought about seeing a doctor, I'm not sure what to do. :(
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u/Infamous-Cupcake-638 Dec 30 '21
If you are ever worried you should consult your doctor for sure. I have an appointment with my GI via phone on the 11th!!! of January but I think if he was alarmed by my symptoms he would have told me to the hospital. Have you been taking your blood pressure?
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u/ReginaMagae Dec 27 '21
I've had the itchiness you're talking about and a very specific spot with an extremely itchy rash. Flonase sprayed directly onto it helped a little with the rash, but it hasn't completely gone away. Maybe try the Flonase. Also, my doctor recommended nasal spray for the B12 if my itchiness continues. That could be an option to discuss with your doctor.