Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Vitamin B12 as follows:
- If you are prescribed Vitamin B12 for relief of neuropathy, report to your physician regarding any worsening signs and symptoms of neuropathy in the extremities, such as, altered sensation, tingling and numbness, reduced sensitivity to touch or pain, and/or burning sensation. The symptoms of neuropathy due to deficiency of Vitamin B12 could not be completely reversed with the supplement.
- Your physician could change the dose of Vitamin B12, based on the relief obtained or any side-effects developed. So, maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments, to update on the relief from symptoms and progress made. Be accommodative to the plan of dose changes, if need be, until you show an optimum response.
- Continue taking Vitamin B12 as ordered, even if you experience relief from the symptoms. Abrupt discontinuation can result in deficiency of Vitamin B12 levels, thus resulting in recurrence of symptoms of anemia and neuropathy. Discontinuing the medication should only be on your physician’s recommendation.
- Vitamin B12 is absorbed in the intestines and individuals with history of intestinal malabsorption and intestinal resections can have poor absorption of the supplement, when administered orally. Discuss with your physician regarding your history of intestinal malabsorption and intestinal resection, if any, as administration of the supplement by oral route cannot help cover for the deficiency. Vitamin B12 must be administered by intramuscular or intravenous injection or nasal inhalation in such individuals, to offset the deficiency.
