Maximum daily amount of B12 one can take

Hello @haleakala, Welcome to Connect. I think it's always best to check with your doctor when taking supplements but from what I've read there are no upper limits for Vitamin B12 but there may be interactions with certain medications.

"Health Risks from Excessive Vitamin B12 - The FNB did not establish a UL for vitamin B12 because of its low potential for toxicity [1]. Even at large doses, vitamin B12 is generally considered to be safe because the body does not store excess amounts.

Interactions with Medications - Vitamin B12 has the potential to interact with certain medications. In addition, several types of medications might adversely affect vitamin B12 levels. A few examples are provided below. Individuals taking these and other medications on a regular basis should discuss their vitamin B12 status with their health care providers."
--- Vitamin B12 Fact Sheet: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/#h8

Mayo Clinic also has some information on B12 that may be helpful here - https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-b12/art-20363663.

I'm currently taking 2 mg Vitamin B12 in the morning and the evening which is 4000 mcg daily as part of my neuropathy related supplements. I shared my neuropathy story in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/.

Did your doctor express any concerns about increasing the B12?

Hi John,
Thank you for all the information you sent to me. I've been reading the links and your story. It's been very helpful!
I did ask my functional medicine doctor before if I should increase the B12 and she said no. I'm taking 2000 mcg a day in the supplements for nerves which I buy from her. She did not explain why. Since then, I've read several posts from people saying that B12 has helped significantly to reduce their neuropathy symptoms so I wish to pursue this with her. She did have me take a blood test for B6 but not for B12. Now I don't know if a blood test is necessary. I could take more B12, keeping it below 4000 mcg and see if this increase helps.

Now that I read that it is ok to take more without negative effects, especially because I am older in age and partially vegetarian, I will speak with my nurse coach on Wednesday and perhaps the doctor will come to the telemed call to meet as well. I am sharing with them the information you sent to me.
Thank you so much.

I don't know about your b12 question but do know that b6 toxicity small fiber neuropathy does not immediately go away just by bringing blood level down. There is a website Understanding b6 Toxicity using Western Science Research that you might want to visit.

Thanks John - you never cease to amaze me pulling out reference material. Though doctors have given me encouragement in supplementing B12 for nerve comfort and health, never was I aware of any drug interaction watch-outs. I’m lucky for no red flags here, but am glad to be more informed. Thanks for sharing!

Another good source of research and understanding information is the Linus Pauling Institute. They have a lot of good information on micronutrients.

Vitamin B6: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/vitamin-B6#toxicity

Thank you. Yes, I've visited that website and was going to mention it. Have you applied the protocol?
They say that B6 can still be in muscles and nerves and not show up on a blood test. So, to closely monitor how much B6 one gets in food only and to keep it around the RDA daily amount. And to stay away from vasodilators such as anything with magnesium in it. They also say to drink 1 liter of water with 1/8 t salt in each liter and to drink this 3x a day, one liter of pedialyte and 1/2 liter of coconut water. I tried following this protocol for awhile. I found that the salt added to water made my legs swell and my neuropathy symptoms stronger. Sugar also aggravates neuropathy and drinking pedialyte that has sugar in it didn't work for me.
Perhaps I didn't try to stick to the protocol long enough. It was also alarming to read the posts by people in their facebook group that described how their symptoms sometimes got really worse for awhile and was told that was a normal part of the process.
Perhaps you can explain this better if you are familiar with the protocol.

@haleakala, I'm not sure your question was addressed to me but if it was I will add my 2 cents. I don't add anything to water and I probably don't drink enough. I think I average around 48 to 60 oz a day plus a few cups of coffee and sometimes sparkling or juice flavored (no sugar) water. I used to drink a lot of the coconut water but haven't for the past couple of years.

I posted my neuropathy journey and Protocol 525 experience in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/. Unlike others with neuropathy, I only have the numbness and minor tingling which did improve after about 4 months of being on the protocol. I'm still taking it and the past year I've had some feeling return to both feet although it's subjective on my part and they still feel numb but just not as much and I can really feel the bottoms of my feet again when walking. I also believe there are a lot of other factors involved since I've changed my lifestyle considerably by eating much healthier, losing and managing my weight, eliminating processed foods and trying to eliminate as much sugar as I can. I also try to do some sort of exercise 4 to 6 days a week.

Hoping you find some answers and treatment that helps.

I have been following the B6Toxicity protocol from the Understanding B6 Toxicity using Western Research for 1 year. Prior to following this my b6 level was 5 times normal limit.i got this level from taking 2 melatonin for over 3 years each night that had 10mg of added b6. I had burning feet and feet feeling like I had tight socks on and walking on rocks. The burning feet have stopped but I still have feeling of my feet being wrapped. I have no pain or balance problems and exercise 2 times a Day. I am 70 and in great health except for the neuropathy. Testing showed I have large fiber sensory neuropathy. The salt in the water which is spread across the whole day does not bother me. The pedialyte is just 1/3 liter before bed and coconut water is To be sipped throughout the day but I don't like the taste so I drink tart cherry juice instead. I have seen many of this facebook group get good results if the cause of the neuropathy is from too much b6. I hope you find relief from your neuropathy.

Thank you for sharing about your experience following the B6Toxicity protocol. I am glad that it has helped you!
I went back to the website to check my notes about how much Pedialyte to take. The protocol to follow says that one days 1 & 2, take 1 liter of pedialyte spread out over the day with 1/3 liter consumed before bedtime.
From day 3 onward, take 1/3 liter pedialyte before bedtime. I was mistaken about taking 1 liter of pedialyte daily ongoing. I continue to not take B6 in supplements and I do my best to eat foods lower in B6 without using a chronometer to measure the foods that I eat as recommended on the website.
Thank you for your good wishes. Hope you continue to feel and do well. 🙂

Thank you, John, for reminding me that you have information about the Protocol 525. I will look into it some more. I like that they describe the benefits for each of the ingredients as to how they affect nerve repair. I take supplements for nerves from my doctor. I will compare the list of ingredients.