Many foods are fortified with artificial vitamin B12, such as non-dairy milks and cereals, but these are not always optimally absorbed, so vegans must still be proactive about making sure they are not becoming deficient
This represents the most common starting point in practical protocols and aligns with the midpoint of clinical dosing ranges adjusted for average body composition
Side effects are generally mild and may include slight redness or soreness at the injection site
Many who do receive a prescription end up with synthetic forms of B12 instead of the native, harmless, nerve-repairing formmethylcobalamin
When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider right away if you have: Unexplained fever with back pain Back pain after a severe blow or fall Redness or swelling on the back or spine Pain traveling down your legs below the knee Weakness or numbness in your buttocks, thigh, leg, or pelvis Burning with urination or blood in your urine Pain that is worse when you lie down, or awakens you at night Severe pain and you cannot get comfortable Loss of control of urine or stool (incontinence) Also contact your provider if: You have been losing weight unintentionally (not on purpose) You use steroids or intravenous drugs You have had back pain before, but this episode is different and feels worse This episode of back pain has lasted longer than 4 weeks Prevention Prevention varies, depending on the cause of the nerve damage
