Low B12

I have low B12 which I think was caused by taking Zantac for over 4 years after my Heller Myotomy. My skin has tingles and pin prickly feeling from head to toe all the time. I was wonder if anyone else here has been on a ppi or other acid blocker that has developed low B12 and other Vitamin deficiencies. I am also very low in Vitamin D.

Hi, i take protonics twice a day and i am very low in vitamin d; my doctor said the medication is not the reason why i am low as many people are just low due to diet and not enough sun light. I was taking 50,000 units a week for a few month, changed my diet and i am a lot better now.

I take a multivitamin ,1 b12 and 1000 vitamin d tablet each day also.

One of the things that stomach acid does is to help the body absorb iron, so having medication that reduces this acid may give you B12 / iron shortage.   It would be worth checking on the leaflet that comes with the medication.   People who have had their stomach removed will invariably need iron supplements, for instance.   The other thing that you may need to watch out for is your calcium levels as acid suppressing medication can aggravate a tendency towards bones thinning in the long term.   This does not mean that the medication is other than safe and that yuo need to take it.   But you will probably need supplements.   You could also explore the posisbility of keeping tablets under your tongue for absorption (but ask pharmacist first).   Your system may not allow the pills to et to the right place to be absorbed in the way they were designed to.

Yes I also am deficient in B-12 from years of an undiagnosed condition of Achalasia and taking PPIs for many years.  I had the surgery( POEM) last May, which did help, but I think I need dilated now.  But back to deficiencies, in addition to B-12 I also take Magnesium Caps 500 mg qd. When I don't take Mg I get muscle cramps mostly in my feet.  Sometimes I take 20mg of Nexium 2 times a day and Zantac at night also Gas-X has helped me tremendously.  My Dr wants me not to take these drugs, I have tried but I cannot consume enough food to keep me alive. I don't take all of these drugs every day now but take as needed according to the kind and amount of food I'm eating that day.  Hope this helps.

Thanks Tanks and OPA_AlanM for your replies.

Tank, I also take magnesium 500 and calcium. I'm trying the paleo diet to see if it will also help. I'm also asking my Dr. If he thinks B12 shots would be beneficial. But thanks again, it helps to know I'm not alone.

Thanks Wendy. I'm also looking at my diet, I'm taking out gluten and leaning towards the paleo diet. I'm also going to look into a probiotic. My doctor me on a prescription of 50,000mg vit D for 8wks. 1 day a wk. My vit. B12 is at the very low end of normal. The normal ranges from 200 to 1100. I'm at 280. You can start showing symptoms at 400 or lower. So I'm asking my doctor for injections, which I feel like he should have suggested.

I'm glad your feeling better!

that sounds like a great idea.  Keep me posted.

thank you for posting this, i have been having muscle cramps for a while now..i will definetely look into the magnesium pills. Have you tried to increase drinking smoothies and very soft food. ask your doctor about taking pantoprazole sod 40 mg.  I too had the POEM surgery and struggle on what to eat.  I live in fear that one day i wont be able to eat at all.  But this medication helps me.  I take it twice a day, half an hour before i have my breakfast and dinner. I try not to eat pass 6 p.m and have cut out pepper as much as possible. Try also drinking an ensure a day. 

Hope you feel better soon. I have Vitamin B12 deficiency because I tried to lose weight and mainly ate fruits and vegetables for about a month. Just lost 2 kilos and gained so many illnesses along the way,I'm also a GERD sufferer and a Globus Sensation sufferer. I have pins and needles in my tongue ,fatigue, irritability,tinnitus.I will definitely buy supplements to support our body that we can't get from food.Think positive, You will be fine.Take care now.

Thanks for sharing. Sorry to hear just trying to lose weight brought about all this. Seems like once we get one thing going on with our bodies were susceptible to a whole bunch of others. Ugh!