Metformin & vit b12

I started taking Vitamin B12 and Alpha Lipoic Acid after getting some mild neuropathy symptoms - pins a needles sensations in my hand. I read that Metformin can cause B12 deficiency which can result in neuropathy and memory loss. After seeing the diabetes nurse in February I dropped my Metformin medication to 1x500 a day and after seeing the diabetes nurse last week I have stopped taking it altogether.

I would suggest that people take B12 if on Metformin.

yes lack of vitamin B 12 is a serious problem in our body and can lead to many sorts of problems. I still take metformin, but if I get better at geting my numbers down in the fours regulary I would stop taking metformin for that specific reason. To try to prevent B 12 deficiency I do take vitamin B 12 suplement but I dont know if that can compensate the problem with uptaking B 12 as it could be all over the body the metformin hinders uptake of vitamin B 12 ...

If you've been taking metformin for more than a year or two it is probably worth getting your B12 levels checked, but my understanding is that if it is only metformin that is reducing B12 levels then a supplement should be all that's required (and if your body is tolerating metformin OK then presumably the benefits outweigh a slight reduction in B12 that can be corrected in this way). Major B12 deficiency can cause serious problems with nerve damage -- but mine was not related to my diabetes or its treatment, and even then at least some of the damage can be offset by B12 injections. So don't panic, metformin-takers -- but just monitor it.

Yes the Problem with vitamin B12 deficiency is that some of the damage can be ireversible which mean it cant be repaired again

Get b12 and folate tested by GP.

I have a long history of b12 under and hugely over... but not on metformin. I know how both extremes can be so bad...

Worthwhile definitely asking for your levels to be monitored.

Art Of Flowers said:

I started taking Vitamin B12 and Alpha Lipoic Acid after getting some mild neuropathy symptoms - pins a needles sensations in my hand. I read that Metformin can cause B12 deficiency which can result in neuropathy and memory loss. After seeing the diabetes nurse in February I dropped my Metformin medication to 1x500 a day and after seeing the diabetes nurse last week I have stopped taking it altogether.

I would suggest that people take B12 if on Metformin.

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This my knowledge (30 years of this) Metformin strips B12 from food. Supplements don’t usually work. You usually have to have it by injection.