So I've started taking vitamin b12 pills (1000 mcg pills, once a day). I'm wondering if anyone has had experience using them before and if they actually work. I've heard good stories about the injection, but I have a thing about needles, and the pills are much cheaper and controllable.

Coming from one of the review in SwansonVitamins.com this is what she/he said about B12 pills "The method of delivery leaves you no doubt that you will be getting your B12. The smooth coated pills can be swallowed very easily and with no water if needed. Cost is higher than capsules but worth the trouble."

vitamin b12 can be absorbed much better in conjunction with other B vitamins. Not sure exactly which ones so looke it up.

Thank you for the info

sidney 23!! you are funny! "thank you for the info"

If you are taking B12 because your diet is deficient in it (rare, mostly in vegans or near-vegans who do not consume B12 fortified foods), then taking it orally should not be a problem.

On the other hand, if you need B12 because your digestive system does not absorb it from your food that contains B12, then you may need to use the injected form.

I agree with what tjl said.

I'm wondering whether you are taking B12 because you have pernicious anemia, because the injections are far superior to pills.

B12 injections once a month? Piece of cake. I will say it is better if you have control of the syringe. I really don't like other people sticking me with needles; not because I don't like needles, but because most people don't inject very well (I find they do it too slowly and that just hurts). So you might want to ask your doctor whether you can administer the B12 injections yourself. It doesn't take long to learn how to inject. Then you are the master of your domain

FYI, I inject insulin 5-7 times a day. You always find a way to do something when it's in your best interest

If your diet doesn't have enough B12, then a supplement could work.. If you already get enough through your diet, more doesn't necessarily mean better.

This is not the case with b12, there has never been a reported "overdose" of b12 or any sort of toxic effect. for b12 that is, b6 is a different case, in major doses it can be toxic. So, if you are taking a compilation B vitamin pill do not go over recommended dosages. If it is only b12 down the entire bottle. Only kidding, but it would not hurt to take 1-2 a day if needed.

Where did I say he would get an overdose? I just said that taking more than the body needs doesn't necessarily mean something will get better. I'm not saying he will suffer from any overdose, but just that there is no point taking more than you need, so you need to find out if your diet is adequate or inadequate in B12, if it is inadequate you can supplement (or fix your diet)

I apologize if I sounded as if I was critiquing your post. I must have misread.

Anyways, I hope we answered this persons question.

No worries.

Your body can also construct one B vitamin into a different one in order to make up for a deficiency. If you have a deficiency in a B vitamin, odds are you're deficient in multiple, if not all B vitamins. It's very rare to see a deficiency in only 1 type of B vitamin.

Why hasn't the OP checked back in?

There is a newer form of B12 tablet that supposedly has a much higher absorption rate. You may want to research it. The form is: Methylcobalamin,
and Jarrow Formulas has it (other brands available too).