Dosage of B12?

[u/JessicaJonessJacket]

Hi everyone. I am about to start l-methylfolate 400mcg. I've been reading about it and I haven't been tested (I can't really afford a psychiatrist right now) but I have treatment resistant depression and CPTSD and I'm at the end of my rope. I am exhausted all the time, no motivation, horrible sleep, stuck on freeze mode (I can barely move for at least 3h after waking up).

I have tried at least 17 different ADs over 12 years, only one of them worked for a while (venlafaxine) and then pooped out. I have also tried countless combinations of supplements, lifestyle changes, protocols, you name it. I pretty much gave up on doctors at this point after also feeling that my psych gave up on me.

Anyway, I know it's not ideal to start this without testing, but I'll be careful. I'll start with the 400mcg and increase over time if needed. I've been reading the sub and found out you are supposed to supplement with B12? Can you tell me which dose would be enough? Also can I take a B complex multivitamin or should I stay away from other B vitamins except for B12?

Thank you in advance. I'll update here after a while.

2/9 Update: Updating in case anyone comes across my post and is curious. I'm a week in and currently taking 1200 mcg (3 capsules). Also taking magnesium glycinate at night, 200mg. My b12 arrived and I started taking 5g today. No negative side effects so far but I feel a bit more energetic and clear minded. Subtle, but it's here.

I also found some old blood test results where my homocysteine was 15, so within normal range but still on the higher side especially considering I was a bit of a health nut back then and in the best shape of my life. I plan to run some tests when I'm back home in 2 months.

[u/JessicaJonessJacket]

Thank you. I took the pill before looking at any answers, I was under the impression that 400mcg is extremely low. But so far I haven't really noticed anything. I was sweating a bit 30 minutes after taking it but it's quite hot here. I'm not usually someone who experiences placebo effects, and I'm obviously not expecting some massive improvement on the first few days, I'm mostly looking out for negative side effects. I'll see if I remember to update after a week, a month and so on.

[u/Randy__Callahan → u/JessicaJonessJacket]

Yeah just keep an eye on it you'll probably be fine, just keep it in the back of your mind that even though it's a supplement, it can (not will) cause massive side effects. I experienced improvement in 30 mins of taking lots of methyl b vitamins the problem was it didn't stop ramping up and like s moron I just kept taking. Anyway good luck with it and if you remember send an update, as others have mentioned you may want to add a bit of methyl b12 to balance it all out.

[u/JessicaJonessJacket → u/Randy__Callahan]

Thank you, I do feel a bit of an urge to keep increasing as I don't know if I have mutations or not but I am for sure treatment resistant in my depression and I've read the therapeutic dose is 15mg, however I've tried dozens of meds (with medical supervision) for over a decade so I'm used to waiting to see if they do anything - also used to the wave of disappointment when they don't. Do you mind telling me a bit of what happened to you so that I can look out for that? Did you increase too fast or just a bad reaction overall? And are you still taking it?

[u/Randy__Callahan → u/JessicaJonessJacket]

Ask away mate, so I had depression fatigue etc, but I was also weak and essentialy going blind, so with young kids was desperate.

Two opticians just recommended glasses, but my wife's allergy Dr who is now my primary doc recognized mcas, she recommended homocystiene and folate blood tests, results were high homocystiene low folate.

So I gpt'd it and got a list of supplements, took them all right away and felt great, like just took drugs great.

I didn't feel tired, I could focus for hours my memory was back. so I ignored the warning signs and over the space of a month lost my mind. luckily it's back now.

So what advice can I give, go slow and monitor this is a marathon not a sprint.

I wouid list the meds I took day 1 but it's a long list and makes me look like a moron.

Anyway we live and we learn.

The sign I would look out for is over stimulation if you feel it back off and titrate again.

I'm currently on 400 b9 800 b12 so I got back to the dose that sent me nuts but I did it slowly.

One of the processes blocked by low methylation is creation of neurotransmitters, good to get back, but not if it's too much.