To treat nerve damage, how long should methylcobalamin be taken and what should be paid attention to when taking the medication?

A friend who suffers from trigeminal neuralgia told Huazi that the doctor provided her with a drug treatment plan, which was to use carbamazepine to relieve pain, and then told her to take a drug called methylcobalamin for a long time. But what she found strange was that her husband, who suffers from diabetes, also took methylcobalamin for a long time. What kind of drug is this? Why do people with different diseases need to take it for a long time? How long should they take it?

Hua Zi said that methylcobalamin is actually the active substance of vitamin B12, which can not only promote the development and maturation of red blood cells in the human body, but also nourish nerves. It is used as an auxiliary treatment for nerve damage caused by diseases such as neuralgia, neuritis, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and trauma.

1. Methylcobalamin for nerve nutrition

No matter what kind of disease causes nerve damage, it will cause pathological changes such as axon degeneration, neuronal degeneration, and demyelination of nerve cells, thereby causing symptoms such as pain, movement disorders (fatigue, incoordination of movements, etc.), and sensory abnormalities (numbness, tingling, tingling, etc.).

Methylcobalamin can directly enter nerve cells, promote the metabolism of nerve cells , promote the synthesis of cellular nucleic acids and proteins, promote the transport function and regeneration of nerve cell axons , is beneficial to the formation of nerve cell myelin sheaths, and repair damaged nerve cells, thereby improving the symptoms of nerve damage.

2. How long should I take methylcobalamin before I can stop taking it?

The nerve cells in the human body are highly differentiated cells. Their life span is almost the same as that of the human body. Once they die, they cannot be regenerated. Even if they are not dead but only damaged, the repair speed is slow. Depending on the degree of damage and the differences in physical constitution of different people, the time it takes for nerve cells to repair is usually 3 to 6 months .

Huazi himself once damaged his mandibular nerve while having his wisdom teeth removed, causing numbness on the right side of his lip. After taking methylcobalamin for about a month and a half, the numbness of his lips disappeared.

Once the symptoms of nerve damage are reduced to a tolerable level or disappear, the medication can be discontinued. However, if the symptoms do not improve after one month of continuous medication, the medication can also be discontinued .

3. Does methylcobalamin have any adverse reactions?

Many people are worried that "all medicines are poisonous". Will there be any adverse reactions when taking methylcobalamin for a long time? Generally speaking, the adverse reactions of methylcobalamin are very mild. A very small number of patients may experience gastrointestinal reactions such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea after taking the medicine , but the symptoms are usually not severe.

About one in a thousand people may be allergic and develop a rash. If an allergic reaction occurs, stop taking the medicine immediately and seek medical attention. The safety of the medicine for pregnant women and breastfeeding women is not yet clear, and it is not recommended unless necessary. When children and the elderly take the medicine, they need to reduce the dosage as appropriate under the guidance of a doctor.

4. Vitamin B12 that can be supplemented with food

Methylcobalamin is essentially the active substance of vitamin B12 after it is metabolized in the human body. The two have basically the same function. Vitamin B12 is mainly found in meat foods , such as pigs, cattle, sheep, poultry, fish, dairy products and eggs, which all contain more vitamin B12. However, vegetables and fruits contain almost no vitamin B12.

Therefore, eating more meat and taking in vitamin B12 will metabolize methylcobalamin and have the effect of nourishing the nerves .

However, the absorption of vitamin B12 needs to be combined with the intrinsic factor secreted by the stomach. People with indigestion and vegans will have insufficient vitamin B12 in their bodies. Some people also have diseases such as high blood lipids, high blood uric acid, and renal insufficiency, and need to limit their meat intake, which will also cause vitamin B12 deficiency. For these people, taking methylcobalamin will be more effective.

In summary, methylcobalamin is a nerve-nourishing drug that can promote nerve cell repair. Methylcobalamin can be used as an adjuvant therapy for nerve damage caused by various diseases. The medication period is usually 3 to 6 months, or the medication is stopped after the symptoms improve. However, if the symptoms do not improve after taking it for 1 month, it is not recommended to continue taking it.

Drugs should be taken under the guidance of a doctor. If you have any questions about medication, please consult a doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Huazi. Welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.