In most neurotransmitter receptor interactions, control of response to a "normal" amount of neurotransmitter production is finely tuned so that there is a good balance between the amount of ligand (neurotransmitter) and the numbers of receptors so the cell receives a good response signal.

If too much ligand is produced the cell can modify the amount of signal by turning down the production of the receptors a process called receptor-down-regulation. In vitamin B12 deficiency, there is an over-production of both serotonin and dopamine and so one would expect that the number of receptors that can respond to stimulus is gradually reduced. It is reduced too far, then there will be too few receptors to generate a good response and so it will "appear" as if there is no dopamine or serotonin because there is no response. At this stage the person could experience depression.

Accompanying the down-regulation of dopamine and serotonin receptors the body can respond to the lower amount of adrenalin and melatonin by turning up the production of adrenalin and melatonin receptors in a process called up-regulation. For a while this will mean that the person does not appear to be B12 deficient, but eventually as levels drop far enough the person will experience adrenal fatigue and symptoms of melatonin deficiency, such as an inability to sleep.

If the person with the B12 deficiency suddenly increases the amount of Methyl B12 levels, serious problems can result. First, the amount of dopamine and serotonin produced will suddenly drop and so now the person, who has already down-regulated receptor production will suddenly have too few receptors to respond to the greatly reduced amount of dopamine and serotonin and so may experience extreme depression, in a similar fashion to any drug addict coming off medication.

Second, the sudden production of large amounts of adrenalin can result in a massive stimulation of an increased number of adrenalin receptors with result adrenalin over-stimulation, and the accompanying side effects of what is effectively an adrenalin over-dose.

Symptoms of such an extreme over-dose can include increased fatigue, joint or muscle pain, skin rashes, photosensitivity, irritability, paresthesia, dizziness, sleep disturbances, asthenia, muscle cramps, night sweats, hypertension, hypotension, headaches (especially migraines) and swollen glands. Also reported are heavy perspiration, metallic taste in mouth, chills, nausea, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, low grade fever, heart palpitations, tachycardia, facial palsy, tinnitus, mental confusion, uncoordinated movement, pruritus, bone pain, flu-like syndrome, conjunctivitis and throat swelling"

Overcoming the side-effects of Vitamin B12 supplementation

Given the potential seriousness of the vitamin B12 supplementation it is important that re-establishment of vitamin B12 sufficiency be under-taken with due care. Time must be given for the receptor numbers to either increase (for dopamine and serotonin) and for those for adrenalin to slowly decrease. Potentially this can takes weeks or even months of gradual increase in either methyl B12 or the co-factors such as vitamin B2, Iodine, Selenium and Molybdenum that are essential for maintenance of methyl Co(III)B12 activity. During this process it is important to be consistent in your approach, going too fast can lead to serious depression, and/or huge adrenalin over-dose reactions, with resultant side-effects.

SSRIs, vitamin B12 Deficiency and Depression

Many persons who have been prescribed anti-depressant drugs such as SSRIs and SNRIs have subsequently been found to either be overtly vitamin B12 deficient or have paradoxical B12 deficiency. Upon enquiry, we have yet to find one person whose doctor had checked for B12 deficiency by testing for levels of MMA, Homocysteine, or 5HIAA, or dopamine metabolites HVA/VMA or serotonin associated metabolites QA and KA. More particularly not one doctor could describe why vitamin B12 deficiency would result in elevated dopamine or serotonin, or who knew about paradoxical B12 deficiency (see https:/b12oils.com/paradoxical.htm ).