Could someone possibly let me know the best way of storing the ampules, I currently have them in a draw at room temperature but I think I have read on here that some people favour keeping them in the fridge. Any advice would be most appreciated.
And, of course, a Happy New Healthy Year is wished to one and all. Many thanks in advance.
What flavour are they?
If they’re hydroxocobalamin or cyanocobalamin then you can store them in that draw. They need to be below 25°C and in the dark.
If it’s methylcobalamin then it needs to be stored below 4°C.
Thank you very much for such a succinct and prompt reply. It is methylcobalamin. I wonder if I have ruined it by keeping it for 2 days in the draw? Still haven't plucked up the courage to use it. My over active imagination is conjuring up pictures of anaphylactic shocks, even though I have had the B12 injections from doctor before! Could I give myself some sort of little test before I do the full injection? I am a trite over nervous to say the least and a dab hand at conjuring up worst case scenarios! Just need to get a grip! Sorry to trouble you at the festive season an all. Would just like to start the New Year finally more in charge of my own destiny. Have been out of action for 3 months with awful flu and then an operation, am determined to bounce back with avengence and face this new year with a little verve and vigour. I hope you are in good health. I still believe it is our birthright and I will never say never! Best wishes. M.
What flavour was the B12 from the doctor? If it was hydroxocobalamin then you're extremely unlikely to get an allergic reaction to it on subsequent jabs. I've no idea if methylcobalamin might provoke a reaction.
Storing them in a draw for a few days is unlikely to make them go off. If you bought it from a UK supplier then it's much more likely that your they have had them stored at room temperature for days/weeks/months. They aren't supplying B12 for any medical condition, so they don't have to worry about what they sell going off.
The stability problem is one reason why people in the UK are much better off with German hydroxocobalamin. Another good reason is that some people have quite a strong adverse reaction to methylcobalamin injections.
That’s interesting, my doctor took her methylcobalamin out of the cupboard. Something else the gp’s aren’t aware of!
Are you sure it's methylcobalamin? That's hard to get in the UK and isn't licensed for anything.
Yes, I still have the box. When I started to SI I got hydro. I tried to get methyl as I’d already had that for loading doses.
And this was a real, NHS, doctor?
Yes, the senior one at the practice. Same one that ordered repeat levels after loading doses and told me I was wrong that results would be skewed. Same one whose nurse told me that there was nothing I could tell her about B12 as she’d been to a lecture at Bath Uni and that at 400 post loading doses my levels were too high. That’s why I SI 😉
I store my ampoules ( I bought in bulk) in the fridge. Hope they last longer that way.
The GP surgery keeps them in the fridge but take them out in time for my jab because we discovered that if the ampoule was taken from the fridge and was injected immediately my arm was painful but if it was at room temperature I feel no pain.
If you use hydroxocobalamin read the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL). Here's one - medicines.org.uk/emc/files/... Section 5 says...
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label
and carton after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 25°C. Keep the ampoule in the outer carton in order to
protect from light.
If only part used, discard the remaining solution.
Thank you for all your invaluable help. I will keep everything in fridge in the future even thought the leaflet they send says otherwise, no wonder we all get confused!
It's not confusing. Hydroxocobalamin doesn't need to be kept in the fridge. Nor does cyanocobalamin medicines.org.uk/emc/produc...
But methylcobalamin needs to be refrigerated empowerpharmacy.com/drugs/m...
Yes it is wholly confusing. What if every room in your house is above 25c.
Thanks again, even my nutty Aquarian brain can grasp that! Do you know when the German company will be trading with us again? It seems to be the most popular and trusted place. Do they only trade at certain times of year? Did first injection this morning, easy as pie. Hope all is well.
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