My experience of ordering B12 1mg/1ml Hydroxocobalimin March 2019

[cynic1946]

Hi everyone,

Firstly this information is given to you by a totally non medically qualified person. I was diagnosed by an NHS doctor with B12 deficiency a couple of years ago and my bloods are checked by the NHS every year. The surgery nurse injects me intramuscularly (top of shoulder) with the NHS provided 1mg/1ml b12 Hydroxocobalamin every 3 months as recommended by NHS guidelines - I find this insufficient and get tired after 7 or 8 weeks. I have had conversations with my GP about it, who appears somewhat negative to shortening the 3 month period to 6 or 8 weeks.

So rather than get into a “warm” discussion with my Doctor, its just not worth it as far as I am concerned - although others would differ on this site. I have decided to “play the bureaucratic game” and self inject myself midway betweeen NHS injections with self provided 1mg/1ml b12 Hydroxocobalamin in the belief that I will not be inflicting harm on myself. The general view is that you cant overdose on b12 as the body naturally disposes of any surplus - provided you don’t go mad on it. However that is for you to decide.

I would like to thank all who post on this site and in particular to WEDGEWOOD who’s information on this site has helped me no end.

So without further ado I list my sources of supply and the items I ordered.

Firstly: my German source of supply for 1mg/1ml b12 Hydroxocobalamin

bodfeld-apotheke.de/

At the top right of their website select your language from the drop down menu - in my case “english” and the website will self translate (it takes a few seconds per page) - I could have used others, but after playing around with it, I found this bodfeld site the easiest for my brain!. You will have to register your address details to get an account number and of course to get the goods delivered

I ordered the following Hydroxocobalamin product

VITAMIN B12 DEPOT Rotexmedica Injektionslosung with an artIcle/item number 03862297 and a use by date of June 2021 @ a cost of 6.21 Euros per pack of 10 ampoules - plus postage and packing via DHL of 9.98 Euros - it would appear that no matter how large or small your order this cost is the same.

Order placed Wednesday after lunch - Order delivered following Saturday @ 8.38am - so 3 days.

Secondly: my english source of supply for syringes and needles etc

medisave.co.uk

I ordered the following items (With thanks to WEDGEWOOD)

Order placed Wednesday after lunch - Order delivered following morning at 9 - less than a day!

The larger 21G green needle is for drawing the liquid from the ampoule into the syringe ONLY

The smaller 25G orange needle is for the actual intramuscular injection.

1 x Sharps guard yellow 2.5 litre sharps bin item DD472YL/Single £1.19

100 x Terumo agani needle 21G green x1.5” item AN-2138R £2.59

100 x Terumo agani needle 25G orange x1.5” item AN-2138R £2.59

100 x Medisave 70% alcohol IPA swabs item MS100 £0.89

100 x BD Emerald Hypodermic syringe 2ml item 307727 £4.19

TOTAL £11.45

POSTAGE £5.99

VAT £3.50

GRAND TOTAL £20.94

I trust people might find this post helpful in their research. However, any doubts, seek proper medical advice/training before taking any self action.

[Rheadster72]

Great post for anyone considering SI. The only thing I'd say is save some money and visit your local needle exchange for needles, barrels and sharps bin.

I know many have battled with GPs about more frequent injections - I for one got fed up with them. It feels good to take back control doesn't it?

[Hidden in reply to Rheadster72]

I tried pharmacies and the needle exchange and nobody had intramuscular injection needles and syringes for me me so I purchased my own I have now got to find out how to dispose of my sharps bin my council want a letter from my GP which I haven't got as I'm self injecting...

[e66--]

This is a wonderfully helpful post.How kind of you to take the time and trouble. Wish I had it 2 moths ago! But finally worked it all out. It's great for the people to come in the future. My only concern is how to dispose of the sharps bin safely and wisely, haven't quite worked that one out yet! Wish you well on your journey.

[cynic1946 in reply to e66--]

As my needs for the sharps bin is for my needles only - i estimate it will take a 100 years at least to fill it! being over 70 i will never fill it! however some say councils will supply and pick them up - how true that is i havent a clue - however with perseverence and some phoning maybe you can find a solution in your area

[e66-- in reply to cynic1946]

THANKS FOR HELP

[Ritchie1268 in reply to e66--]

I know all surgeries are different but my nurse that gives me my 3 monthly injection told me to take my sharps bin to the surgery & they will dispose of it for me. Certain councils will do it but this will also vary in each county.

[e66-- in reply to Ritchie1268]

Thanks for response, will cross bridge when I come to it I guess, where there's a will there's usually a way!

[wedgewood in reply to e66--]

I take my full bin to a local chemists . They take it -no questions asked . You can google to find out . Needle exchange pharmacies will certainly take the full boxes.

[e66-- in reply to wedgewood]

Bless you, you have helped so many. Bit scared but will give it a try when time comes x

[wedgewood in reply to e66--]

I cannot tell you how scared I was for my first injection .I thought that I would throw up .I I was shaking like the proverbial leaf . Now 3 years down the line , I don’t turn a hair . I never thought I could be so relaxed about an injection . I would rather inject myself because I know exactly how to do it without causing any discomfort whatsoever . But I must have injected myself 150 times , so I suppose practise makes perfect .You will get there too !

[e66-- in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you so much much Wedgewood (have to laugh I just got my mum a beautiful wedgewood photo frame for mother's day). Have lovely chilled Sunday x

[Rheadster72 in reply to e66--]

Needle exchange would take it!

[mountainice]

Thank you! I love the detail. I am still toying with self-injecting. Don't know if long-term symptoms and feeling terrible a lot of the time is B12 related or thyroid, or both, but this post would give me super confidence in ordering.

[Miss-guineapig]

Thank you for this x

[Deetha]

Thank you so for that information about the pharmacy in Germany. My usual German pharmacy is out of stock for VITAMIN B12 DEPOT Rotexmedica Injektionslosung and I had trawling other suggested sites but they don’t all do the Rotex brand.... also your suggestion is 3€ cheaper😂. I am stock piling 🤪 so that I have at least 2 yrs worth - as I inject 3-4 times a month depending on how I feel.👌

[Swinging-Chandelier]

A truly brilliant piece of information.

I am not SI at the moment but I think it will only be a matter of time before my surgery stop my monthly injections and this information, along with what Wedgewood has already provided, will be invaluable. Thank-you so much

[StaffsLass]

Thank you so Cynic1946 much for your shopping list.

I have had Pernicious anaemia for nearly 7 years. In Sept 2012, I rang 999 as I had never felt so poorly in my life. It turned out to be a perforated bowel. After 16 day in hospital, 45 staples, a colostomy bag & as weak as a kitten I was allowed home. A call from the surgery 4 days later said I had an appointment to have the 1st of my loading doses. I was told the part of the bowel that absorbed B12 was the part they removed during surgery. I had 5 further operations in the following 12 months, including a reversal of my colostomy, 2 Abdominal abscesses and a reversal of my ileostomy.

I am stll a novice with PA because up until 12 months ago no-one had sat me down & told me what this sort of anemia can do to a body. I was blindly following the 12 week treatments when my new nurse, who is pretty savvy when it comes to anaemia, asked if the injections were making me feel any better & I said no. My GP hasn't let me have my injections any closer together. So she pointed me towards this site. I am so relieved that there is help on here from you fantastic members but to be honest, I was so overwhelmed & scared stiff by what I was reading. So I sat quietly and read the posts that apply to me and I have made the decision to self inject and see how it goes.

So Cynic1946, thank you. I will be ordering my stock tonight.

[Hidden]

Hi cynic1946.

I just wanted to add my thanks to your so helpful post as a newcomer it was very encouraging and takes so much pressure off rookies like myself.

I actually went online today and bought this stuff because my medichecks bloods came back low for b12 (298 )and they recommended I have the MMA testing done which I did and sent off yesterday so it’s a 16 day turnaround for results I also did a full iron panel as my ferritin is too high at nearly 500.

I’ve also just registered with a new gp and I’m praying that this practice is an improvement on previous.

I’ve had every test scan and biopsy under the sun these last couple of years all paid for privately I even went over gps head and emailed the consultant haematologist head of hospital dept who agreed to see me in his private practice to test me for lymphoma cancers as ct scan showed raised lymph nodes in abdomen,I was given all clear and discharged by him after bloods and further scan had showed no increase in sizes of nodes or cancer markers but obviously I’m still concerned.I have a feeling if I can get all my vitamin levels optimised then maybe the inflammation in my body will then reduce and hopefully so will my ferritin levels so once I get test results back I’ll take to gp and see if I can get b12 injections on nhs if not then I at least have a fall back thanks to your generosity in sharing this information I’m so grateful.x

[Hidden]

I have been using the blue needle to inject but I'm a very slim female so I think I'm going to order the orange one next and try with that

[Hidden]

The code for the orange needle comes up as green I cannot find an orange needle in 1.5 inch can you check the code for me please I'm looking on the medisave website thank you