Different B12 manufacturer, different result?

[topazrat]

I inject myself weekly with B12 and stay stable. Last week, I went for my three monthly NHS injection and noticed that the vial was different. It was clear glass and not brown. I asked if the manufacturer had changed and nursey nodded yes. She gave the jab, which was the most painful one I had ever had! (Why do NHS nurses insist on injecting with drain pipes?)

Four days after the jab, I started to feel the old symptoms coming back: pins and needles, foggy head, shattered, wobbly legs. So I gave myself an extra jab and felt better.

So, the question: She gave me Hydroxocobalamin, the same as I always have, so theoretically it should work the same. But it didn't. Do different brands work differently for different people? Did nursey leave it out and the light got to it because the vial was clear? Is it just a cheap brand to save the NHS money? It's a mystery! Anyone else had a similar experience?

[JanD236]

I have an Nhs supplied vial of hydroxo once a month and a rotexmedica hydroxo which I si weekly. I sometimes feel that I subtly feel better on the Nhs vial but have always assumed it’s psychological.

[topazrat in reply to JanD236]

Maybe it is a difference in brands then. It will be interesting to see if other people say the same thing too.

[fbirder]

All of the B12 I've had from the NHS has been the same ingredients as in the Rotexmedica I use - B12, salt and vinegar.

The salt and vinegar will be described as some mixture of acetic acid, acetate, hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride or sodium hydroxide.

[Foggyme Administrator]

I never notice a difference between the surgery jab and the rotexmedica B12 I purchase from Germany.

👍

[topazrat in reply to Foggyme]

No, I've never noticed any difference before. After doing a bit of googling, It would appear that it doesn't take many hours of light to begin to degrade Hydroxo. So I'm wondering if she takes the vials out of the box at the start of the clinic. They could then be sitting under the lights for hours. Wouldn't have been such an issue with the brown vials, but these vials are clear. My appointment was at the end of the day, so there is the possibility that they'd been exposed to light for nearly 8 hours.

[GastritisB12]

I hope they haven't changed it, my next one is due next week.

Did you see the ampoule was it Neo Cytamen? I still have some NHS prescription ones they were manufactured in Sweden.

[topazrat in reply to GastritisB12]

I didn't get to see what make it was, only that it was in a clear vial rather than a brown one. I was just going to pick it up to check but nursey put it in the sharps bin before I had a chance.

[GastritisB12 in reply to topazrat]

The vials at my local NHS surgery and at another private GPs and the ones I got from Boots are the clear ones with a white and red label made in Sweden. They work really well for me. Never saw brown ones before.

[MoKayD]

I've noticed a difference in how I feel after a shot depending on how the nurse gives me the shot. I tend to feel really good, really fast if they give it intramuscular but it seems to wear off faster. If they give it to me subcutaneously I don't get that instant little rush of feeling better but it seems to last the entire month.

[topazrat in reply to MoKayD]

I prefer sc. It's a much gentler rise rather than the quick whack from IM. IM tends to give me a muzzy headache for a few hours, sc doesn't.

[Mytartan]

Yes, there is a difference. I have brought this up with my Doctor many times....when I had the prescription to pick up B12 myself I used a different pharmacy. The b12 from Boots was useless. I could get maybe 3 weeks then the usual symptoms came back.... I can get up to 5 weeks now with the Nurse using practice’s own B12. The biggest problem I have is that the Nurse who I have total respect for, feels that 5 weeks is to quick for repeat jags. She thinks there is something else wrong with me.... it’s simple my injection can take up to a week to kick in depending on how bad I was when getting it other times 2 days...I also think the different manufacturers of B12 has a bearing on this...12 years I have had P.A.

[topazrat in reply to Mytartan]

Logic says there shouldn't be a difference, as its exactly the same drug, but it would appear that there is for some reason. Maybe its down to storage conditions or temperature fluctuations. Maybe it will be a mystery that is never solved. I'm glad I do my own jabs, so I know that I have a B12 that works for me.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

Think you are entitled to ask the question. Perhaps the nurse has never used clear ones before either, and did not realise the difference that would make regarding light exposure. Whatever the reason, she might even be glad that you brought it to her attention.

[topazrat in reply to Cherylclaire]

I have to go back in a few weeks, so I'll discuss it with her and see if we can work out what happened.

[Hidden]

I have a stock of the German ampoules and 1 of the ones prescribed by the GP and the German ones are brown glass with the British supplied ones clear glass. I keep all of them either in their supplier packaging or in a closed drawer. Over the past 2 years I can't say I have noticed any difference when using them other than the German ones have a little dot on them indicating the break point but the British ones don't.

[Ryaan]

I always feel the opposite. The B12 jab I have in uk seems to me to be more effective than the Rotoxmedica I get from Germany.

Hydroxocobalamin is always in a clear vial as it’s not affected by light.

Methylcobalamin is sensitive to light and is affected so it comes in a dark brown vial, it’s a more active form but that doesn’t mean it’s more effective.

Hydroxocobalamin is very effective. I’ve tried Methyl which I didn’t find more effective or as effective as Hydroxo.

When I was very low on B12 and had a lot of symptoms the Hydroxo got me better when my Gp injected me once a week for 16 weeks and all my symptoms went away so I usually stick to them, even the same make.

Could be a mind thing....the mind is very powerful, it believes what you want it to believe.

[wedgewood in reply to Ryaan]

Hydroxocobalamin is affected by light , but can be kept without refrigeration up to 25 Celsius. Methycobalamin is also light-sensitive and must be refrigerated .

[Ryaan in reply to wedgewood]

Thanks for the correction. Because Hydroxocobalamin comes in a clear vial and Methyl comes in a dark vial I assumed the Hydroxo is not affected by light.

So it’s ok to store as long as the vials remain in the pack ?

I have read though that methyl is affected by light much quicker.

[wedgewood]

My Hydroxocobalamin comes in a brown ampoule ( Rotexmedica ) It’s fine to store them unrefrigerated up to 25 celsius . If we get a heatwave, which we might do this week , put them in the fridge .Yes , keep them in the dark in the pack . I read the information leaflet that comes with it .

Methylcobalamin is altogether a much more sensitive product . More sensitive to heat and light .Must be refrigerated. If not looked after correctly , it will turn into Hydroxocobalamin. Best wishes .