I’ve ordered via Amazon pay and received from the German Chemist Versandapo VitB12 Depot 1g ampules. Rotexmedica. I’m used to self injecting after my GP taught me a few years ago but the three monthly injection isn’t enough for me to stay well. I’m concerned I’m using the wrong needle and maybe it’s not going into the muscle. The needle I use is a yellow 25G 1inch but I also have here blue and green needles.
The ampule contents are Hydroxocobalaminacetat. What is the acetat part on the end please? Is that just the German translation of Hydroxocobalamin does anyone know? Also the other 3 ingredients in German - are these the same as the three UK ingredients? Has anyone used this brand from this source? I’m nervous to inject myself as I bought it online so re assurance from people who use this from the same source would be so appreciated.
Final questions -is generalised anxiety a symptom of B12 deficiency? Not feeling anxious about anything in particular but just anxiety which feels almost physiological? Does anyone find they get a strange saliva feeling in their mouth under their tongue when they are low on B12?
Thank you
Blais
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Blais
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The Rotexmedica B12 1mg x 1ml is the kind that most people on this forum use . I’ve used it for 4 years ,band find it excellent .You will find that all German pharmaceutical products are excellent. The online German pharmacies that we use are very strictly controlled by the German Health authorities , so no need for concern . The preservatives in the B12 are salt and acetic acid ( vinegar ) Hydroxocobalamin acetate is just the name for that kind of cobalamin . There are 2 other kinds of injectable cobalamin , but the NHS uses Hydroxocobalamin, which is excellent.
I use the I.M -intramuscular method of injecting . You can use sub- cutaneous also. Injection needle 25G X. 1 inch I find ideal for I.M. unless you are really overweight . I use the outer middle third of the thigh ,and swap each time , but to withdraw the B12 from the ampoule I use a longer needle 1 1/2 in long . The withdrawing needle gets blunt if it touches the glass of the ampoule , making the injection uncomfortable .
Yes ,anxiety is one of the many symptoms of B12 deficiency . But there are so very many , and we all get different combinations .
Be aware, P.A. is an autoimmune condition ,and as such , rarely comes alone .
Hop I’ve helped a bit . So good luck with self-injecting .👍
So the acetat at the end of Hydroxocobalamin isn’t anything different?
I’m wondering as I’ve been using my shoulder to inject whether actually I’ve been going too low down my arm and not into muscle. Have just looked up what a small muscle it is. Might that explain why I feel better with B 12 but not for long. Maybe I need loading doses again?
I’m curvy so maybe I need a 1.5 inch needle for my thigh? Any risks in that?
The thigh is the best place for self- injecting . ( vastus Lateralis muscle ) You have 2 large areas which are easily accessible for a lone person . I keep a note and alternate thighs . .
I’ve been told by a patient that the Rotexmedica B12 ampoules are sometimes used in surgeries here . Nothing to worry about . They work perfectly ! Even if you don’t get the muscle in your arm , you will inject subcutaneously , and that works also , but probably a bit slower. You will see on the package that the ampoule can be injected sub-cut .
I realise that you are nervous about injecting . If you use google you can find out if you need to use a longer needle. You will find instructions how to do that. -it involves pinching the skin and measuring the thickness . Best of luck 🍀
I’m feeling as if I need B12 but my bloods always show that I’m above range ie high. Is this normal for people who inject B12 or would you expect the blood level to fall between injections ?
Hydroxocobalamin is a positively charged molecule, so it comes paired with a negatively charged ion. This is often ignored, because it dissociates in water. So you may see it labelled as hydroxocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin acetate, or hydroxocobalamin chloride. They're all the same once they're in water.
The other ingredients are natriumchlorid, natriumacetat, essigsaure und wasser. In English, sodium chloride (salt) sodium acetate (what you get when you mix salt and vinegar), acetic acid (vinegar) and water for injection. The salt is there to make it isotonic (same saltiness) as the body fluids. The sodium acetate and acetic acid are there to make sure the pH (acidity) remains constant.
Blais, a wee bit reassurance for you. It's not a huge deal if you do sub cutaneous ot intramuscular, just get confident at administering first of all. I use a blue needle for intramuscular, but I know on occasions I have not gone deep enough or pinched skin which made it more subcutaneous by mistake. For VitB12 it's not a worry,...and I am a nurse. Wishing you well xx
I use from the same as you, they were very good in sending quick and my first time self injecting found it to be easy and I must say I feel so much better got my needles from shd medical in Plymouth also very quick.
I use the same ampoules, from the same supplier and have been doing so for the past 3 years, including a just after 2 am this morning. The contents are the same as the ones you get on your prescription with I suspect a much longer use by date - the pharmacists seem to be using up old stock as the last batches my daughter and I have had from that source have only been valid for another 6 months.
I now use an orange 25mm needle in the mid outer third of my thighs and I find this much more comfortable than the slightly longer blue needles. I have used these for the past year or so at about a seven day.
Welcome to the growing cohort of self injectors. You are now in control of your well being. It is truly amazing that so much benefit can come from the few minutes it takes to set up and inject.
I am not medically trained and like you do this out of frustration with the GP and a desire for a comfortable life.
Thank you for this re assurance. Much appreciated. Do you find once a week is what you need? Do you have PA? My main symptoms of waiting longer between injections seems to be poor sleep and anxiety. Can you relate to this?
I found on 12 weekly injections that I couldn't sleep at night but was so exhausted I was nodding off all day. I also suffer from anxiety and it is definitely worse in the run up to an injection. I fought for 8 years to get more regular injections and ended up being on the verge of giving up work and not being able to walk the length of myself. I found a private clinic who gave more regular injections and found that 3 weeks is the optimum for me. Now I sleep really well and all the other neurological symptoms have gone. I have my life back. Lockdown has put a stop to those injections so I have given in and my husband is now doing them (I faint if I see my own blood). We're using the same ampoules as you and finding them great. We're using 1.5 inch needles though because I'm on the bigger side. Logically, I know all i'm doing is taking charge of my own health and preventing needless nerve damage but I can't help but feel that i'm doing something wrong. But I was essentially disabled and trapped in my house at 33 and I'm not going back to that for anything when there is a simple solution.
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