B12 Injections and UK Restrictions

[SallyRees]

My last B12 injection at my local clinic was December 11th. I’ve been having the injections once a month for almost 3 years.

I don’t absorb B12 because the medication I take to (successfully) control my epilepsy prevents me from absorbing.

B12 helps my meds circulate to prevent toxicity of the blood, a condition I’ve previously been hospitalised for and narrowly escaped a coma.

Over the past 2 weeks I’ve been passed from pillar to post from one nurse to another, one GP to another and even been given the slip by practice managers.

I’ve protested, reasoned and even begged for them to continue my injections. Stating the dangers of stopping but nobody will listen. I was asked to email, which I did also, numerous times.

I’ve lost count how many times I’ve had my intelligence insulted and told to take a prescribed oral substitute and to call again in 6 months.

I came to the conclusion that I had to take responsibility for my own health and as some will know that with the help and advice of members here I’ve made plans to start self injecting and left with no choice but to order my B12 from Germany.

The question I’d like to raise is will we eventually start to see B12 become available to buy over the counter in the UK, as I suspect this is much more a money cutting measure than we’re being told.

Also, how long before the new surge for B12 causes supplies/suppliers to start charging a much higher price?

Sorry the long post.

[SallyRees]

Also we all need to be so careful. Where there’s demand there’s always someone to take advantage…😉

[fbirder]

I really don't think it will be available OTC for many years to come. 😒

I don't think there is much of a surge in demand. The number of people with a B12 deficiency requiring injections isn't huge and the proportion of them that self-inject is small. When our local support group first met about one-third knew that it was possible to self-inject and only about half of them were actually doing so.

And there are plenty of manufacturers, so competition should keep the price stable.

[SallyRees in reply to fbirder]

Probably less chance now because of Brexit too 😏 I hope you’re right about the competition and prices staying reasonable.

Re numbers I do think there’ll be a jump in numbers due to covid and nhs restrictions.

Let’s just hope we can start talking about covid in the past tense soon 💉🤞