Cyanocobalamin or Hydroxocabalamin?

[Moggy1234]

I recently placed an order with Amazon.de but inadvertently ordered Cyanocobalamin instead of Hydroxocobalamin injections. Can anyone advise on the benefits and negatives of whether one is better than the other? I have been on B12 injections for over 25 years and believe initially I was prescribed Cyanocobalamin when I was first on B12 injections. Can you also advise whether it is ok to SI Cyanocobalamin every couple of weeks please as I do with Hydroxocobalmin? Lastly, I have read that Hydroxocabalmin can cause Rosacea in some people although it doesn't if you are having Cyanocobalamin injections and once you stop Hydroxocobalmin the Rosacea disappears. Have any other members found this to be true? Many thanks.

[Nackapan]

It's good you've hadcit in the past. I've not had it but it's the main one used in Canada snd America.

Some prefer it. Clivealive

You may need more cynocobalamin as it may not stay in your system as long.

I'm sure others will comment to help you.

[Moggy1234 in reply to Nackapan]

Thanks Nackapan. When I had Cyanocobalamin years ago I was having injections once every 3 months and I don't recall when my prescription changed to Hydroxocobalamin. In those days I just had the injections and thought nothing further about it - it's only more recently that I've found out more about PA/B12 deficiency although my knowledge is still very limited.

[wedgewood in reply to Moggy1234]

You will be fine using Cynocobalamin. It works just as well as Hydroxocobalamin. ,but probably needs injecting more often . That was the reason the NHS changed to Hydroxocobalamin. Just to save nurses time . At the same time they gave the injections less regularly . Any how do use them . No reason not to regarding efficacy .

[Moggy1234 in reply to wedgewood]

Thanks Wedgewood thats very good to know. Another thought I had does the Cyanocobalamin version of B12 contain cyanide and if so how does the body deal with that?

[wedgewood]

I quote our scientist fbirder who tells us that the cyanide content is about as much as an Apple pip and is totally harmless . Clive alive another member has been injecting Cynocobalamin since a young man and he has just celebrated his 80 th birthday .

[Moggy1234 in reply to wedgewood]

Thanks Wedgewood very good to know. Any thoughts on Si Hydroxocobalamin and on another occasion the Cyanocobalamin?

[wedgewood in reply to Moggy1234]

Yes , there is no reason why you should not do that . Doing that , you would be able to find out if the Hydroxocobalamin does stay in the system longer than the Cynocobalamin ( as long as you didn’t let the knowledge influence you !)

[Moggy1234 in reply to wedgewood]

Thanks again Wedgewood. Yes, it would be good to know if one works better for me than the other. I just posted a link to the online article I read sometime ago where a Dr Ben Lynch gave info on the 4 types of Cobalamin and said that Cyanocobalamin was garbage (presumably he is in the US). Hence my confusion over what is best. As in my earlier post, I also read somewhere online (but can't find the article) that Hydroxocobalamin causes Rosacea in some but other forms don't so more confusion as I've only had Rosacea for about 10 years which may be around the time I was changed over to Hydroxocobalamin.

[wedgewood in reply to Moggy1234]

Ben Lynch is not a medical doctor .

[Emsworthy]

I'm currently SI Cyanocobalamin, with no ill effects.

[Moggy1234 in reply to Emsworthy]

Thanks Emsworthy - good to know. I will SI Cyanocobalamin in a couple of weeks rather than Hydroxocobalamin.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

People can respond differently to different types of B12 - I'm okay with both cyano and hydroxo - some prefer hydroxo and some prefer cyano and some don't get on with either. Exact reasons for the variances aren't understood.Hydroxo is used in the UK for two reasons

a) - on average it is retained longer (though there is so much variation that some retain cyano better - so beware of relying on averages when talking about the effect on an individual)

b) there is a rare genetic condition called lebers that makes carriers very sensitive to the cyanide molecule and treating them with cyanocobalamin can lead to blindness. Just to get the emphasis right - it is a very, very rare condition.

I do remember in the dim and distant past a member of the forum who was a smoker and preferred cyanocobalamin to hydroxo because she found that it worked better for her. She thought it might be something to do with the way hydroxocobalamin interacts with the small amounts of cyanide in tobacco products to produce cyanocobalamin but who knows. Hydroxocobalamin is used to treat cyanide poisoning because it is soooo good at bonding with the cyanide molecule to produce cyanocobalamin

[Moggy1234 in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks Gambit62. I am sure that I had the cyano version when I was first diagnosed with low B12, over 25 years ago and, at that time was given injections every 3 months, so presumably if I had Lebers it would have caused the blindness then. After a little research into Lebers it looks as though it affects males more than females. It's only more recently that I have found that many of the symptoms I had years ago and since could well relate to B12 deficiency and I have required more frequent injections. Thanks again for getting back to me and for all the information in your post - very much appreciated.

[Ctadds1]

If you don’t mind me asking, are you symptom free? I am in a place where I am trying to figure out if the symptoms I have left are permanent. I am 35 and have been injecting for a year (cyno). I have thought about switching to hydro but I don’t know if there is a benefit. I am interested in knowing if people what have been injecting for years are symptom free.

Thanks

[Moggy1234 in reply to Ctadds1]

Hi Ctadds1,

No I don't believe I am symptom free from B12 deficiency although it is difficult to tell as some of my symptoms could relate to something other than B12. I have had regular blood tests ever since I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency over 25 years ago and was initially on injections only when the blood tests revealed I had low levels of B12.

When I discovered the PA Society about 10 years ago I found out a bit more about B12 deficiency and I realised that some of the innocuous, minor symptoms I had had on and off over many years could relate to B12 deficiency. My GP arranged for me to go on 3-monthly injections and then in more recent years monthly injections. I saw an endocrinologist approx 12 years ago and was told I had CFS. The CFS doesn't go away after an injection so I am constantly tired/exhausted but other minor symptoms do disappear a few days after an injection.

I believe I was on cyanocobalamin injections initially but don't know when the NHS changed to prescribing hydroxocobalamin. The next time I SI it will be with cyan so I will be interested to see if there is any difference.

Sorry I can't be any more specific or helpful.