I've just took delivery of 100 hydroxocobalmin acetat 1ml ampoules which I purchased from Bodfield apotheke in Germany for my wife. I purchased these after reading another post on this site so hopefully I've purchased the correct ones. The exp date is 05/22 which is disappointing as i thought they would have had a longer shelf life (ive sent an email to Bodfeld with my concerns) or is this the standard shelf life ? Could anyone give me any advice of the needles I need to purchase & where from, with hindsight should have bought a smaller quantity but hay ho. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Nigel & Sue
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nastynigel
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No , it’s not the standard shelf life. I have ordered 100 ampoules from Bodfeld in the past and they have always had over 2years shelf life . When one orders those many , I feel that the pharmacies should send ones with that longer shelf life . It happened to me with a different pharmacy.( 1 year shelf life for 100 ampoules) I complained and the pharmacy answered that they were only obliged to sell medications with 6 months shelf life , so they would not consider my complaint . I managed to pass on 50 to another PA patient I know . ( something we are not supposed to do! )
The information you require is somewhere in the following …………..
German online pharmacies that will ship to U.K.
Brexit has caused problems for German online pharmacies that were supplying vitaminB12 ampoules to the U.K. They now have to register with U.K. customs and collect any VAT for them and have extra paper work , customs documents etc because we have voted to leave the single European market .So many of those pharmacies have given up shipping to U.K. . Some , thank goodness,still do .
bodfeld-apotheke.de. A large and reliable pharmacy , but they now only accept payments from U.K. by Bank Transfer . Simple and free of charge if you have mobile/ internet banking.They supply the information you need to make a transfer . Otherwise it’s a trip to your bank and a charge of £25.00!
The drop-down list of countries on this site calls the U.K.
“Vereinigtes Königreich Grossbritanniens und Nord Irland”
( The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in case you don’t recognise it !)
The Rotexmedica packet is shown blank - Maybe because a firm called Panpharma has purchased it and they might change the packaging — but I don’t know . But not to worry -they send the right stuff in the usual packet
At the moment they are not stocking Rotexmedica b12 Depot . They have Hevert B12 Depot , but they come in 1mg x 2ml ampoules , and are more expensive than Rotexmedica . But do try to see if they stock Rotexmedica again . Reasonable delivery charges .
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Search for Rotexmedica B12 depot ( Hydroxocobalamin)
These ampoules are 1mg x 1ml
As Rotexmedica has changed hands , some sites might start using the name of Panpharma instead of Rotexmedica.
But if you use the following reference numbers , you will get the ampoules you want.
For packets of 10 and multiples thereof —— 03862297
For packets of 100 —— 03862305
This is correct for September 2021 . Can be out of stock sometimes , but only for a day or two "
If a site is only in German , use Google Chrome or a translation app.
Needles, syringes ,swabs and yellow sharps disposal boxes are obtainable from-
Blunt ended needles with or without a filter are also obtainable.( to withdraw the solution out of the ampoule ) using the injection needle for this will make it blunt (Ouch!)
My understanding is that there is no legal reason why B12 ampoules cannot be given to other people. Selling is another matter and so might advertising them with any claims attached. I am rather surprised we haven't got together in some way to do just this.
I attempted to give away ampoules on this forum at the beginning of the year when people were experiencing difficulties in obtaining B12 ampoules due to Brexit . We were told it is not allowed on this forum -neither selling nor donating .
Initially, it seems quite clear that medicines which are in the UK classified as prescription-only cannot legally be supply other than with a prescription.
However, it would be necessary to investigate Chapter 3 (exemptions) in detail to be certain. And, not being a lawyer, I am definitely not the person to grovel through the law as published and case law.
I believe that unless an exemption is clearly available we have to take it that supply is not legal. Though the chances of getting prosecuted, etc., might be very low for simple person to person supply done in good faith.
Sale or supply of prescription only medicines
214.—(1) A person may not sell or supply a prescription only medicine except in accordance with a prescription given by an appropriate practitioner.
(2) A person may not parenterally administer (otherwise than to himself or herself) a prescription only medicine unless the person is—
(a)an appropriate practitioner other than an EEA health professional; or
(b)acting in accordance with the directions of such an appropriate practitioner.
(3) The following are appropriate practitioners in relation to any prescription only medicine—
(a)a doctor;
(b)a dentist;
(c)a supplementary prescriber;
(d)a nurse independent prescriber; and
(e)a pharmacist independent prescriber.
(4) A community practitioner nurse prescriber is an appropriate practitioner in relation to a prescription only medicine specified in Schedule 13.
(5) An optometrist independent prescriber is an appropriate practitioner in relation to any prescription only medicine other than—
(a)a medicinal product that is a controlled drug; or
(b)a medicinal product that is for parenteral administration.
(6) An EEA health professional is an appropriate practitioner in relation to any prescription only medicine other than a controlled drug.
(7) This regulation is subject to Chapter 3 (exemptions).
Do take note of the fact that as from now Rotexmedica B12 depot are only obtainable as” Panpharma b12 depot “ , due to Rotexmedica having been taken over by Panpharma . It is still the same product , made at the same laboratory, in the same packaging.. Only packets of 10 available at the moment ref no 16199653. ( you can just used that ref. number to search for the ampoules .
It looks as though you chose the Pascoe ampoules 1.5 mg ampoules ( Nackapan pointed this out ) These are not so popular as Rotexmedica , so it might be that that pharmacies don’t shift this brand as quickly as the Rotexmedica ., don’t have such a fast turnover .
Thanks for your reply wedgewood, if you'll allow me to pick your brains.... am I right in thinking these will still be okay to use as any extra b12 Sue's body will automatically get rid of. At the moment she has an injection every 8 weeks but gp won't lower this. Was thinking of doing weekly injections as she really struggles with waiting for her next injection. Obviously I know any help you give is only advice which by the way I'm very grateful of. Would I be allowed to post on this site I have 50 ampoules to sell at cost on this site or isn't that allowed. Thanks again
It is against the law to provide injectable B12 for medical purposes without a prescription in the UK. As this forum is a support forum for people with B12 absorption problems it would be inappropriate for anyone in the UK to supply injectable B12 to another person in the UK on this forum. It would also be against the terms and conditions HU has for using this forum.There are humanitarian exemptions that allow people in the UK to source medications they cannot obtain in the UK but need from legal sources outside the UK - eg where injectable B12 is an over the counter medication - providing they are for personal use within your own household.
Similar restrictions apply in other countries where B12 is a prescription only medication.
That shelf life isn’t great at all. I get Rotexmedica & always a couple of years date on them. The ones you got are just more liquid to inject but the same B12. I’ve bought needles & syringes from Medisave although mostly I use Boots needle exchange, I’ve had a few questions but found one that’s really helpful.
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