I was pleased the other day to find a newly discovered German online Pharmacy ,which would ship to the U.K. ( I found out by filling out the registration form , and reading the drop-down list of where they would ship to ) . 3 Cheers , I thought. I successfully registered . I then tried to order some B12 ampoules . A big notice then appeared automatically in red , telling me that I coukd not order them because they were a prescription only item in my country . This is a really worrying trend . A member recently posted that she could not order b12 ampoules as she had always done from Amazon.de . Because varying online pharmacies sell B12 ampoules through Amazon . I found that some B12 ampoules could be ordered on Amazon , but not many . It just depended on the supplying pharmacy , and if they chose to follow the rules .
It is a sensible rule, in general, for a pharmacy not to supply prescription -only items without a prescription . But we know that B12 is harmless , and also is an OTC item in Germany . I just hope that we can continue to get our supplies from our tried and trusted German online pharmacies , who are prepared to turn a blind eye to this rule . Otherwise , I can’t imagine what we will do………
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wedgewood
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That's devastating! So were you able to get your B12 somewhere? Is UK not allowed to buy from Canada? Do you think Canada will follow suite? That's where i get it. I feel panicked just thinking about it.
Yes , I can get them from a pharmacy that I have used for 8 years . But I wanted to find an alternative . I will keep looking . The trouble with buying from Canada would be that Canada doesn’t supply the B12 that we in the U.K. use .Namely Hydroxocobalamin B12 , Canada only supplies Cynocobalamin. But I would use that, if push came to shove l
I’m worried that the German online pharmacies are being urged to apply the letter of the law ,all of a sudden. …
Cynocobalamin was used in the U.K. for many years . But then it was found that Hydroxocobalamin stayed in the system for longer than Cyno. This meant less frequent injections , so GPs started using Hydroxocobalamin instead . I’m sure that Cynocobalamin works excellently well . You could get Hydroxocobalamin b12depot from 1 German online pharmacy that ships to USA. mycare.de No idea what shipping would cost.
Thanks, Ratherbewalking. Love that name. My Cyano is lost in the mail yet again. So i had to use some methyl that I bought when first diagnosed and didn't know what I was doing. It came in powder form and i have to get a prescription for the injectible saline from my doc, but I'm worried he won't do it as often as i need, and it's not sterile oncei open it. So go with the Cyano. I do feel different on Methyl compared to Cyano, but can't put my finger on it, except for some serious insomnia.
Yes I will . But they are always running out of stock of late . You have to be quick to order when they have them . That’s why I was trying to find another German online pharmacy which would supply U.K. with B12 ampoules . So the disappointment was huge when my order was blocked because U.K. rules demand a prescription for them . …
last time I ordered from them I used Amazon Pay, I don’t seem able to do so this time. I think I have to use PayPal instead. Has anyone else found this?
I just tried to order from here and it wouldnt accept my post code address and it says my address should be in Germany. I tried 2 addresses in UK to no avail.
WHEN FILLING IUT THE ADDRESS FIRM , YOU MUST PUT IN YOUR COUNTRY FIRST , BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE . Click on the spot next to where “Germany “. is written , and you get the drop-down list ic countries If its in German choose Vereinigtes Königreich ( United Kingdom) Only then will your postal cose be accepted and you can proceed …… Here’s a bit more info …..
. N.B. If you enquire by mail or phone to find out if a German online pharmacy will send injectable B12 to any country ( eg U.K. Ireland )where it is a prescribe-able item they are obliged to tell you that that they are not allowed . This makes sense , as prescribe-able items are often dangerous . B12 is harmless , so they overlook this , unless you ask them ! So go ahead and order .
amazon.de is not bound by these rules .
I now see that some pharmacies that supply amazon.de, are following the rules , and will not supply U.K. fir the above reason .
Ordering Panpharma B12 depot from versandapo.de ( a very reputable and reliable German Online Pharmacy) , that is strictly controlled by the German Health Authorities, and it’s rules.
These ampoules come in packs of 10 , and are 1mg x 1ml
Courier costs ( DHL) €9.00 no matter how many you order.
Usually takes 4 working days .
The site is in German , so you may need to use Google Chrome or a translation app.
It is always advisable to register when you order for the first time . First of all, once registered , you will save time when ordering subsequently. Also versandapo.de run a points scheme if you are registered . You are given 200 points when you register and you are awarded 1point for every Euro you spend . 250 points represent €2.50 which you can use when you pay. Once registered , you can find out how many points you have accumulated by going into your account .
To register or log in , click on the little silhouette of a head and shoulders ( top right on my iPad ) and fill out the form . ITS VERY IMPORTANT TO FILL IN YOUR COUNTRY BEFORE YOU ADD THE REST OF YOUR ADDRESS . Click on the drop-down list of countries. The U.K. is written in German as “ VEREINIGTES KÖNIGREICH” ( United Kingdom)
Once you have done that , your U.K. postal code will be accepted by the computer . The computer needs to know your country before it will accept the rest of your address .
You will need to put in a password of course .
You can pay by PayPal or Bank transfer . Cards are not accepted by versandapo from U.K. customers.
Bank transfer is free if you do it with Online Banking , but costs £25.00 if you do it at your bank .
For future orders , you need to click on the silhouetted head and shoulders to log in . and give your email address and password.
You can use the pharmaceutical reference number( PZN) to order Panpharma B12 depot ( Hydroxocobalamin) 1mg x 1ml ampoules This is 16199653 . You get straight to the item . Panpharma do not sell the clinic packs of 100 ampoules . The ampoules usually have a use-by date of 2 years . ( but lately the use-by date has been shorter —so I advise against ordering a large amount which could become out of date before you can use them )
At the moment courier ( DHL) cost is €9.00 no matter how many packets you buy .
You can email them -kontakt@versandapo.de
Other B12 depot( hydroxocobalamin ampoules available are ———
Sell Panpharma, Hevert and Pascoe , €9.89 DHL courier , but only accept Bank transfer from U.K. purchasers . They will also only sell you 3 packets of B12 depot ampoules .
juvalis.de Is another German online pharmacy , also reliable . Only accept Bank transfer payments .
shop.apotal.de also sells panpharma Hevert and Pascoe to U.K. Accept cards , Paypal
and Bank transfer in payment .
German Amazon ( obtainable in English) — amazon.de They do not sell Panpharma Hydroxocobalamin B12 depot single use ampoules . But do supply Hevert and Pascoe B12 Hydroxocobalamin b12 depot ampoules . But you cannot use the pharmaceutical reference numbers to order them.
After seeing this thread i've panicked a bit, so have bought some more from shop.apotal.de (i usually shop from versandapo but they're out of stock), i would be lost without my B12. If Germany stop selling to the UK there is no way my GP surgery will up me from every 3 months, i would have to go once a week at £40 to a private clinic and bankrupt myself, and once a week probably wouldn't be enough as i currently do every other day. This news has really stressed me It's not fair on any of us.
My last orders expire in Nov next year, despite the ones i ordered before that not expiring til 2024. If these next lot that come are also 2023, i think in a years time i'll have run out, and if no one sells any to us anymroe my life is going to seriously suffer, i'm still not great not but i'm treading water and keeping it at bay (ie it stopped worsening, but hasn't got tons better, although some better), but if it drops back to not feeling my feet and falling over and numb arms (yet the docs didn't find a reason and refused to accept B12 as a cause) i may as well give up and not be here.
(Ps thank you so much to this forum for helping me source from Germany, you have no idea how grateful i am x)
I’m really sorry that you are so stressed . It may well be alright anyhow . But I was so shocked myself to find out that some pharmacies were giving that reason for not supplying the U.K. But it forces us the try and find a solution , should we ever need to . . Versandapo and 2 other pharmacies still supply the U.K. .
I bought from versandapo last week and they arrived fine yesterday.
I did at first wonder if there was a restriction since they said my address 'was not in Germany' but realised I had to open an account to receive them.
If they did stop making them available I'm happy to join any protests outside parliament 😀
We really need to be able to buy them as they do in Germany and other civilised countries —OVER THE COUNTER!
Yes , versandapo still send them . But if you ask them directly , over the phone , or email , if they send B12 ampoules to the U.K. , they will say “ NO , We are not allowed , “. Because we are buying an item that is a prescription -only item in. U.K. ,and do not have a prescription . But they still turn a blind eye , thank goodness . But I worry in case they have to adhere to the pharmaceutical rules at some time . Other pharmacies ,who do keep to the rules might report them if they found out . ………….
Judging by the responses I had from GP's, neurologists, even non-specialists (i.e. placebo/ you don't want to overdose/you can have too much B12) there is a grave lack of education around B12. This is also harming the young people who misuse nitrous oxide since GP's don't know how to really help them or why they would stop feeling their legs from B12 deactivation.
So it seems like the medical community NEED to educate themselves better. And if they ever realise that B12 can't be overdosed, then we might hope to see them in pharmacies and OTC.
If I were a medic, it would raise the question in my mind as to why it's OK to buy it in Germany, Canada and not elsewhere. I think it's because you inject it, and that creates a cognitive dissonance in most people's minds. But also, they just don't know enough about each vitamin to know that B12 is OK in high doses and B6 is not, for example.
These German pharmacies probably make some money out of us UK sufferers, so on balance it's a risk they can take (since customs think they are harmless vitamins. Which they are!)
I also travel between Germany and U.K. regularly, and always take my injection kit, and bring back B12 ampoules from Germany . Never been asked for anything yet !
can I ask what the expiry date was on them. Am getting quite concerned .... As if the NHS hasn't inflicted enough pain and suffering on everyone, to try and stop our supplies is cruel beyond words.
I always used to buy 100 ampoules at a time , as I inject weekly , and the ampoules were always valid for over 2 years ,which was fine . Lately I noticed that 100 supplied ampoules were only good for 1 year . I’ve seen others writing about this . So now I will not order more that 50 ampoules at a time .
There always seem to be a new obstacle to negotiate in getting our B12 ampoules ………
Why do you need weekly? Are you checking your blood levels regularly?
I take 1000mcg IM injection every 8 weeks. The Neurologist recommended monthly but the GP chose to ignore this request despite the fact that I suffer from peripheral neuropathy.
if you read this forum regularly , you will have noticed that everyone needs differing regularity of injections Patients on this forum visit it because they have huge difficulties in either getting any treatment at all or because they need more than they are prescribed. in order to keep symptoms at bay . That is why i inject weekly . Why I need to do this ? I do not know !I know patients who inject daily to keep any semblance of good health .
No i am not checking my blood levels at all . It is totally irrelevant when you have PA . This is even acknowledged in the guide lines ., Levels need to. be high .
As you travel regularly to Germany, and need more regular injections . It will be easy for you to buy B-12 ampoules from any high street pharmacy there and self-inject as regularly as your neurologist advised . You need to inject as often as necessary to keep symptoms at bay . If you don’t do this , you can get irreversible symptoms eventually. This is what happened to me .
So sorry to hear of your irreversible symptoms. I too experience debilitating symptoms such as peripheral neuropathy, parasthesia…Nevertheless, I don’t believe that increasing the amount of B12 injections would have made much difference. I have been on B12 for more than 35 years. I keep my blood level „high“, I supplement with folate and top up my iron. The bottom line is that not enough is known about PA as opposed to self induced B12 deficiency. Therefore, I am no further forward after all these years.
Thanks for your reply . I can’t see any improvement for P.A patients ever happening , as the medical profession is not , in general , interested . I’m am convinced though , that if treatment for P A were tablets produced by “big pharma” there woukd not be the problem with getting treatment and getting sufficient treatment
i know it sounds dramatic , but it worries me to think of the suffering of PA patiemts who can’t get a diagnosis , and even if they do , can’t get sufficient to prevent serious health problems .Many will not have the ability to find out about PAS , where they can get some support and help.
i’m just so thankful that this forum exists , thanks to Martyn Hooper . It is a huge help ,
I’m lucky that my daughter lives in Germany , and I do visit occasionally , so i can access B12 ampoules easily . But the latest shock was from an online pharmacy, which did ship to U.K. , which had an automatic message in bright red appear when i tried to order B12 ampoules . They could not be ordered because “ in my country they are a prescription item “
. I know that it’s a pharmaceutical rule that they are supposed to follow , but a few ( I know of 3) turn a blind eye to it, thank goodness . So 🤞🤞🤞that they continue to do so . I won’t bore you further mãuschen . I have gone on a bit!!
I agree wholeheartedly, the medical profession show no interest in PA. Hypothyroidism is another area where GP knowledge is very poor.
Covid made this situation worse and in some areas like mine in Scotland, people still cannot see a GP face to face.
Symptoms for PA can be so varied therefore, it is difficult to diagnose. Building a relationship with a GP is vital so that the pieces of the puzzle can be linked together. Particularly for those who are diagnosed at a young age.
I was 28 years old and my grandson 18 years old when we were diagnosed with PA. If I hadn’t pushed for investigations, a diagnosis might never have been reached. In my opinion, we owe it to those people who will be diagnosed in the future, to push for research and education. We all know what it is like to suffer from this illness, let’s all write to our members of parliament. Iinforming them of the precarious position Brexit has left us in and the ill conceived decisions being made about our medication.
Well said mauschen . I know that my life has been severely messed up ( i want to use a ruder word , but will desist) by doctors disinterest and neglect , and so have the lives of countless others . It’s so difficult to object and take action when one feels so dreadfully unwell .
We woukd be significantly worse off without PAS . I’m sure that one day this shocking neglect will be acknowledged . The outrageous contaminated blood transfusion scandal of the 1970s /80s has now been admitted, after much kicking , screaming , denials and yes , lying . Look how long that took !!!
I would love to live long enough to witness the Pernicious Anaemia scandal being acknowledged,, and treated correctly , but I’m sure that I won’t . I’m too old already .
I have read on more than one occasion that the EU are trying to stop the supply of vitamins. Also the MHRA in the UK are making moves to prevent the importing of on-line medicines. I heard this on UK Column News - Debbi Evans has an excellent weekly Blog as well as presenting and keeping up to date with 'matters medical.' An on-line broadcast.
Freaked out when I saw this on the thyroid forum yesterday and tried to find out where the information came from but without success 😰
……………….
“would've suggested that you look at self injecting if all of this fails but sadly the routes to purchase have been closed by our government. Why? I really dont know but under a new law limiting strength of vitamin supplements sold in the uk, the gov has banned the purchase of b12 vials here and from abroad. “
Would be great to find a source of where this is coming from. There are enough things to be fearful of in the world, getting hold of B12 shouldn't be one of them. Even if they consider ampoules 'high strength'.
Funny how they can't be arsed to sort anything else out, yet super efficient to stop what is essential to life. And why should a vitamin be prescription only ffs?
It’s because it’s injectable .You can’t even buy saline without a prescription in U.K. Well , you can, but only from exchangesupplies.org To. help drug users,( and people who don’t mind running the risk of rehydrating powdered Methylcobalamin for injections.)
Although I still have several months worth of ampoules I think I'll get some more while I can.
I'm not bothered by using out of date ones if that's the consequence as I've always found that they are OK. For me it's better to have some beyond their date than none at all!
I've had loads of really good days too and I'm feeling like I'm starting to get things a bit more "back together" - I'm not having to resort to being feral all the time when I get in which is sooooperb! It's like I'm finally getting odd bits of "me" back again at last.
But at this precise moment my heart is missing 25% of its beats and I've got pins and needles in my arms, legs and some of my trunk... And it's nothing to do with B12d for a change!! Thankfully I've now got a good/great cardiology team so hopefully they'll be able to help me soonish. I've got an implanted recording device so I can send them traces of it's nonsense whenever it has a silly session so they can get an idea of what it's doing.
I'm great now when my heart runs, but obviously a bit slowed up when it doesn't! 🤪😁
Sending you love and best wishes! The first autumn colours are starting to come out on the trees and they are beautiful. 👋 🌷🌹 to you too!
Funny that you should mention about your missing heart-beats and slow pulse rates. I had the same and have just had a pacemaker . It’s amazing .In one fell-swoop all is regulated , and no medication . No big deal . Maybe that’s the solution for you, Highly recommended ! All the best! 🍀🍀🍀
Oh well done you! That's rather what I'm hoping for because I know how brilliant they are.
The cardiologists aren't keen to fit one as I'm "only" 50 and if they do I'll probably live long enough to need it changed... But I'm willing to take the chance on that so I can be reliably productive now. I had 14 weeks last winter when it wouldn't run and a fortnight in August, plus loads of odd spells here and there. I get so behind on income and caring for myself that it puts me under extreme pressure when I am well enough to work and do things.
I'm so pleased to hear yours has been successful! Great!
Yes , same here Pasjc But I’m just bothered that some pharmacies are now enforcing the strict rules about not sending B12 ampoules to countries where it is a prescription-only item .
Is B12 produced in Europe ? Am sure I read somewhere that was the case. If so and restrictions are enforced - shortages could also affect the NHS supply in the future ? Just pondering 🤔
But I can't see why it would affect NHS supply which will by via registered wholesalers/importers/whatever they are called.
EUROAPI
Equipped with decades-long expertise in biotech manufacturing, EUROAPI continues to produce all its vitamin B12 at its site in St-Aubin-lès-Elbeuf, France.
This SEVESO site is audited and approved by the FDA, ANSM, RUSSIA, FAMI-QS and DDPP, and is certified Halal and Kosher.
I read on this forum that there are 2 Massive factories in China that produce the basic ingredient for all the cobalamins . Then laboratories in Europe process it further into Cynocobalamin, Hydroxocobalamin and Methylcobalamin. There is also a producer of the basic ingredient in France. I can’t vouch for this information . Don’t know how to find out if this is true !
You need to click on the tiny arrows that are on the right of the box where you read Germany / Deutschland The drop-down list of countries will then appear , and you will then select United Kingdom /,Vereinigtes Königreich
YOU MUST DO THIS BEFORE YOU FILL IN THE REST OF YOUR ADDRESS , then the computer will accept your postal code and the rest of your address. Best wishes .
Well I’m 85 and hope to live long enough to get a new one put in (about 10 years !) It makes a huge difference .
Now that the pacemaker is doing its job , I stand a better chance of getting through the next 10 years ! ! It’s such a simple operation . And replacing it is simpler than the original procedure. I hope that you get one soon , because the benefits are great .It’s 6 weeks ago now . I don’t know it’s there . Takes about an hour . No general anaesthetic , just local ! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you that you get one . If you need one , your age shoujd not come into it . 🤞🤞🤞 ❤️❤️❤️
I just tried to order from versandapo and got as far as PayPal payment then got redirected to versandapo di where it said there was a problem with my order.I’m gutted as I’ve been getting mine from them for years.I’m sitting here with 4 weeks to go until GP injection and all I am doing is sleeping most of the day. 😢
You can either try bodfeld-apotheke.de who will only sell you 3 packets of Panpharma , but also have Hevert and Pascoe , and will only accept Bank Transfer as payment or try
Yes , it is possible . At the start of Brexit , there were huge difficulties for me to get B12 ampoules . My daughter lives in Germany , so I ordered B12 ampoules from online pharmacy and had tnem sent to her ( no shipping costs at all ) She sent them to me , but obviously had to fill out a customs form . She put” Vitamin B “ on the form . I received the ampoules without any problem , as we do when they are sent direct from the pharmacies in Germany . She sent them by normal mail , not courier . Courier is expensive for an individual. The pharmacies get deals because they have a contract with the courier
Perhaps that could be a possible side hustle for your daughter, with a small mark-up she would do really well.
While shopping around, I came across forwarding companies but not sure if they would handle B12 ampoules. It's a complicated issue, legal to buy in originating country but possibly not legal to ship to prescription only destination like the pharmacies, but maybe not regulated like pharmacies, and fees not known.
I work for a German company, it may be worth reaching out to some German colleagues but not sure how they would react.
Well we have managed OK for years with pharmacies that use couriers to send our ampoules to U.K. from Germany .without any trouble . My daughter works full-time so I’ve only ever bothered her once ,when Brexit was implemented ,and many German online pharmacies didn’t want the extra paper work involved when we were no longer part of the single market . It’s cheaper to buy the ampoules from the online pharmacies than from the high street pharmacies . Online offer discounts .
. We just have to hope that the 2 pharmacies I use continue to ship to U.K. ! 🤞🤞🤞But I will try to find others .
Thank you Wedgwood for the heads up. I too have relations in Germany who have bought it over the counter and sent it over when things got desperate. Seemed to take quite a while to get through customs.
I have just ordered 20 boxes panpharma hydroxy 1ml from Versandapo using PayPal with my English address with no problems, at least it has gone through and they have taken payment.
i'm going to try the sterile compounding then to prepare myself. I want to see if they will give me the 3mg of b12 I want to try. Hm... can you get it out of Canada? I'm in US and order out of germany and canada. I wonder if that would be a thing.
Hi wedgewood I've been looking at online pharmacies here in Belgium that would ship to the UK, since B12 is OTC here. Of the few I've checked so far, the one below seems to deliver to the UK. Note that here we have either Cyano in 1mg/1mL amps, or Hydroxo in a high dose 10mg/2mL amp. Better than nothing I suppose.
Scroll down and click on the shipping link to see UK info. I have not personally ordered from this pharmacy. The one I normally use to buy needles doesn't sell b12.
If i find others, i will post. And I might try ordering the 10mg one with this one just to see how it goes. I don't want to be posting scam sites on here!
As an aside, I've recently tried the hydroxo 10mg/2ml - I split it into 2 doses and found it doesn't last any longer than the standard 2x1mg/1ml I normally use. I guess either my system saturates above 2mg or there's increased clearance with the higher dose.
Thank you so much jade_s. It’s great that you have found that . Maybe the Few German pharmacies will continue to supply U.K. . But i was so alarmed when the message appeared that it was not allowed to supply U.K. with B12 ampoules.
I have made I note of your information And many thanks again
We really need as much information as we can get !
Maybe we'll be taking short breaks in Belgium. I have fond memories of trips to Brussels and sitting in Grande Place with mussels and chips and cherry beer.
Yes Belgium has excellent beer and food , and isn’t too far away .The bonus could be B12 ampoules . But till now , only Cynocobalamin 1x1 has been found , or 10mg x 2ml ampoules of Hydroxocobalamin. Have to keep looking . But I’m just afraid that pharmacies all over Europe would be regulated in a similar way i.e. that items should not be sold to countries where they are prescription only . But we are OK for the time being with a couple of German pharmacies who luckily turn a blind eye . 👁 . 🤞🤞🤞
Hi wedgewood, i was searching online to see if i could find the 100 packs, and found this one germany pharmacy. It sounds like they ship everywhere.
[EDIT: They do not ship to the UK. Very sorry I only noticed when yahaci pointed it out, and indeed it's not on the drop-down list when you go to order. They do ship to Gibraltar fwiw].
The shipping page is a mix of german and english funnily enough. They are listed on the german online pharmacy list so they must be legitimate. But their prices are suspiciously low. unserekleineapotheke.de/pro... fwiw.
anyway might be worth checking out when the other pharmacies are out of stock.
I got my order from Pharmabox.be no problems, good expiration dates, and very professionally packaged and with discount codes even
I went to the site, but UK isn't listed under countries.
Spent ages last night, and encountered the same problem on all sites. Most seem to use the same e-commerce platform. I'm guessing if we call/email then they would send. Maybe.
I eventually ordered from a company thinking I could use paypal, but it sent me an invoice requiring bank transfer. So s*d that.
Previously bought the helvert, but don't like 1ml of saline. Less stuff going into me the better
Thank you Wedgewood for all the information given on obtaining B12 . I am new to this site ( HealthUnlocked) but have been a member of the PAS for a few years.
It took me a while to convince my then gp a few years ago I needed a blood test for b12 deficiency/ PA although it had got to the stage I would sink into a chair barely able to move or put one foot in front of the other. But eventually to keep me quiet and to stop me continuously booking appointments he agreed to do a full blood count followed by another type of blood test. He couldn’t get me in the surgery quick enough then to give loading doses of b12 and then injections every 12 weeks. However, over the years ( can’t remember how long), this was not enough and my new gp changed to 10 weeks. Yet now I find this is not often enough and I am struggling at 5 weeks. Symptoms are quite major too, like a car running out of petrol, can’t speak properly, memory problems, pins and needles in lips, hands & feet. Struggle to to walk distance, ride a bike and attend gym and swimming. All made worse because I can’t get an appointment for next injection until sometimes 3 weeks after due.
So thinking of self injecting or finding a nurse prepared to do for me. Of courde no idea where to get supplies from and PAS suggested this hub and particularly yourself. I have printed off loads of info from here and now will start reading up on it all.
So thank you and hopefully you will be able to answer any queries I might hace.
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