Obviously injecting from a multi use vial with a screw top lid is a less than ideal situation, but it seems that this is currently the only way to obtain injectable methylcobalamin. Do any users take any special precautions to reduce the risk of contamination?
I was wondering about purchasing some multi-use vials (e.g. ukmedi.co.uk/sterile-10ml-s... where the needle is inserted through the top.
I have also read about bacteriostatic water for mixing with, does anyone use this?
I’d also be interested in hearing about people’s experiences with using methycobalamin.
Many thanks for any responses
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jeremycat_
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You can get single use Methylcobalamin ampoules from Arnika Apotheke in Munich . You can email them — manufaktur@arnika-apo.de and they will send you details . or you can phone them onn089452468468. You will need to pay with paypal or Bank transfer . I have used them myself in the past , but found them no better than B12 depot Hydroxocobalamin for myself . They are more expensive than Hydroxocobalamin.
I've been using the 10ml or 30ml vials for many years. I swab the top w alcohol after each use and carefully put it back in it's box without letting the top touch anything. I just started this way in the 80s as we used it in office.
As I understand (and I'd appreciate being corrected if I am wrong), the contents of the 10 and 30 ml vials has a small amount of preservative. Whereas the Oxford Biosciences product does not. Hence the reference to bacteriostatic water.
Some prefer to take injections without any added preservative. Hence one reason single dose ampoules are preferred (if available).
The last time I checked I was told that all have preservatives. Not sure now that you bring it up.
I tried using the type you mix with the bacteriostatic water, but it was too difficult for me. And the instructions said it must all be used within 30 days if I remember right. At the time I was injecting only 2 or 3 times each week.
Oh, I didn't know the singles were preservative free. I haven't used the ones everyone talks about here. The singles here in US are the same stuff as the 10 or 30ml ones, just a smaller sized bottle.
I just checked around a bit and it appears that in the USA even single dose cyanocobalamin ampoules often (or always?) contain preservative. Whereas UK hydroxocobalamin ampoules do not.
Needs some work to get a definitive statement.
Regardless, the Oxfoerd Biosicences will not have any.
I absolutely love methylcobalamin and have used it for over 10 years. I started on cyanocobalamin and then hydroxocobalamin, but never felt as good as on the methylcobalamin. I also have two copies of the MTHFR C677T variant - don't know if that is why my body prefers methylcobalamin.
I too have two copies of both of those variants and feel cuckoo for cocoa pops on methylcobalamin. And not just shots, I can literally feel if any spray or b multi includes methylcobalamin.
My folate levels are fine so I don't supplement with that. I'd be worried about supplementing with that because it can cause neuropathy and I don't need any more neuropathy than I already have.
Is there a reason you actually need the Methyl variety? Reconstituting a drug requires strict adherence to safety and sterility protocols. I used to use a local compounding pharmacy for my methyl. It was expensive ($130.00 for 30 daily doses.) and l never found it to give me any advantage over other forms. I spent 40 years working in and managing hospital labs and this is not something I would suggest or approve for someone without specialized training. I wouldn't do it myself in the home, especially without the ability to vacuum seal the vial after reconstitution. And as with any multidose vial, use beyond 30 days after first withdrawal is not recommended by the CDC and general hospital safety guidelines. I inject frequently enough that I go through my 30ml vials in much less than a month. I know many people that use multidose vials well beyond 30 days, but it is not safe. I inject 1mg Hydroxo 2x daily and that routine has worked well for me. Everyone is different, but please be safe.
A lot of people can't use methyl. I have a bit of a story from last month.
This is just me and I'm just a patient with limited knowledge, but i bought the powdered methyl in the open top vile when i first started 5 months ago. I had to get a prescription for the saline. The bottle when filled with 10ml of saline was supposed to be 33 injections of 1000mcg or 1ml. The first vile I did correctly. I was too new to know how it affected me. And I was worried about contamination so i switched to Cyano from Canada in ampules, because i couldn't find methyl in any other form but the open top.
When I ran out of Cyano last month, I resorted to my last methyl bottle so i put in the saline and decided to use as much in the syringe as the Cyano. Which was a full syringe of Cyano.
It turned out methyl is more pure and I didn't need as much so i over did it. I took nearly a months worth of methyl in 5 days. Nothing serious happened, but I didn't feel to good. Had a headache for a week and was quite jittery and had major insomnia and lost 5 lbs pretty quickly. I wanted to crawl out of my skin, but after that all went away, I have to say, I noticed a big change in my symptoms. I am back on Cyano, but my symptoms seem like they turned a corner.
My feet have turned a corner and this nagging nerve in my left foot suddenly is so much better. Some of my feeling came back to my feet. I can almost walk normal. Also, my head feels more clear. And i can skip a day of Cyano injections and i don't crash. I feel happier and more positive.
So what I feel is that, my accidental mega dosing of methyl, I feel, acted like a loading dose series (insidently, i never received the correct losing dose) and it really made a big difference. I don't feel great on Methyl, but I'm wondering if methyl could be used to get one to a maintenance level and then one could use Cyano to maintain.
I kept my methyl in the fridge wrapped in foil. I didn't have any contamination issues. BUT, i only used it for a short time. I am on the fence with methyl because of the open vile, and because of the insomnia, but i do feel it really helped me in the long run. Plus, i really over did it. That was three weeks ago, and after the side effects went away, I have been feeling great since my mega dose. I have energy and my brain is clear and my pain has improved A LOT!
I have no idea if I'm talking out one side of my face, but I'm not imagining my energy and ease of pain and weakness. And I can SI Cyano eod instead of everyday. I'm even trying to gotwo days. If you can handle methyl, it's pretty pure, but I have to say, I think it really helped me turn a corner. But the contamination is a real issue.
I wonder if one can buy empty rubber sealed viles and after mixing the methyl, extract it and squirt it into an empty steril multiuse rubber sealed top like my dogs insulin comes in. Not sure it is worth it.
Single dose ampules of Cyano is just so much more safe and no side effects. But I'm also glad i accidentally mega dosed with the methyl as I do suddenly feel so much better. And I need less Cyano now.
Again, this is just my accidental experience and Im just learning all of this too. I was quite miserable for a couple weeks, I have to say, so I'm on the fence about methyl. Kind of a catch 22.
I have used multi-use vials for years. I swab the top before each use. And often throw out after 28 days regardless, the word often used because I am not always vigilant about it.
I've used the Oxford Biosciences powder methylcobalamin successfully for 6 years with no contamination issues. I take a 20 ml sealed vial of injectable saline and I extract 10 mils with a 10 mil syringe. I inject that liquid into the powdered B12 vial, seal it and mix it (rolling the vial). Then I use the same 10 mil syringe and extract the mixed liquid, and inject it back into the original 20 ml saline vial. I then have 20 ml of mixed methylcobalamin with very little exposure to the air during the mixing process. I just draw my doses from the sealed vial thereafter. Alcohol wiping the top of the vial before and after each use.Note: Oxford Biosciences suggests storing the mixed B12 in a cool dark place and using it within 6 months of mixing.
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