Trouble finding Hydroxocobalamin in USA

[Greeneyecolor]

Hi all. I am not able to order any vials of Hydroxocobalamin as all suppliers to pharmacies here are saying it's on back order and unavailable (even tried through Amazon). Has anyone had the same experience or been successful in finding? I'm in northeastern US.

[wedgewood]

An excellent German online pharmacy will send Hydroxocobalamin to USA . with free delivery .

apohealth.de

You can get the site in English ( Union flag, bottom left on my device )

Packets of 10 single use 1mg x 1ml ampoules . Panpharma B12 depot ( depot indicates Hydroxocobalamin, instead of Cynocobalamin .

About €10 for a packet of 10

Reference no - 16199653

Also Pascoe and Hevert make hydroxocobalamin ampoules.

Best wishes .

[Greeneyecolor in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you for the info. I will look into it.

Does anyone know why there's a shortage in the US?

[wedgewood in reply to Greeneyecolor]

I don’t know , but Im in U.k. Panpharma hydroxocobalamin in Germany has been in short supply over the last few months , but is getting better now . I think the shortage has been world -wide .

[mcg-woo in reply to Greeneyecolor]

Hello! Yes, it is a production issue and unfortunately, shortages like this one with Actavis do occur from time to time as only one lab produces the supply in Portugal. This is very frustrating!

US drug shortages online is reporting an approximate availability date of mid-November. Another poster said there was a previous date of mid-May so that November estimate may not actually happen then.

Because this issue can occur, I always try to build up a stock by filling 90 days supply each time as soon as I can fill it. Hoping my stock tides me over until then and I may even have to use slightly expired vials. The last production run vials expire 12/23.

Another option is to try and locate a compounding pharmacy to make it for you but that can be expensive because not all insurance covers compounding scripts. Where I live, I could only find one to make methyl and I’m nervous about the switch. Good luck!

[Greeneyecolor in reply to mcg-woo]

Thank you for that info. Yes, my current vial exp. date is indeed 12/23. If the new supply doesn't come by Nov., do you how long after the expiration date would be ok to still use?

[Motheroflittle]

I ordered my" B12 depot" from Amazon.de They call the Hydroxo "depot" in Germany. It was very easy, fairly quick and inexpensive to the US. I also get my cyanocobalamin there. No prescription needed.

[mcg-woo]

A pharmacist once advised me not to use injectable past expiration date (not the same as a liquid or pill that’s ingested). There is no way to know this but it is my best choice at the moment. I wrap vials in foil, refrigerate and toss after 28 days. Another poster said that they are using a vial that expired 1/23, but injecting a little more than 1ml. I’d rather use a slightly expired vial than other options. Seems the safest and most accessible option for me.

[Achesandpains75]

Hi Greeneyecolor

I ordered 100 phials of 1mg Hydroxocobalamin depot 2 months ago without a problem. Tried this link this morning and they are currently available at £7.39 per 10 phials.

versandapo.de/vitamin-b12-d...

I check this link every now and then and it has been available practically all of the time over the last two months although just before then it was unavailable on and off.

However I am in the UK and you are in the USA so give it a try?

Good luck

[Greeneyecolor in reply to Achesandpains75]

Thank you!

[scnuke]

I have the same issue and ordered from apohealth.de with no issue. It does take some time to arrive. I ordered 9 packs of ten (the maximum allowed) on 9/11 and it has now reached the USA and processing through New York Center, customs I assume, and should make it's way to Florida in the next week or so. My hydroxo supplier also says they hope for a Dec resupply, but has no firm commitment on that date. And just a safety reminder, it may be safe to use an unopened expired vial , but if it is a multi-dose vial, say 30ml, it is not safe to use more than 30 days past the first use regardless of the expiration date due to high potential for contamination.

[Greeneyecolor in reply to scnuke]

Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware that using a 30ml vial more than 30 days after first use would be unsafe. Such a waste if one injects only once or twice monthly.

[scnuke in reply to Greeneyecolor]

It's a standard safety protocol in the hospital or medical setting and recommended by the CDC. The preservatives in most pharmaceuticals are not designed to last more than that after air and other things have been introduced inside the vial. I inject twice a day, so I go through two 30ml vials/month, so not an issue for me. But you may be better off using the 1ml single dose vials. The cost/ml may be higher, but you'll reduce your chance of infection and increase the viability of the B12.

[Greeneyecolor in reply to scnuke]

Thanks!