Infusions

[36Hele]

Can anyone tell me if you can have B12 infusions, similar to iron infusions I suppose .Thank you.

[wedgewood]

I’ve never heard of anyone on this forum having a B12 infusion. On the Panpharma B12 packets is written “ I.M. ( Intra muscular ) IV ( intravenous) and SC ( sub-cutaneous ) as methods of administering B12

I believe that intravenous injection is not quite the same as an infusion . Both only used by a medical professional. Infusions take much longer . Both are swift methods for getting whatever into the system.

PS Just found out that some “Beauty Clinics” give B12 infusions ! Takes 30-40 minutes .

[FlipperTD in reply to wedgewood]

Just a thought: If the NHS don't offer B12 infusions, but you can get them at some "Ugly Clinics" [oops; did I mean "Beauty Clinics"?] and these places can also offer "Suntanning Beds" aka "Skin Cancer Beds" then that's all I need to know about this.

Given that an injection of B12 is absorbed, but any excess is rapidly excreted via the kidneys, it's hard to imagine what benefit there is in having an infusion of the stuff. I would have guessed [but have no data] that it would get excreted even quicker than either an IM or an SC injection. But that's just the scientist in me.

[wedgewood in reply to FlipperTD]

Absolutely ! I looked online , and found so many “ Beauty Clinic ” offering B12 infusions in London , and even in my local town ! I saw one “ clinic” offering B12 injections for £70 , so goodness knows what an infusion would cost . Couldn’t find a price for them .

I assume that Sub-cutaneous injections are released more slowly than I.M. being held in the fat layer and more slowly released?

[FlipperTD in reply to wedgewood]

The SC vs IM is difficult. IM might well hurt more, SC rather less, but I'm not qualified to comment whether one's preferable to the other. I gave myself plenty of SC injections of low molecular weight heparin after breaking my ankle!

I suspect that the cost of an infusion is 'how long is a piece of string?' or maybe a piece of elastic. From the seller's point of view, as much as they can get out of the customer. I won't use 'patient' in this instance. I still prefer 'Ugly Clinic' to the other term.

[wedgewood in reply to FlipperTD]

I find that SC hurt more than IM and the SC often leave a red lump behind .IM totally painless, and leave no mark . I use a 27 G X 1 inch needle for IM and a 30 G x 6 mm needle forSC.

[FlipperTD in reply to wedgewood]

I get your point. 1ml SC is going to leave a lump! Your needle sizes are good although something a bit bigger would speed up the flow, whilst making a slightly bigger hole. It's not as if the injection is viscous.

[Jo5454 in reply to wedgewood]

Can I ask with IM if you've ever had a muscle twang please? I was relaxed & didn't feel it, but nurse warned it would cramp,which it did. Then a golf ball swelling by time I reached home. I've had lots inj before,never experienced that. It soon went down,but can still very mildly feel it.

[wedgewood in reply to Jo5454]

I honestly never have a problem with I.M. Totally painless . Very occasionally I’ve had a kind of “twitch “ but it wasn’t painful . I use the Vastus Lateralis muscle in the middle outside third of my thigh .Never had a swelling . No blood except once when a stream shot out , but stopped when i pressed on the spot for a minute . Have been injecting for 10 years .

[Jo5454 in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you,well that's good aside from the blood squirting out part! Must've been a rarity for me then,prob never happen again! Thank you...

[Rexz]

Yes, I've had B12 infusion, iron infusions, high dose vitamin C infusions, there is also a Meyers cocktail infusion that is a mix of vitamins. Look for a health and wellness clinic or a Naturopathic Medicine (ND) Doctor.

Rexz

[wedgewood in reply to Rexz]

Yes , iron infusions are well known , but I’ve never heard of a B12 infusion given by our Health Service . I’m curious to know if you found a B12 infusion more beneficial than an injection.

[36Hele in reply to wedgewood]

I haven’t had anB12 infusion myself .I was just interested to know if they are “out there” and if anyone has experienced them .

[wedgewood in reply to 36Hele]

Well they are out there and are very expensive . Look for b12 infusions in Beauty Clinics .

Maybe Rexz, who has had b12 infusions will let us know something about them . I believe he is in USA .

[Rexz in reply to wedgewood]

Hi Wedgwood, I was just answering the question "are they similar to iron infusions?" e.g. administered via IV. In the US and I presume NHS? they will administer a B12 IV in cases of someone presenting with severe B12 def along with severe symptoms. The NHS will surely admin a super high dose B12 IV to treat cyanide poisoning. Other than for those reasons you'll most likely not get a B12 only IV in a hospital setting. Best to go to a private health clinic. For most people with PA they are probably not more beneficial than an injection as they are comparatively costly. Injections work just fine if you tune the frequency to meet your individual needs. Personally I may be a bit unique, I know there are some of us unicorns out here in the mix of PA peeps that have reached such an advanced state of where I have zero gastric acid and before we got my acid and digestive enzyme replacement therapy (Betaine HCL) dialed in I had severe malabsorption issues. So IV infusions I had weekly for over a year of various nutrients, minerals, iron. Now I have them much less frequently maybe an iron infusion once every three months and a Meyers cocktail occasionally usually before I go on a long hike or a trip or something I just want to top myself off. Yes they are expensive here in US they are about $250... I think that's around £300 ish in UK.

Hope this helps, Rexz

[wedgewood in reply to Rexz]

Thank you Rexz . Your response is much appreciated . We might hear from a U.K. member about this , Perhaps they are used in emergencies in hospitals in U.K. .

[Bellabab in reply to wedgewood]

I was given an IV of B12/folic acid when I was rushed in to hospital almost dead - it continued for several days.

[wedgewood in reply to Bellabab]

Thanks for telling us about that Bellabab . Hope that all is well now .

[Bellabab in reply to wedgewood]

Like most of us I struggle to keep on top of being 80 years and 8 months old - thanks for asking.

[KatieG75147]

The private GP I go to on occasion offers b12 as an infusion, but he said the benefits of it will wear off quicker than the IM injection. He said they're used mainly by athletes before a competition so they get a short term boost.