Vitamin B12 Injections
Are you feeling tired, lethargic or have a mental fog? These symptoms could be due to a Vitamin B12 deficiency. Our Vitamin B12 injection service aims to provide a safe and effective method of boosting your vitamin b12 levels.
What is a Vitamin B12 injection?
The vitamin b12 injection is a prescription-only medicine that is widely used by clinicians to treat or prevent vitamin b12 deficiency. It is an efficient method of boosting vitamin b12 levels.
The injection is given in the upper arm (deltoid muscle) as an intramuscular injection. The medicine used is Hydroxcobalamin 1000mcg/ml ampoule.
What are the main causes of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Vitamin B12 is not produced by our body, it is obtained from the food in our diet. An individual becomes deficient when they are not consuming enough Vitamin B12-rich foods or they are unable to absorb sufficient Vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 is mainly found in animal-based foods, milk, eggs and dairy products. Those following a vegan or strict plant-based diet are more likely to suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency.
What is the role of vitamin b12?
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin required by our body for the formation of red blood cells and DNA. It is also important for the normal function and development of the brain and the nerve cells.
What are the symptoms of low vitamin b12?
The symptoms and the severity of the symptoms vary between individuals. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a range of symptoms, these include:
- extreme tiredness
- a lack of energy
- problems with memory and ability to focus
- a sore or red tongue
- a pale yellow tinge to your skin
- pins and needles vision disturbances
- depression
- changes in mood
- changes in the way you walk and move
Who is eligible for a Vitamin B12 injection?
We can provide treatment on our service for those who have one or more of the symptoms above and at least one of the following risk factors, following a consultation with one of our Pharmacists:
- Follows a vegan diet
- Pernicious anaemia
- Folate deficiency
- Intrinsic factor receptor deficiency, congenital intrinsic factor deficiency, cobalamin mutation or transcobalamin deficiency
- Another condition that affects how the body absorbs vitamins and nutrients such as Crohn's disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome
If you have similar symptoms to those above but without any risk factors, you will need to test for Vitamin B12 deficiency before any treatment can be offered.
Testing options:
- Arrange a test with your GP. Your GP may be able to arrange a test for you on the NHS. If your results are low enough, they may also be able to offer you treatment. Where your results are low, but not low enough for treatment on the NHS, you may still be able to obtain treatment privately on our service.
- We offer a range of blood tests privately at some our pharmacies.Click here to find out more
- Randox offer an at home blood test you can do yourself and return it to their lab for processing. You can then share the results with us.Click here to find out more
*All blood test results will need to be shared with the prescriber before they will be able to issue you with a prescription and arrange your Vitamin B12 injection.
**If you require recurring treatment on our service, our prescribers may require you to get a blood test done at least yearly, even when your have existing risk factors. This is to ensure continuing treatment is safe and necessary.
Cost
The cost for this service is £35