Question:
B-12 Nasal Spray or Injections, which is better?

I prefer the injectible B-12 since it's just a once every six weeks thing... my pcp is having fits and wants me to take the nasal spray form of B-12, daily. After years of taking pills every day, I am delighted to finally be free of all those daily meds. And the injection is just so much easier. Does anyone know why the nasal form of B-12 would be any better than the injection? My insurance covers the injection, so that's not the issue... The last time I saw the pcp for an injection of B-12, he said it was the last one he'd give me, it was the nasal spray or nothing... I don't know where this pcp got the wild hair from, but it must be quite an irritant to him...lol, other than this issue, he's not that difficult to deal with. :o\    — Karen D. (posted on April 28, 2003)

April 28, 2003
From what I have read about the Nascobal (B-12 Nasal Spray), it is taken on a weekly basis. However, I am sticking with the injections. #1 reason is that it is the most effective form of the drug (when taken intramuscularly) and #2 reason is my wife is a nurse and she gives me my monthly B-12 shots...JR
   — John Rushton

April 28, 2003
What a brat your doctor is being! LOL I can't imagine why this is such a bother to him, what about the nurses at your office? Could they do it instead? Is there another medical or blood clinic nearny- maybe they can do it? I honestly don't know anything about the nasal sprays, but do know that the injections are the best form of B12- most absorbable. But I'm sure the spray is still better than just pills which we don't get benefit from. Goodluck to you!
   — Lezlie Y.

April 28, 2003
I'm taking the sub-lingual B12 and so far so good. However, you can give yourself the B12 shots. I am certain that I have seen folks post that they give them to themselves. That way your PCP would just have to write a prescription for the B12 and tell you what kind of syringes to get. Syringes are not a prescription item, although most insurance will pay for them if you have a prescription.
   — garw

April 28, 2003
Hi Karen, I just got my Rx today for the B-12 injections. My surgeon would not give me one. He said he doesn't think they are necessary. I love my surgeon but I have to wonder about this. There are several bariactric programs in our area (Atlanta) and some of them REQUIRE their post ops to have injections. In fact, most require that they have them 2x a month for the 1st three mos and then monthly thereafter for the rest of their life. I am 3 mos post op. I asked my PCP to give me the shots. She said that it cost her ofc more to give them than the insur would pay so she said I could give them to myself. I took my husband and he learned too. The cost of the B-12 serum is only around $10 (I think it will last many months) and I had to pay a $12 copay with my insur co for the syringes. You should know that the nasal spray, as I have been told by another woman in my support group) is totally gross. It's red and thick (oily) and difficult to keep up inside your nose....at least that's what I was told. I know that the injections are the best route. I am so pleased I have a PCP who allows me to request things that I feel are necessary and she goes along with it. If I were you, I'd look until I found someone who would give you a script to give them to yourself...maybe your current doc will do that for you anyway. (Maybe it's a cost effective thing for him, like my PCP too.) Good luck!
   — Lisa I.

April 28, 2003
Stats are that B12 injected intra-muscularly gives you 100%. Done sub-cu (like with an insulin needle) gets you 80%. Sublinguals work for some people, some not. I have yet to see anyone for whom the Nascobal actually worked. I prefer the shots myself. I'm too lazy for the sublinguals, as well. If you cannot get an Rx, you can just buy it in Canada. www.canadapharmacy.com is one. Even with price gouging (about $15 for a 30 ml vial), it's cheap. Very cheap to use. I am able to get the Rx so my insurance pays (making it under $3 for a 30 ml vial, but I had to wrestle my PCP to the ground to get it. He was all for waiting til my B12 was so low that I coudln't move, I just reminded him that my B12 food sources cannot mate with the intrinsic factor & he said, "OH, ok." Sheesh, if I'd know THAT was the magic formula, I'd have used it months earlier.
   — vitalady