Question:
B-12 injections,what kind are the best?
I am 3 yrs post and posted on this awhile ago,I am having nerve problems and need to take daily injections of B-12. I don't see my PS anymore,we kind of got into it last time I went. So my regular physician got me a perscription for b-12 injections from a compounding pharmacy. Its called methylcobalamin,but it is over 200.00 a month! I can't afford this. Is anyone taking a b-12 from a pharmacy that is covered by insurance? if so what kind of B-12 is best absorbed by us?? Thanks,Vel — Vel K. (posted on May 26, 2004)
May 25, 2004
I have Cigna HMO (which is notorious about not wanting to pay for
anything). My monthly B-12 injections are done in the doctor's office and
are included in the co-payment. I had to call the insurance company and
have them speak directly to the receptions at my PCP's office and remind
them that B-12 is not absorbed, and the injections are medically necessary,
no problems with insurance now.
— Chris S.
May 25, 2004
I do not know what to tell you on that I have had o problems I take
b-complex I am 13mts out
Take Care Huggs
Beth
— wildbrat
May 25, 2004
My prescription is for Cyanocobolomin. I filled the prescription NOT using
my insurance and it cost me $12 for 10 vials or 10 months worth for me. I
see that you have to take it everyday so I guess you would just multiply by
2. $36 is a whole lot better than $200. Good luck!
— SMG I.
May 25, 2004
— RebeccaP
May 25, 2004
That site also sells this kind..at much less that 200 per month. I don't
know how much your doc is wanting you to take per day....but see if it
compares<br><br>NHC sells bottles of 60 lozenges of
Methylcobalamin 1 mg for $8.95. The suggested retail price is $9.95
— RebeccaP
May 26, 2004
Vel, I recently went to my pcp for b-12 injections, she gave me first one,
my Ins does not cover the injections, so I looked around and found a
canadian pharmacy without prescription, 10 vials for like 15 bucks, plus
the syringes 10 for 3 bucks. I got 10 months supply and needles for less
than 28 dollars including shipping. I found that to be the best price and
fast shipment. Doc office charges 11 per shot and this is less than 1 per
shot. Check out www.canadapharmacy.com I was very impressed. Hope this
helps. Patricia 9-30-03 314/190/183!!
— pateblkbrn
May 26, 2004
I'm using Cyanocobaamin, 1 ML IM weekly. The 30ML vial is $3 with
insurance, about $7 without. That's 30 shots. Is there a reason he wrote
for the other form? I was paying the $15 copay to go get my shot there,
but I can get 2 years for that locally, with a written Rx.
— vitalady
May 26, 2004
I'm not sure why he wrote for the other kind. He said it was well absorbed.
I just can't afford 200 monthly plus all my other supplements if I can get
a B-12 that is just as good for me cheaper.
— Vel K.
May 26, 2004
I know that the cost of medications are outrageous. However, I noticed
someone threw the idea of getting RX drugs from Canada-my two cents: The
Canadian medications are not regulated. There have been documented cases of
people receiving incorrect medications, of receiving placebo medications,
and of receiving expired medications from there. Not one or two isolated
cases, but many. I saw this on a news program, I'm off to google it so I
can give you a source aside from my own memory. I just thought you'd want
to hear both sides of that coin before making your decision. How
disappointing would it be to pay for a few years' worth of unregulated B-12
and have a severe deficiency down the road? Better safe than sorry. Anyway,
not to burst that bubble or anything, I just want to save you the trouble
that could happen later on. I would ask your doctor for a different RX,
perhaps the generic version if you aren't already getting that one. A lot
of drug companies pay doctors to write prescriptions for their brand of
drug, which may not be the most cost-efficient of the options. Request the
cheapest version. Good luck!
— jenn_jenn
May 26, 2004
Vel...my surgeon explained to me that B-12 is only absorbed by the portion
of the small bowel that is bypassed during the surgery. Therefore, if you
take an oral B-12 it does you no good whatsoever because it doesn't go thru
the portion of the small bowel that would be absorbing it. He told me I
needed to take a B-12 supplement that would be placed under the tongue so
it can be directly absorbed into the blood (it works on the same principle
as nitroglycerin pills for patients having chest pain and they place the
pill under their tongue and let it melt..do not chew it up). I got these
pills at GNC and I believe they cost about $6.50 for 36 pills. Check with
your physician to see if you could take one of these each day instead of
B-12 shots each day.
— Katherine F.
May 27, 2004
Just a note to Jennifer S. I live in Canada and the medications ARE VERY
REGULATED! Please don't pass that unregulated info around, it's false. I
get B-12 by injection, it's covered by my insurance which would in no way
cover a drug that is not regulated. The cost to my insurance is about $15
for 10 shots. My b-12 is the one that all of you are talking about the
Cyannobl....(sp) and it has a DIN(drug identification number=regulation)
and it's fairly cheap to buy. I can pay for it myself or put it through my
insurance, either way I need a prescription for it. My suggestion to all
of you who might think to order medications on-line from Canada, DON'T do
it. There are all kinds of unscrupulous on-line 'pharmacies' sending stuff
to the US because our drugs are high quality and brand name, costs are
lower and with the exchange on US dollars, the price is even more
attractive to Americans. Every time I'm at the prescription counter, I see
and hear American citizens getting prescriptions filled.
We're talking about medications here, could be life and death type stuff.
If you live near the border and can easily come to Canada to a pharmacy
then you can be sure it's safe and you will get exactly what you need. But
you would need a prescription from a Canadian doctor to get a regulated
drug.
I do think the original poster is paying so much because the b-12 she
requires is a different formula, to be injected daily for nerve damage that
already exists. This is a whole different thing than those of us who get a
monthly shot to keep levels normal and prevent the nerve damage in the
first place.
Vel, I will call my pharmacy tomorrow to ask them the price of your
prescription if you email me privately (if you want to compare prices). I
did it for someone in Oregon for her meds and she was amazed at the
difference in price, much lower here for the exact same med. After that
she shopped around for a better price in her area.
— mary ann T.
Click Here to Return