Injection B12 Prices in USA

Vitamin B12 Injection Prices in the USA

Back in 2016 we wrote an article discussing injection B12 prices in the United States – Vitamin B12 Injection Price Increases – Why? Today, almost 4 years later, not much has changed…

In 2016 we checked seven mainstream pharmacies and found B12 prices ranging from $80 to $159 for 10ml of 1000mcg cyanocobalamin. These were the cash prices for uninsured customers and did not include any dispensing fees or taxes. Compare these to our price, then $9.75. For US residents the difference is obviously alarming.

Vitamin B12 Injection Price Increases – Why?

Long term users of injectable B12 have experienced dramatic price increases. At times B12 has been hard to find due to shortages. People with conditions requiring B12 injections including pernicious anemia, gastric bypass, crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and many others have been dealing ever increasing prices because insurance companies are limiting coverage.

Why are injection B12 prices increasing in the US? Two theories have been suggested for the sky rocketing prices – increased popularity and restrictive federal regulation.

Vitamin B12 Availability: 1000mcg & 2000mcg

[UPDATE] We have restocked 1000mcg and are still offering 2000mcg … win, win!

Thank-you to all our customers! B12 Direct is very busy making it more difficult to find and keep B12 in stock.  If you have ordered don’t worry – your order has shipped. We do not accept orders if we do not have stock on hand.

We are currently out of stock on the 1000mcg concentration of B12.  This is temporary, hopefully very temporary.  But we have a solution! We have added a new product: a higher concentrated B12, 2000mcg.  If you substitute this product you can use less (half as much) to get the same dosage. As always, check with your medical professional.

We understand some customers prefer the 1000mcg as it can be easier to measure in a syringe.  Sorry for any inconvenience.

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UK Petition To Make Vitamin B12 OTC

If this petition is successful our business would be a lot harder, but getting vitamin B12 would be a lot easier in the United Kingdom.

Tracey Witty has drafted a letter petitioning CEO MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) Ian Hudson to:

Please make our life saving injectable vitamin B12 (hydroxocobalamin) available over the counter.

Your signature on this petition will help us fight for our right to health. UK sufferers of B12 deficiency and PA are routinely restricted or denied access to the life saving 55p vitamin B12 injections they desperately need.

The majority of UK patients suffering from Vitamin B12 deficiency and auto immune pernicious anaemia (PA), are restricted to a ‘maintenance dose’ of just four B12 (hydroxocobalamin) injections per year. This is tragically under treating a serious and very common deficiency – and this is only if patients are fortunate enough to achieve a diagnosis.

B12 deficiency affects both sexes and all ages, but the general misconception is that it only affects women over 60. Many of us inherit this condition and in turn, so do our children.  

Hundreds of thousands of UK citizens are B12 deficient, there are many symptoms, many causes and it is commonly misdiagnosed. Vitamin B12 has no known toxicity, in fact it is used in huge quantities as a treatment for cyanide poisoning. You cannot overdose on B12 injections.  

When last checked the petition had over 4000 signatures so is getting a lot of attention. If you are a UK resident that is interested in this petition you can find out more here:

Petition to ask you to remove the Prescription Only Medicine (POM) classification from injectable Vitamin B12

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US Injectable B12 Shortage – Updated

UPDATE: The US injectable vitamin B12 shortage appears to be slowly resolving – if 1ml ampules satisfy your vitamin B12 requirements. Availability has been updated below. 

Injectable b12 (Cyanocobalamin) shortage status update – the FDA has updated their shortages list and reports that both North American laboratories are reporting limited supply or back-ordered.

American Regent/Luitpold (Re-verified 04/25/2014) – limited supply
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC (Re-verified 04/25/2014) – available in 1ml ampules

FDA Drug Shortages List – Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) Injection

[edited April 25th to update status]

Vitaminb12direct has stock of vitamin b12 Cyanocobalamin for sale if you are having trouble ordering from a North American supplier.

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US Injectable Vitamin B12 Shortage – October

The injectable b12 (Cyanocobalamin) shortage continues – the FDA has updated their shortages list and reports that both North American laboratories have returned to a back-ordered and out of stock status with regards to injectable vitamin b12.

American Regent/Luitpold (Re-verified 10/21/2014) – out of stock / back-ordered
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC (Re-verified 10/24/2014) – out of stock / back-ordered

FDA Drug Shortages List – Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) Injection

[edited Oct 24 to update re-verified dates from FDA]

Vitaminb12direct has stock of vitamin b12 Cyanocobalamin for sale if you are having trouble ordering from a North American supplier.

Empty B12 vials

US Injectable Vitamin B12 Shortage – September

The injectable b12 (Cyanocobalamin) shortage continues – the FDA has updated their shortages list and reports that both North American laboratories have returned to a back-ordered and out of stock status with regards to injectable vitamin b12.

American Regent/Luitpold (Reverified 09/23/2014) – out of stock
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC (Reverified 09/26/2014) – out of stock

FDA Drug Shortages List – Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) Injection

Vitaminb12direct has stock of vitamin b12 Cyanocobalamin for sale if you are having trouble ordering from a North American supplier.

Empty B12 vials

US Injectable Vitamin B12 Shortage – August

[see this post for current injectable vitamin b12 shortage info]

Injectable vitamin B12 continues to be in short supply from North American laboratories – limited supply and back-ordered.  Laboratory Fresenius has been reporting an expected release for months but has never delivered. From the FDA Drug Shortages List as of August 19th:

American Regent/Luitpold (Reverified 08/22/2014) – limited supply and back-ordered
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC (Reverified 08/27/2014) – 1000mcg 1ml vials available

UPDATE August 19th: Laboratory Fresenius Kabi has come online with 1000mcg 1ml vials available

UPDATE August 27th: FDA shortage list refreshed, no improvement

FDA Drug Shortages List – Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) Injection

And if you are interested our July post on injectable B12 availability.

Empty B12 vials

Update on American Injectable Vitamin B12 Supply

[see this post for more up-to-date injectable vitamin b12 shortage info]

Unfortunately the update (as of July 19th) is there is no change, injectable vitamin b12 shortage continues. Limited supply and back-ordered.  Laboratory Fresenius has been reporting an expected release this June through most of June….

American Regent/Luitpold (Reverified 07/14/2014) – limited supply and back-ordered
Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC (Reverified 07/17/2014) – back-ordered

FDA Drug Shortages List – Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) Injection

Update, July 19th: FDA shortages list updated. Limited supply and back-ordered. One of American Regent’s products has returned to back-ordered status. Post updated with most recent dates.

Windsor Star Drug Shortages

Windsor Star reports on drug shortages

Posted June 17th in The Windsor Star‘s healthcare section:

Kaye Brown says she constantly fights fatigue because she hasn’t had her prescribed injections of iron or vitamin B12 since January.

She’s not the only one having trouble getting medicine. A rotating drug shortage has become routine in Ontario, meaning hospitals, pharmacies and patients often scramble when certain medications go through bouts of short supply.

“I feel frustrated,” said Brown, who lives in a long-term care home in Windsor. “I feel like the present government doesn’t care about us seniors in homes or out in the community. We’re not important enough.”

Brown has been told that the drugs she needs are on back order, so she has been taking B12 in pill form everyday — which she says is not as effective or as convenient as a once-a-month shot.

“The injection would give me more strength and I would be able to do more things,” said the 61-year-old widower who has fibromyalgia and arthritis and uses a wheelchair. “I don’t have enough energy to do what I would like to do. I could fall asleep just after breakfast.”

read the article at The Windsor Star

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