Urgent help with medication

bungler

Hi there,
(Mods Possibly this is in the wrong section but its the best match for what i want to ask)

My girlfriend has to get B12 injections every few weeks and she was due one in the morning but the doctor has said there is a problem with supply of "Cytamen Inj 1000MCG 1ML" and there is none in Dublin until the end of November.

We cannot leave it until the end of Nov and i am just wondering is there anyone out there by any chance that works in a chemist,knows one or knows anywhere that is not off the internet to buy it?

I know this is a long shot but i am desperate to find this stuff.

many thanks all.

Nonoperational

I'm back in college now so I'm not working too much but I think the closest available is a special order of Cobalin-H from medisource. Any pharmacy could orer it and it should be available next day.

It's a different form of B12 to cytamen (hydroxocobalamin as opposed to cyanocobalamin) but your GP would be familiar with it and you could discuss it with them.

bungler

Your very kind,ill call them first thing in the morning and if in the mean time anyone located the actual B12 please let me know

Nonoperational

Where in the country are you?

bungler

I am in stillorgan in Dublin.
Just found out that stuff is unlicenced so I am a bit wary of it

Nonoperational

It's only that particular brand of it is unlicenced in Ireland. It's just a commercial decision it's not licenced here not anything to do with safety etc. It's not worth the companies while going through all the paperwork etc. Here's a link to the details of it in the UK where it is licensed. http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/8173

There is a lot of misunderstanding as to what unlicenced means, it's not necessarily anything to worry about. For some drugs for example one strength is licenced but the other isn't. Unlicenced does not necessarily mean unsafe.

Anyway I'm in no way suggesting you do or don't do anything just to let you know hydroxocobalamin is available. Anything after that is for you and your GP to discuss. They will be very familiar with the drug.

bungler

GP thanks for your help i will ring the doctors first thing in the morning and many thanks for the speedy response

opinion guy

Seriously are you telling me there's no B12 in the country until November ??!??!?!?!

jeeeeeeebuss.....:rolleyes:

Nonoperational

There's hydroxocobalamin available. That's B12. I'm looking at 10 boxes right now! A lot of G.Ps I spoke to preferred it to cyanocobalamin but when neocytamen (hydroxocobalamin) went short they went back to the old cytamen (cyanocobalamin).

candy19

Hiya,

I'm actually in the same boat myself! I get two shots every week for the next month I think...painful!

I had to pay for my amps, I did source them. I was just wondering if you had thought about going over the border for them, I know thats what I'm going to do for my next batch as I think 10 amps cost me in the region of €35!

I think as well if you have a private Rx then you just pay £7.50 for whatever you need in northern Ireland. I know they will only dispence it if you have a vaild Irish Rx.

Just as I am on this, does anyone know of any other way to build up your B12 without having to go down the injection route??

Thanks!

RobFowl

candy19 wrote: »

I think as well if you have a private Rx then you just pay £7.50 for whatever you need in northern Ireland. I know they will only dispence it if you have a vaild Irish Rx.

Just as I am on this, does anyone know of any other way to build up your B12 without having to go down the injection route??

Thanks!

That €7.50 charge only applies for an NHS prescription. Private prescriptions are charged on the same principles as here. The drugs tend to be cheaper though because of the bulk buying strength of the NHS.

locum-motion

opinion guy wrote: »

Seriously are you telling me there's no B12 in the country until November ??!??!?!?!

jeeeeeeebuss.....:rolleyes:

Both Hydroxycobalamin qnd Cyanocobalamin are available at present, but not the NeoCytamen or Cytamen brands. Only the unlicenced products are available, sourced either via the UK or USA. As mentioned above, there is no safety issue involved in the fact that they're not licenced, it just means that the manufacturers don't think the Irish market isn't big enough to make it worth their while to go to the hassle/expense of applying for a licence. A doctor can still prescribe an unlicensed product, there's no legal difficulty there.
Your pharmacy can procure them, but it'll take a couple of days and the unlicenced product will be considerably more expensive than Cytamen or Neocytamen are.
On a related note; since June this year, neither Cytamen nor Neocytamen are reimbursible on the Community Drugs Schemes, so all patients have to pay full whack.

Nonoperational

I didn't even think of cyanocobalamin available as a ULM sur obviously that'd be too. Apologies. I had hydroxocobalamin in my head because Cobalin H is allowed as a claimable ULM on the GMS but I heard that brand is short now as well!

bungler

@ opinion guy. Yes thats what we've been told and i rang 73 chemists yesterday in Dublin and not one had the stuff we wanted D'oh

Nonoperational

And did you ask any of them to order it for you?

bungler

Of course i did.

Some told me there was an issue with supply and took my number to tell me when it would be in and other places said they have no idea when it will be available

Nonoperational

Anyone get back to you on this? It's definitely available I have a vial of generic cytamen in my hand as I type this!

ZYX

candy19 wrote: »

Just as I am on this, does anyone know of any other way to build up your B12 without having to go down the injection route??

Thanks!

Misdiagnosis of pernicious anaemia is massive in Ireland. If you are under 35 years age the incidence is very low. If you are in this age group you should make sure with your GP that a proper diagnosis has been made. Often GPs base it on blood test only. While this is acceptable in the elderly (where disease is very common) it is totally unacceptable in young adults.

Low B12 on blood test is very common in younger adults, but in most cases this is not pernicious anaemia, (and therefore requires oral b12 only).

Go back to your GP if you have any concern with the diagnosis.