Vitamin B12 Injection

Written by the Veritas Pharmacy clinical team. Address: 113 Chester Road, Sunderland. Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council, registration number 9012617.

Vitamin B12 plays a central part in keeping the nervous system healthy and in helping the body make red blood cells, so low levels can leave someone feeling tired, low, or simply not quite right. At Veritas Pharmacy, a Vitamin B12 injection is available as a quick appointment, given directly into the muscle of the upper arm. Appointments last around 15 minutes, and same-day slots are usually available.

What is a Vitamin B12 injection?

Vitamin B12 injections contain a concentrated dose of the vitamin, administered directly into a muscle rather than taken as a tablet. This route bypasses the digestive system entirely, which is useful for anyone whose body struggles to absorb Vitamin B12 from food, since this kind of absorption problem cannot always be corrected simply by taking more of the vitamin by mouth.

Who might benefit from a Vitamin B12 injection?

Vitamin B12 is found mainly in animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, so a deficiency can develop for several different reasons, including a diet that contains little or no animal products, a digestive condition that affects absorption, or a long-term medicine that reduces how well the vitamin is absorbed.

None of these signs alone confirm a Vitamin B12 deficiency, since tiredness and similar symptoms can have many different causes. Your pharmacist will ask about your symptoms, your diet, and any relevant medical history before confirming whether this service is suitable for you.

Do you need a blood test first?

A blood test is not required before having a Vitamin B12 injection at Veritas Pharmacy. However, if you would like to know your actual Vitamin B12 level before deciding whether to proceed, or you would like to monitor your level over time, blood testing is available in several ways.

Vitamin B12 can be checked as its own individual measurement, priced at £39, or as part of a wider blood test panel, including:

• The Vitamin Profile Test, priced at £89, covering a small group of key vitamins.
• The Vitamin and Mineral Blood Test, priced at £119, covering a wider range of vitamins and minerals.
• The Women’s Hormone Blood Test, priced at £209, a comprehensive panel that also includes Vitamin B12.
• The Men’s Hormone Blood Test, priced at £219, a comprehensive panel that also includes Vitamin B12.

What to expect at your appointment

Your appointment begins with a short conversation about your symptoms, your diet, and your general medical history, so your pharmacist can confirm that a Vitamin B12 injection is suitable for you. The injection itself is given intramuscularly, meaning directly into the muscle, in the deltoid, which is the muscle at the top of your upper arm. Most people feel only a brief scratch or sting.

Before you leave, your pharmacist will explain what to expect over the following days, and how often a repeat injection might be needed, since this varies from person to person depending on the underlying cause of low levels.

How to prepare for your appointment

No special preparation is needed. It is helpful to bring a list of any medicines you currently take, and to mention any known allergies, particularly to cobalt or any previous reaction to a Vitamin B12 injection.

How to book your Vitamin B12 injection in Sunderland

Booking takes a couple of minutes online, or you can call the clinic directly to speak to someone first. We see patients from Sunderland and the surrounding area.

Pricing: £29 for the Vitamin B12 injection. The appointment lasts around 15 minutes. We are open seven days a week, from 9 o’clock in the morning until 5 o’clock in the evening, for private services.

If you would prefer to check your Vitamin B12 level with a blood test before or instead of having an injection, you can book that separately.

Frequently asked questions about the Vitamin B12 injection

Related reading: More Vitamins and Nutrition articles