Vitamin B12 at Gilbride Pharmacy: Boosting Your Vitality
At Gilbride Pharmacy, we understand the importance of optimal health, especially for those following a plant-based diet who may miss out on vital Vitamin B12. Our aim is to safeguard your long-term health and promote wellness and vitality through regular B12 supplementation. We believe the most effective method for this is via an intramuscular injection, ensuring a large amount of the vitamin is immediately available for your body to use.
What is Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is an essential compound primarily sourced from animal-based foods. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and it is vital for the production of healthy red blood cells. Sub-optimal levels of B12 can lead to symptoms such as:
Tiredness and fatigue
General malaise
Poor memory and reduced mental function (often described as "mental fog")
Naturally present in meat, poultry, eggs, and milk, Vitamin B12 is also a common ingredient in oral vitamin supplements marketed for energy. As a water-soluble vitamin, it is quickly excreted from the body via the kidneys, meaning regular intake is necessary. It is not harmful in high doses and works synergistically with other vitamins and minerals to optimise various bodily processes. For individuals adhering to a plant-based diet, Vitamin B12 supplementation is considered essential.
Why Choose an Intramuscular Injection?
While Vitamin B12 is found in animal products, fortified foods, and oral supplements, the digestive system isn't always efficient at absorbing it. Certain medications or bowel conditions can further hinder this absorption, meaning a significant amount of orally consumed B12 may pass through the body unabsorbed.
By delivering Vitamin B12 directly into the deltoid muscle at the top of the arm, we dramatically increase the usable amount immediately available to your cells. This intramuscular supplementation offers a significant advantage: a single injection can provide several weeks to months of benefit, reducing the need for daily oral supplements due to the larger, more readily available dose administered.
How Much B12 Do We Need?
The "normal" blood levels for B12 recognised in the UK are considerably lower than those suggested in countries like America, Canada, and Japan. Furthermore, it's common for individuals with blood test readings above these UK "normal" levels to still experience symptoms of deficiency.
At Gilbride Pharmacy, our ethos is that being free of disease does not automatically equate to optimal health. Combining this philosophy with the information above, we suggest that aiming for rich B12 levels in the body can contribute to overall well-being. If you maintain a healthy lifestyle with balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate rest, yet still experience tiredness, fatigue, or feel less mentally sharp than you'd like, a regular B12 injection might be beneficial. This service is available for non-medicinal purposes to those who pass our medical screening and report symptoms such as malaise, fatigue, or mental fog.
Already Receiving Regular B12 Injections?
Many people in the UK receive a prescribed B12 injection from their GP every three months. However, some patients feel they would benefit from additional doses in between, based on their individual symptoms and response. Provided you have not had a B12 injection in the past 28 days and are not scheduled to have one in the next 28 days, you can purchase a voucher for our B12 service. This can then be administered at your local Gilbride Pharmacy, subject to passing our inclusion criteria.
For your safety and continuity of care, our pharmacy team will, as good practice, forward a standard notification letter to your GP following your injection. We offer this service in a safe, private consultation room, adhering to the highest professional standards with regular training and accreditation, ensuring a convenient and accessible means of receiving B12 supplementation.
Pricing
£27 per injection when you book directly with Gilbride Pharmacy.
We also administer injections against vouchers purchased from VITAJAB for £29.
Availability
Our B12 injection service is available throughout our working hours. We recommend booking online to guarantee your appointment time. Please note there is a separate VITAJAB booking option on our appointments tab if you have purchased a voucher through them.