Is it a blast of B12 goodness that your body needs to keep you at your energetic best?
Perhaps you need to boost your levels to avoid a deficiency.
Or you may even feel that it is a B12 deficiency that is setting you back from your weight loss goals.
Whatever your reason for purchasing B12 shots online, you need be sure you are getting a pure and sterile product.
That is what we are aiming to help you with today.
In a hurry? Here are the products we have vetted and can recommend:

- Methylcobalamin B12
- 1000 mcg/ml
- Available in 10ml and 30ml
- Available as an Oral Troche

- Methylcobalamin
- 1000 mcg/ml
- 30ml Vial
- Energy Booster Injections
Why These Products?
- They are made in FDA registered US pharmacies – not foreign pharmacies
- They are affordable when compared to visiting a local clinic
- The companies that sell them are HIPAA compliant
- Both companies have a good business track record online
- A doctor will assess your suitability via a telemedicine (phone/video) consultation
Vitamin B12 Injection FAQ’s
How Much Does It Cost to Get a B12 Shot?
The cost of a B12 shot can range from as low as $3.30 (when purchased online and self-administered) to over $70 when taking into account clinic or doctors’ fees.
How Long Does It Take a B12 Shot to Kick In?
Many people describe having an increase in energy within 24 hours of getting a B12 shot, although changes to the blood only begin several days after the initial injection.
Neurological deficiency symptoms will begin to improve within the first week and continue to improve over the course of 1½ to 3 months.[1]
Are B12 Shots Safe?
B12 has very low toxicity levels and because of this B12 injections are generally considered to be very safe unless you have any underlying conditions such as Leber’s Disease or a hematologic disease.
Do B12 Injections Have Side Effects?
As with anything that is eaten or put into the body, it needs to be done so with full awareness of any side effects that could be possible.
Because everybody is different, it’s always advised to consult with your personal physician before attempting any course of action to avoid any unwanted side effects.
Always purchase B12 for injection from a licensed US pharmacy under a doctor’s supervision to ensure you are buying the intended product.
Possible side effects vary from person to person but could include:
- Redness, swelling, or infection at the injection site
- Nausea, upset stomach
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Mild diarrhea
- Sense of whole body swelling
- Allergy reaction*
Side effects of B12 shots are uncommon, and correct usage of the injections can reduce symptoms related to the application.
*Having an allergy to any sort of vitamin is extremely rare, but these shots should be avoided by persons allergic or highly sensitive to cobalamin (B12) as anaphylactic reactions have been reported.[2]
Do B12 Injections Help with Weight Loss?
If you have a B12 deficiency, you could suffer from low energy, fatigue, mental fogginess, concentration difficulties, low blood pressure, and muscle weakness.
Here’s the thing… For those struggling with excessive weight, these low energy levels and fatigue can simply be what stands in the way of losing it!
With this in mind, you can start to understand how injectable B12 has become a popular weight loss treatment, despite no conclusive research indicating that B12 shots can help you lose weight.
By correcting a deficiency, the following benefits can be attributed to B12 injections:
- give you an energy boost
- reduce symptoms of depression[3]
- slows the progression of cognitive impairment resulting in dementia[4]
- improve heart health
- encourage healthy skin, hair and nails
B12 is often marketed for weight loss in conjunction with lipo shots, which do have proven fat burning properties. You can also find Lipotropic Injections for sale online.
Hydroxocobalamin VS Methylcobalamin Injections?
Hydroxocobalamin is not an active form of Vitamin B12 but most people easily converted it into a useable form in their body. Methylcobalamin is an active form of B12 which is often found in the spinal cord and the blood and is an important cofactor for many metabolic reactions.
Hydroxocobalamin is the more affordable option but many experts argue that supplying the body directly with the active Methylcobalamin form of B12 is most advantageous.
One thing that most studies agree on is that Hydroxocobalamin and Methycobalabin, which are natural forms of B12, are both superior to the synthetic version Cyanocobalamin.[5]
Injectable B12 VS Oral B12 Supplements
Because B12 is a structurally complicated vitamin, its absorption and distribution process can be complex due to many different factors involved, mainly the digestive system.
Taking B12 via injection needles allows for the vitamin to immediately enter the bloodstream, thus enabling the body to surpass the following obstacles that stand in the way of utilizing maximum amounts of B12.
- The entire dose of oral B12 is not absorbed because it has to deal with digestive enzymes and acids.
- Intrinsic factor needs to be present for B12 to be successfully absorbed in the gut.
- Consumed orally, most of it will be lost as secretions in the gut which then turns to bile to be excreted from the body.
It is also recommended that patients who are expected to show non-compliance with oral therapy (by forgetting to take the tablets) should be treated with the vitamin B12 intramuscular injections.
Thus, injection or oral therapy of this vitamin can be used successfully for the management of vitamin B12 deficiency. But, for the pharmacological effects of vitamin B12, the administration via an injection appears to be more effective.
Where Do You Inject B12 Shots?
B12 can be injected either intramuscularly or subcutaneously depending on the advice of the prescribing doctor and your personal preference.
Intramuscular injection sites for B12 include the thigh (vastus laeralis muscle), hip (ventrogluteal muscle), arm (deltoid muscle) or the buttocks (dorsogluteal muscle).
Subcutaneous injection sites for B12 include the abdomen, upper arm, thigh and lower back. Sub Q injections target the fatty layer of tissue just below the surface of the skin.
Should B12 Be Refrigerated?
Once B12 has been opened, it should be stored in the refrigerator but should not get near freezing temperatures. Prior to opening, B12 can be stored in a dark place that remains a relatively stable, cool 59-86 degrees Fahrenheit.
Related Articles:
- How to Inject HCG and B12 Subcutaneously (Infographic)
- B Complex Shots for Weight Loss – Benefits & Side Effects
- Glutathione Injection Benefits, Uses and Side Effects
References:
[1] Carmel, Ralph. (2008). How I treat cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency. Blood. 2008 Sep 15; 112(6): 2214–2221. [DOI: 10.1182/blood-2008-03-040253]
[2] Bilwani F, Adil SN, Sheikh U, Humera A, Khurshid M. (2005). Anaphylactic reaction after intramuscular injection of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12): a case report. J Pak Med Assoc. 2005 May;55(5):217-9.
[3] Ehsan Ullah Syed, Mohammad Wasay, and Safia Awan. (2013). Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Treating Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Open Neurol J. 2013; 7: 44–48. [DOI: 10.2174/1874205X01307010044]
[4] de Jager CA, Oulhaj A, Jacoby R, Refsum H, Smith AD. (2011). Cognitive and clinical outcomes of homocysteine-lowering B-vitamin treatment in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2012 Jun;27(6):592-600. [DOI: 10.1002/gps.2758]
[5] Cristiana Paul, MS and David M. Brady, ND, DC, CCN, DACBN. (2017). Comparative Bioavailability and Utilization of Particular Forms of B12 Supplements With Potential to Mitigate B12-related Genetic Polymorphisms. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2017 Feb; 16(1): 42–49. [PMID: 28223907]
Information reviewed and approved by a licensed medical professional.

Kristine is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP-C) who has been practicing medicine for 23 years. She specializes in IV vitamin therapy, Peptide and HCG therapy and has over 8 years’ experience administering the HCG Diet Protocol.