I've been taking B12 shots for the past few weeks, and found them to be beneficial. I started looking for an alternative because:1) Shots are expensive. (The ones I've been getting from my naturopath are $15 each. That adds up!)2) B12 may be "natural," but needles aren't. Something bothers me about the idea of trying to fortify my health by jabbing a sharp metal tube under my skin and giving myself an injection.3) They can hurt, if you inject them in an area that has a lot of nerve endings.3) With needles, there's a possibility of infection or complications.4) Many injectable formulas contain cyanocobalamin, not necessarily the best kind of B12 to take.SO WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?If you don't want to take B12 shots, you might consider:(1) B12 capsules and tablets (typical "vitamin pills" designed to be swallowed and digested)(2) B12 tablets (sublingual; designed to dissolve under your tongue)(3) B12 liquids and sprays (sublingual)(4) B12 patches (transdermal; the vitamin is absorbed through your skin)(5) B12 creams (also transdermal) (such as this one)The problem with item 1 (typical B vitamin pills) is that if you're not absorbing B12 from food, you're unlikely to absorb it from a tablets and capsules which, like food, end up in your digestive tract.Items 2,3,4 and 5 are all intended to bypass the intestinal tract (like injections) so in theory could result in better absorption.My experience with item 2, sublingual tablets, has been uneven. When I feel anything, it's a quick burst of energy that fades quickly. The ones I like best are the B12/folic acid/B6 tabs from Trader Joe's. But again, they're made from cyanocobalamin. And their effect doesn't seem to last.I've also tried item 3, sublingual liquids and sprays, but have not felt the same benefit I get from shots.B12 patches (item 4) are a popular alternative to injections. Some people like them a lot. But they can sometimes come off as they rub against clothing, or when taking baths or showers. And they're pretty pricey -- over $2 per patch, on the average. This is less than the cost of an injection, but still adds up. The cheaper ones have a reputation for not staying on, and for staining clothing and skin.This leaves item 5, B12 cream. Creams, like patches, deliver their product transdermally, through the skin. They're not patches, so you don't have to worry about them staying on.HOW THIS PRODUCT WORKSThe cream goes on pretty much like any hand lotion. The insert recommends rubbing it into the wrists, so I've been doing that that way. I roll up my sleeves, apply the cream to one wrist and rub with the other. There are visible blood vessels in the wrists, visible just under the surface, so I assume it's going rapidly into the bloodstream, when applied this way.The cream is a light pink in color (all B12 products have some "red" in them), and has a very faint fragrance, almost undetectable. Initially it's very visible on your skin, but if you rub it in again a few minutes after applying it, it won't be visible anymore. It feels a bit like applying a thin film of soap to the skin.One nice thing about this product, Vita Sciences Maxasorb B12 cream is that it contains methylcobalamin, which many people prefer to cyanocobalamin.MY EXPERIENCEMy first impression (on day 1) was of a jolt of energy. It felt as effective, and even faster acting, than the shots I had been giving myself. The second time I used it (day 2), I noticed a milder energy boost. It may be that my body was lower in B12 the first time, so the cream had a more noticeable effect. Still, I did feel something. All in all, my impression is that it works well, works quickly, and is an effective product. For those looking for an alternative to injections, it's worth trying.CAVEATSThe first time I pressed the dispenser, a tiny chunk came out. Apparently this is what was stuck in the dispenser. The second time, I got a large ribbon of cream. The third time, a big blob. The next couple of times, more ribbons of cream. It may be because the container is new; hopefully it'll settle into giving the same amount in each dose as the days go by. If I run into any other problems, I'll update this.
