Vitamin B ₁₂ prescribing from 2015 to 2024 in English general practice: an observational study to investigate the switch from injections to tablets

In this study, we document important changes to vitamin B₁₂ prescribing in England over the last 10 years. Before the pandemic, injections were the medication of choice for B₁₂ deficiency but there had been an ongoing debate about the benefits and cost of injections over tablets. The pandemic accelerated the switch from injections to tablets. However, these changes in the pandemic were driven by the availability of resources and not necessarily clinical evidence or patient preference. To establish best practices, more evidence is needed comparing the safety and effectiveness of injections and tablets specific to the condition being treated.