The easiest site when self-administering an IM injection is the middle third of the vastus lateralis muscle of the thigh. Other options include the deltoid muscle of the upper arm and the dorsogluteal site on the bottom. This maybe useful if you have a carer or a family member willing to administer your injection.
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Where do you inject in the thigh?

Does B-12 have to be injected into muscle?
Although your body is unable to generate B-12, the vitamin is readily available from dietary sources including dairy, meat and fish. If you develop a vitamin B-12 deficiency, intramuscular or subcutaneous injections may be necessary.
How do you give yourself a shot of B-12?
- Expose the top of the arm or the outer part of the thigh where the injection will be given.
- Remove the needle cover.
- Gently push the needle into the skin until it won’t go any further.
- Push the plunger slowly down until the syringe is empty.
Why do B12 injections hurt?
Injection Site Reactions Upon receiving the B12 injection, you may experience a skin reaction in or around the area in which the injection was placed. Pain, redness, and swelling may occur shortly after the procedure is complete. There may also be some irritation in the area, as well as a risk of infection.
How soon do you feel less tired after a B12 injection?
Key facts. Hydroxocabalamin starts to work straight away. However, it may take a few days or weeks before your symptoms start to improve and you feel better. At first, you may need to have the injection a few times a week to boost your levels of vitamin B12.
What happens if you accidentally inject air into muscle?
Injecting a small air bubble into the skin or a muscle is usually harmless. But it might mean you aren’t getting the full dose of medicine, because the air takes up space in the syringe.
How many mL can you inject in thigh?
The rectus femoris and vastus lateralis remain the recommended sites for volumes up to 5 ml in adults. A maximum of 2 ml is recommended for older adults and thin patients.
How do you know if you’ve injected into a vein?
Once you think you’re in a vein, pull the plunger back to see if blood comes into the syringe. If so, and the blood is dark red and slow moving, you know that you’ve hit a vein. You can now untie your tourniquet and proceed to inject your drugs.
How do you give yourself a shot in the thigh?

How quickly does B12 shot work?
Since B12 shots are injected intramuscularly bypassing the digestive process, they start to work immediately. Typically, our patients experience positive effects between 24-72 hours after the treatment.
Where is B12 injection given?
Vitamin B-12 shots are usually administered as intramuscular injections, meaning the best B-12 injection sites are predominantly anywhere that muscle is abundant. Therefore, vitamin B-12 injection sites include the upper arms, buttocks and thigh area.
Do you keep B12 injections in the fridge?
Step 1. Store the vials in a cool room. Don’t store them inside a kitchen cabinet or the refrigerator. According to the medical site Drug3K, B12 injections should be stored at a stable temperature of between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
What size needle should be used for B12 injections?
Gather your B-12 medication vial, a 1 ml syringe and a 22- to 25-gauge needle that’s 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. The larger-gauge needle is finer than the 22 and will provide the most comfort during the injection. Also, the needle needs to be long enough to reach the muscle of the person you’re injecting.
How many ml of B12 should I inject?
If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, the initial dose is usually 30mcg injected under the skin or into the muscle every day for between 5 and 10 days to boost levels of B12 quickly. For maintenance, it is common to have monthly therapy of 100-200 mcg.
What should you not do after a B12 shot?
Avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours after your treatment. Avoid touching the injection site for 6 hours after your treatment. You may experience a dull ache at the injections site for around 1 hour after your treatment. Avoid any blood thinning medication.
Why do I feel tired after B12 injection?
One Possibility: Supplement Allergies Thus if you’re otherwise healthy but still continue to feel tired after taking a B-12 supplement, it could be a sign of a mild allergic reaction. If a rash, difficulty breathing or swelling coincides with taking your dose of B-12, get to the doctor right away.
Why do I feel sick after B12 injection?
Allergic Reactions The reaction is thought to occur due to impurities in the B12 injection, notes Drugs.com. If a reaction occurs it is usually within several weeks after the first injection. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and airway and hives.
What are the symptoms of low B12?
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- lack of energy (lethargy)
- breathlessness.
- feeling faint.
- headaches.
- pale skin.
- noticeable heartbeats (palpitations)
Why are beauticians giving B12 injections?
Benefits of having Vitamin B12 Injections As a moderate appetite suppressant, one of the other potential benefits of B12 injections is easier weight loss. They can be used intermittently and are a popular rejuvenation therapy for exhaustion, ‘burn out’, migraines and – of course – post-party nausea!
Will B12 injections give me energy?
Proponents of vitamin B-12 injections say the shots give you more energy and boost your metabolism, helping you shed unwanted pounds. But unless you have a vitamin B-12 deficiency, vitamin B-12 injections aren’t likely to give you an energy boost.
Why is there blood in syringe after injection?
If you see blood in the syringe, it means you might have hit a blood vessel. This usually isn’t harmful. If you see blood in the bottom of the syringe (hub) before you push in the plunger: Remove the needle without giving the medicine.
What happens when you don’t remove the air from the needle?
The air bubble would float along the vein back to the heart; it would go through the right side of your heart and into your lungs and it would lodge in a blood vessel, which is a bit smaller than it is. The result is that blood would then be stuck behind this bubble of air.
What should you do if you see blood in the syringe when you aspirate?
If you see blood in the syringe, you have hit a blood vessel. If you hit a vessel, pull the needle out of the skin. Get rid of the needle and syringe, and prepare a new syringe with medicine. Insert the new needle in a different spot, and check again to see if there is blood.
Do you massage after intramuscular injection?
Some medication manufacturers advise against massaging the site after injection, as it reduces the effect and intention of the medication by dispersing it too readily or over too large an area. Manufacturers’ recommendations should be checked. any other signs of reaction to the medication are present.