Vitamin B12, also known as cyanocobalamin, is given as an injection to people deficient in the vitamin. Vitamin B12 is essential to the production of cells, blood, protein, tissue and for overall growth. Individuals deficient in this vitamin may feel tired and sluggish. B12 is given as an injection, commonly in the muscle of your upper arm, also known as the deltoid muscle. It may also be given in the upper and outer portion of the thigh in the anterolateral thigh muscle.
Step 1
Check the dosage of the vitamin B12 on your prescription with the B12 in the vial.
Step 2
Pop the plastic or metal top off the vial to reveal a rubberized top. This top is sterile at this point so there is no need to swab it with alcohol.
Step 3
Pull the plunger back on the syringe to fill the syringe with the amount of air equal to the amount of medicine you will be drawing out. Your prescription will indicate how much you are to inject. Insert the needle straight into the top of the vial and insert the air by depressing the plunger. Drawing the medication out without inserting the air will create a vacuum within the vial and make it difficult to withdraw the medication. Adding air prior to removing the medication will prevent this from happening.
Step 4
Turn the vial upside down while the needle remains inside it and withdraw the proper volume of medication that your doctor has prescribed. The syringe is marked in with tick marks to help you measure the proper dosage. Only withdraw the amount indicated on your prescription, which may be the entire vial in many cases. Remove the needle from the vial.
Step 5
Remove any air from the vial by holding the syringe with the needle pointing upward. Tap or flick the syringe, not the needle, with your finger to dislodge any air bubbles. Gently and carefully press the plunger to expel any air bubbles through the needle until you see a drop of medicine on the tip of the needle.
Step 6
Choose the site for the injection. The deltoid at the top of the arm is located between the bony prominence of the shoulder and the level of the armpit on the outside of the arm. The anterolateral thigh muscle is most commonly used in children and is located on the upper and outer portion of the thigh, on the side of the leg below the hip bone going down the side of the leg.
Step 7
Prep the site by cleaning it with an alcohol swab.
Step 8
Hold the skin tight with your non-dominant hand and insert the needle at a 90-degree angle with your other hand quickly, almost like throwing a dart. Once the needle is in the skin, pull back slightly on the plunger and check for blood in the syringe. This could indicate that the needle is in a blood vessel. If you see blood, remove the needle and reinsert into a new site.
Step 9
Depress the plunger to expel the medication into the muscle. Press it slowly, over the count of three to four seconds. Remove the needle and discard carefully in a sharps container or plastic drinking bottle if no other receptacle is available.
Step 10
Place a bandage on the site as it may bleed slightly.
Things You'll Need
- Syringe
- Vial of Vitamin B12 available through prescription
- Alcohol wipes
- Bandage
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