Where To Inject A Vitamin B12 Shot

Vitamin B12, also called cyanocobalamin, occurs naturally in certain foods such as meat. Synthetic supplements used to prevent or treat vitamin B12 deficiency come in injectable, oral or nasal forms for individuals who do not eat animal products or cannot absorb B12 from dietary sources. The injectable form is available only by prescription and is often given in the health-care provider's office. Some patients, however, perform self-injections at home after receiving instructions on the technique and the appropriate injection sites.

Injection Sites

Intramuscular injections deliver sterile medications via a syringe and needle into a well-developed muscle where the substance is dispersed over several hours, days or a week. Injectable vitamin B12, available by prescription in sterile vials or ampules, may be injected into the ventrogluteal, vastus lateralis or deltoid muscle on either side of the body if the site is accessible. Use these approved sites rather than the dorsogluteal muscle in the upper outer buttock or less-developed muscles to avoid damage to underlying nerves, bones and blood vessels, recommends Carol Taylor, R.N., Ph.D and author of "Nursing Fundamentals."

Vastus Lateralis

Patients who self-administer vitamin B12 by injection may use the vastus lateralis muscle of the upper outer thigh. To use this site, sit down after preparing your dose of vitamin B12. Mentally divide the thigh into thirds both horizontally and vertically, then select a location in the outer middle third of the thigh, suggests Drugs.com. Insert the needle at a 90-degree angle to the skin and inject the entire dose into the muscle. Avoid using the same injection site each time to prevent scar tissue from forming.

Deltoid

The deltoid muscle in the upper part of the arm is large enough in adults and older children to be used as an injection site for vitamin B12, but self-injection at this site may be awkward. If another person is performing the injection, he should palpate the lower edge of the acromion process, the bone at the top of your upper arm. He should spread his fingers to form an upside-down triangle with the acromion process at the base and the point of the triangle at your armpit, according to Drugs.com. The needle is inserted into the center of this triangle, 1 to 2 inches below the acromion process.

Ventrogluteal

Using the large ventrogluteal muscle of the hip as an injection site avoids nerves and major blood vessels but self-injecting into this muscle is awkward for most people. If you have someone to help you, lie on your back, side or abdomen while the person performing the injection places the palm of her opposite hand -- left hand on your right hip or vice versa -- with the heel of her hand on your hipbone and her fingers pointing toward your head. The index finger is placed on the anterior superior iliac spine -- pelvic bone -- while the middle finger touches the iliac crest, forming a triangle over a portion of the outer hip. The injection is administered in the center of the triangle.