Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Preparing for the injection
• Part 2 of 2: Injection
• What do you need

Vitamin B12 is important for cell repair, blood formation, brain development, and bone growth. Low vitamin B12 levels can cause symptoms such as depression, fatigue, anemia, and memory impairment. People suffering from these symptoms may ask their doctor for vitamin B12 injections. Vitamin B12 injections contain an artificial form of this vitamin called cyanocobalamin. Talk to your doctor before taking vitamin B12, as people with certain allergies or medical conditions may have a reverse reaction to vitamin B12. Yes, you can inject vitamin B12 yourself, but it is much better and more reliable if someone else does it.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Preparing for the injection

1. 1 Talk to your doctor about vitamin B12 injections. Talk with your doctor about how vitamin B12 injections can benefit you. Your doctor will most likely refer you for blood tests and other tests. If your doctor thinks you need vitamin B12 injections, he or she will write you a prescription for a specific dosage. In addition, your doctor should show you how to inject or direct it to someone who will do it for you.
   • You will then need to go to your local pharmacy with your prescription. Strictly adhere to your prescribed vitamin B12 dosage.
   • During your course of vitamin B12 injections, you may need to have regular blood tests so that your doctor can check your body's response to the injections.
2. 2 Learn about the potential complications of a vitamin B12 injection. Because vitamin B12 injection contains cyanocobalamin, you should not inject this drug if you are allergic to cyanocobalamin or cobalt, or Leber's disease, which is a hereditary form of vision loss. Before your doctor gives you a prescription for vitamin B12 injections, tell them about any allergies or any possible medical conditions. Tell your doctor if you have:
   • allergy or cold symptoms that manifest as sinus congestion or sneezing
   • kidney or liver disease;
   • iron or folic acid deficiency;
   • infections of any type;
   • if you are taking any medication or undergoing procedures that affect the bone marrow;
   • if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant while taking vitamin B12 injections. Cyanocobalamin can pass into breast milk and harm a nursing baby.
3. 3 Understand the benefits of vitamin B12 injections. If you suffer from anemia or vitamin B12 deficiency, then you probably need vitamin B12 injections as a treatment. For some people, vitamin B12 is poorly absorbed from food or oral vitamin B12 preparations, so they have to resort to injections of this vitamin. For vegetarians who do not consume animal products, supplements containing vitamin B12 can help maintain their health.
   • However, keep in mind that there is no medical evidence that vitamin B12 is effective against obesity.
4. 4 Choose an injection site. The optimal place to inject the drug depends on your age and the practical skills of the person giving the injection. There are four main injection sites:
   • Shoulder. This place is often used by young or middle-aged people. Older adults may choose this site if they have well-developed deltoid muscles of the shoulder. However, if the dose exceeds 1 ml, then it should not be injected into the shoulder.
   • Hip. This site is most often used by those who self-inject themselves or if the drug is administered to infants and young children. This is a good spot as there is a lot of fat and muscle under the skin of the thigh.You want the vastus lateralis muscle, which sits halfway between the groin and knee, about 15–20 cm from the bend of the leg.
   • Outer thigh. This location, located on the side, below the hipbone, is suitable for young adults and adults. Most experts advise injecting at this site because there are no large blood vessels or nerves that can be accidentally punctured during the injection.
   • Buttocks. Usually, injections are given in the upper outer parts of the buttocks or gluteus maximus, located on either side of the body. This site should only be injected by a healthcare professional because it is located near large blood vessels and the sciatic nerve, which can be damaged if injected incorrectly.
5. 5 Select the method of injection. At first glance, it is not difficult to inject with a needle and syringe with everything, but there are two injection methods that can be used to inject vitamin B12:
   • Intramuscular injection. These injections are more common as they tend to give better results. The needle is inserted at a 90-degree angle so that it penetrates deeply into the muscle tissue. When vitamin B12 is injected through a needle, it is immediately absorbed by the surrounding muscles. Due to this, all vitamin B12 is absorbed in the body.
   • Subcutaneous injections. These injections are less common. The needle is inserted at an angle of 45 degrees directly under the skin, as opposed to deep insertion into the muscle. The skin can be pulled slightly away from the muscle tissue to protect the muscle from being punctured by the needle. The best place for this type of injection is in the shoulder.

Part 2 of 2: Injection

1. 1 Get everything you need ready. Prepare a clean work surface or other area in your home for the procedure. You will need:
   • prescribed vitamin B12 solution;
   • a sealed clean syringe with a needle;
   • cotton pads;
   • medical alcohol;
   • small adhesive plasters;
   • a puncture-proof container for the disposal of used needles.
2. 2 Clean the injection site. Remove clothing from the injection site and provide direct access to the skin. Then dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol. Wipe the skin with a cotton pad in a circular motion.
   • Let the place dry.
3. 3 Clean the surface of the B12 solution. Dampen a new cotton swab with alcohol to wipe the surface of the container with B12 solution.
   • Let dry.
4. 4 Turn the container with the solution upside down. Take a clean needle out of the package and remove the protective cap from the needle
5. 5 Pull back the plunger of the syringe to draw up the correct amount of the vitamin for injection. Then insert it into the vial. Push the air out of the syringe by pushing the plunger and then slowly pull back the plunger until the correct amount of solution is drawn into the syringe.
   • Tap the syringe lightly with your finger to remove air bubbles from the syringe.
6. 6 Remove the needle from the vial. Press down lightly on the plunger to expel a small amount of vitamin B12 and make sure there is no air left in the syringe.
7. 7 Inject. Using the thumb and forefinger of your free hand, stretch the skin at the injection site. Regardless of where the injection site is located on the body, the skin must be smooth and tough to make it easier to inject the vitamin.
   • Tell the person you are going to have an injection. Then insert the needle into the skin at the desired angle. Hold the needle firmly in place and slowly push the plunger until the entire contents of the syringe are injected.
   • Try to inject the drug into relaxed muscles. If the person is nervous or tense, advise them to place their weight on a leg or arm that is not being injected. This will help not to strain the muscles at the injection site.
   • Make sure there is no blood in the syringe when injecting the supplement. If there is no blood, continue to administer the remainder of the supplement.
   • If you are injecting vitamin B12 yourself, stretch the injection site with your free hand. Relax your muscles and insert the needle at the desired angle.Make sure there is no blood in the syringe and then inject the remainder of the vitamin.
8. 8 Release the skin and remove the needle. Pull at the same angle as injected. Blot the injection site with a cotton swab to clean it and stop bleeding.
   • Wipe the injection site in a circular motion.
   • Stick the adhesive tape over this area to protect it.
9. 9 Dispose of the needle properly. Do not dispose of used needles with your regular waste. You can buy a puncture-resistant container from the pharmacy or make your own.
   • Secure the lid to the coffee can with duct tape. Cut a slit in the cover wide enough for the needle to pass through. Sign the box "Used needles".
   • Instead, you can use a sturdy plastic detergent container to store your used needles. Most importantly, do not forget to indicate on the container for what purposes it now serves so that no one confuses it with a detergent.
   • When the can is 3/4 full, take it to a healthcare facility for proper disposal, or find a bio-waste disposal service.
10. 10 Use disposable needles only once. Never use the same needle twice as this can cause infection or illness.
    • Unused vitamin B12 injections can be stored at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What do you need

• Prescribed Vitamin B12 Solution
• Clean syringe and needle
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton pads
• Adhesive plaster
• Puncture resistant container