Precautions
Steps:
- Wash your hands well with soap and water. ...
- Screw a needle on the syringe hub unless your syringe comes with a needle already attached.
- Vial: Flip off the plastic top. ...
- Remove the needle cover. ...
- Insert the needle straight into the vial through the rubber top. ...
- Using one hand, turn the vial with the syringe upside down. ...
- Check for air bubbles in the syringe. ...
How to give a B12 injection at home?
Get a blood test drawn. It’s important to have data before getting an injection. While excess vitamin B12 isn’t necessarily harmful (unused vitamin B12 expels via urination), these injections can interact with other medications. Always consult your doctor beforehand. If you aren’t truly deficient in vitamin B12, an injection (or oral ...
Should you get a B12 injection?
Vitamin B12 injections (hydroxocobalamin or cyanocobalamin) are effective for raising the vitamin B12 level in the blood quickly. The shot, as prescribed by a doctor, will be given intramuscularly (into the muscle) by your MinuteClinic provider.
Where can I get a B12 injection?
There are many common side effects associated with B12 injections that need to be reported to a health care provider only if they persist for an extended amount of time. Common side effects include headaches, upset stomach, pain or other abnormal sensation at the injection site, swelling at the injection site, nausea, diarrhoea and joint pain. 2.
Are there any side effects of B12 injections?
Where to give B12 injection?
How to inject IM?
Where do you give a B12 shot in the arm?
The injection site will be in the muscle directly below your two fingers. Think of a triangle and you will insert the needle in the center of the triangle.
How are B12 injections given?
This medication is given by injection into a muscle or under the skin as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Injections may be given daily when you first start treatment.
Does B12 injection have to be in muscle?
Vitamin B12 injections can be administered as an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection. The difference between the two is that intramuscular injections are inserted into the muscle, and subcutaneous injections are inserted just below the skin.
Are vitamin B12 injections painful?
The injection is given into a muscle (known as an intramuscular injection). You may have some pain, swelling or itching where your injection was given. However this is usually mild and will wear off quite quickly.
What should you not do after a B12 shot?
Avoid alcohol for 48 hours after your treatment. 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.
How soon do you feel less tired after a B12 injection?
“How soon will I feel less tired after a B12 Injection?”- is the question we get asked a lot. 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.
Are B12 injections subcutaneous or intramuscular?
Dosage and Administrations Administration: Cyanocobalamin is usually administered by IM or deep subcutaneous injection. If the drug is administered subcutaneously, care should be taken to avoid injection into the dermis or upper subcutaneous tissue.
How long does a B12 injection take to work?
B12 injections work quickly; they are the most effective way for your body to absorb Vitamin B12. Within 48 to 72 hours, your body will begin to make new red blood cells. For mild deficiencies, you may need two to three injections over several weeks to notice peak impact.
Self-Injecting Vitamin B12 Shots- 12 Tips and Warnings
Self-injecting vitamin B12 shots can be scary at times, and for good reason. Vitamin B12 shots are inserted intramuscularly, through the thickest, fleshiest and nerve-riddled parts of the body. If you’re considering self-administering vitamin B12 shots to treat pernicious anemia, then it’s important to speak with your doctor first, and learn some basic […]
How to Perform an Intramuscular Injection of Vitamin B12
How to safely Perform an Intramuscular Injection of Vitamin B12. The steps and processes of a B12 intramuscular injection. Doing it correctly makes the process a lot less painful and a lot more safe. How to safely dispose of your needles and syringes. Find out the best body locations for B12 injections.
B12 Injection sites + How to use B12 Shots Safely
If you are getting B12 it's generally best to get yours in the methylcobalamin form. Methylcobalamin has been shown to be superior to cyanocobalamin (2) at improving circadian rhythms in some patients who trialed both versions.. Taking cyanocobalamin if you have a methylation issue or MTHFR defect (3) in your genes can also cause issues as your body attempts to methylate the B12 before it can ...
Vitamin B12 Injection: Side Effects, Uses & Dosage - Drugs.com
Generic name: cyanocobalamin (injection) [ sye-AN-oh-koe-BAL-a-min ] Brand names: Vitamin B12, Vitamin B-12 Drug class: Vitamins Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm.Last updated on Dec 28, 2021. Uses; Warnings; Before taking; Dosage; Side effects; Interactions
Where to inject B12?
Vitamin Injections advises the following as appropriate B-12 injection sites: Upper arm: Recommended primarily for adolescents and young to middle-age adults, the deltoid muscle in the upper arm is an ideal location for vitamin B-12 injections.
How Are B-12 Shots Administered?
Administered intramuscularly, B-12 shots are absorbed slowly from the site of the injection into the body's natural stores. Initially, someone requiring B-12 shots receives them every two to three days for two weeks; following this, the shots are administered once every two to three months.
What is the best treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency?
Vitamin B-12 injections are most commonly used to treat vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia. This is when the body, for various reasons, is not receiving enough vitamin B-12.
What is the best way to get B12?
Vitamin B12 injections are a great way to get B12 for those who don't get enough.
Why do people take B12 injections?
Vitamin B-12 injections are most commonly used to treat vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia. This is when the body, for various reasons, is not receiving enough vitamin B-12. The cause could be dietary choices (such as with vegans and vegetarians, because B-12 is mostly found in animal products) or issues with the intestines' ability to absorb vitamins.
Why do we need B12 shots?
The most common of these is pernicious anemia, a condition in which the body cannot absorb vitamin B-12 sufficiently from diet or capsules because of a problem with the digestive system.
Why is the uptake of vitamin B12 slower?
In addition, because of the thick layer of adipose tissue — aka fatty tissue — in this region, the uptake of vitamin supplementation by the body is slower than you'll find in other B-12 injection sites.
How to store vitamin B12 injections?
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Use a needle and syringe only once and then place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container.
How to use vitamin B12?
Use Vitamin B12 exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Vitamin B12 injection is injected into a muscle or under the skin. A healthcare provider may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.
What should I avoid while using Vitamin B12 injection?
Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while you are being treated with Vitamin B12 injection.
Why is B12 important?
Vitamin B12 is important for growth, cell reproduction, blood formation, and protein and tissue synthesis. Vitamin B12 is used to treat vitamin B12 deficiency in people with pernicious anemia and other conditions.
Can you change your B12 dose?
Your dose needs may change if you become pregnant, if you breastfeed, or if you eat a vegetarian diet. Tell your doctor about any changes in your diet or medical condition. Always follow directions on the medicine label about giving Vitamin B12 injection to a child.
Can you take vitamin B12 if you are allergic to cobalt?
You should not use Vitamin B12 if you are allergic to cyanocobalamin or cobalt, or if you have Leber's disease (an inherited form of vision loss). Cyanocobalamin can lead to optic nerve damage (and possibly blindness) in people with Leber's disease.
Can cyanocobalamin be taken with other medications?
Other drugs may interact with cyanocobalamin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
How to inject vitamin B12 into muscle?
Intramuscular: These injections are more common, as they tend to have better results. The needle will be inserted at a 90 degree angle, which will put the needle deep into the muscular tissue. Once the needle is in the muscle, the plunger should be pulled back slightly to ensure the needle is not in a blood vessel; if no blood is aspirated, then the medication can be pushed through slowly. When the vitamin B12 is pushed through the needle, it will absorbed by the surrounding muscle right away. This will ensure all of the B12 is absorbed into your body.
How does B12 injection work?
When the vitamin B12 is pushed through the needle, it will absorbed by the surrounding muscle right away. This will ensure all of the B12 is absorbed into your body. Subcutaneous: These injections are less common. The needle will be inserted at a 45 degree angle, just below your skin, as opposed to deep in your muscle.
How to inject B12 into yourself?
If you are injecting the vitamin B12 into yourself, use your free hand to hold the skin of the injection site taunt. Relax your muscles and inject the needle at a right angle. Check that there is no blood in the syringe and then inject the rest of the supplement if there is no blood.
Why is vitamin B12 important?
Vitamin B12 is important for cell reproduction, blood formation, brain development, and bone growth. Individuals suffering from the symptoms of low vitamin B12 (or pernicious anemia), such as depression, exhaustion, anemia, and poor memory, may ask their doctor about vitamin B12 injections.
How to clean a person's skin after an injection?
Then, dip a cotton ball in the rubbing alcohol. Clean the person’s skin using the cotton ball in a circular motion.
Can you get a B12 shot if you are allergic to cobalt?
Talk to your doctor about allergies and other conditions which may make you ineligible for a B12 shot. Because vitamin B12 injections contain cyanocobalamin, you should not use this medication if you are allergic to cyanocobalamin or cobalt, or if you have Leber’s disease, which is an inherited form of vision loss.
Can B12 be taken while pregnant?
If you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant while using vitamin B12 injections. Cyanocobalamin can pass into your breast milk and may harm a nursing baby.
How is Vitamin B12 given?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
What is Vitamin B12 ?
Vitamin B12 is used to treat vitamin B12 deficiency in people with pernicious anemia and other conditions.
What should I avoid while using Vitamin B12?
Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while you are being treated with Vitamin B12.
Can vitamin B12 be used for medical tests?
You will need frequent medical tests. Vitamin B12 can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Vitamin B12. Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
Can you take vitamin B12 if you have Leber's disease?
Before taking this medicine. You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to Vitamin B12 or cobalt, or if you have Leber's disease (an inherited form of vision loss). This medicine can lead to optic nerve damage (and possibly blindness) in people with Leber's disease.
Can you change your B12 dose?
Your dose needs may change if you become pregnant, if you breastfeed, or if you eat a vegetarian diet. Tell your doctor about any changes in your diet or medical condition. Always follow directions on the medicine label about giving Vitamin B12 to a child.
Can you take B12 for pernicious anemia?
For pernicious anemia, you may have to use Vitamin B12 for the rest of your life. Do not stop using the medicine unless your doctor tells you to. Untreated vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia or irreversible nerve damage. Pernicious anemia is also treated with folic acid to help maintain red blood cells.
Injection Methods
There are two injection methods that can be used for any of the vitamin B12 injection sites: intramuscular and subcutaneous. The injection procedure and effectiveness vary between these methods.
Combining B12 with Lipotropic Nutrients
There are several vitamin B12 injection sites and a few different types of vitamin B12 injections. Most injections just contain vitamin B12, though more and more people are choosing to buy lipotropic injections to supplement weight-loss programs.
Getting all the Vitamin B12 You Need
If you are looking to boost your energy, combat a deficiency or speed up weight loss efforts, check the vitamin B12 injection options available in our store.
Where is B12 found?
This is because B12 is only found naturally in animal foods.
What is the absorption of B12?
Unlike other vitamins, the absorption of vitamin B12 depends on a protein produced in your stomach, called intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor binds to vitamin B12, so that you can absorb it into the blood. People who don’t produce enough intrinsic factor can become deficient.
What diseases are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency?
Those with diseases that affect the gut, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease, are also at risk ( 12. ). Those at greatest risk of vitamin B12 deficiency are vegans and vegetarians, who get little to no B12 from the diet. Deficiency can also be caused by poor absorption.
Why are vitamin supplements so popular?
Vitamin supplements are very popular. People often believe they’ll act as a safety net and help to ensure adequate nutrient intake. Supplementing with vitamin B12 is particularly common, because deficiency is widespread. In fact, many people regularly get injections with vitamin B12. These are claimed to help with energy levels, ...
How much B12 should I take daily?
The recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin B12 is 6 micrograms per day. Deficiency is common, especially in people who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. In fact, it’s thought that up to 90% of people following these diets have a deficiency ( 2. Trusted Source.
What is the role of B12 in the body?
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, also known as cobalamin. It plays a vital role in brain function and the production of DNA and red blood cells. Chemically, vitamin B12 can exist in a number of different forms, but all of them contain the mineral cobalt. ).
What is the best source of vitamin B12?
Fortified foods vary from country to country, but often include milk alternatives or breakfast cereals. Some especially good sources of vitamin B12 include: Liver: 1/3 cup (75 g) provides 881% of the RDI. Beef kidney: 1/3 cup (75 g) provides 311% of the RDI. Trout: 1/3 cup (75 g) provides 61% of the RDI.
Who needs B12 shots?
Other people who may needs shots include those who have had gastrointestinal surgery if their digestive system cannot absorb vitamin B12 efficiently.
Why do people get shots for B12?
This is because shots enable the body to absorb vitamin B12 without it having to go through the digestive system.
What are the benefits of taking B12 shots?
The most obvious benefit of receiving vitamin B-12 shots is treating a vitamin B-12 deficiency and avoiding its associated symptoms. In addition, B-12 shots reduce the risk of some serious complications associated with vitamin B-12 deficiency including: heart disease. neurocognitive disorders.
What is the recommended amount of B12 for pregnant women?
People who are unable to absorb vitamin B-12 properly may have pernicious anemia, which is a type of anemia characterized by a lack of intrinsic factor. , is 2.4 micrograms (mcg) for men and women over 14. Pregnant and breastfeeding women require slightly more, at 2.6 mcg and 2.8 mcg, respectively.
What are the symptoms of B12 deficiency?
Some common signs and symptoms include: decreased cognitive function, such as issues with memory or understanding. fatigue.
What happens if you don't take B12?
A deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to various health problems, ranging from fatigue to permanent neurological changes.
How is B12 absorbed into the body?
Vitamin B-12 is separated from the protein during digestion and is absorbed into the bloodstream. Adequate stomach acid is required to release the vitamin from the protein, and a substance called intrinsic factor is necessary to ensure its absorption.
Where to give B12 injections?
Where to give B12 injections? For most people, the stomach will be best, because it tends to have the most fat. This is where we normally advise to inject.
How to prevent infection from B12 injection?
To prevent infection, wash your hands before giving a B12 shot. The skin is the body’s first defense against infection, so wash the injection site too (with an alcohol swab or soap). Wait until the area dries. Draw B12 from the vial into your syringe of choice (for our B12 vials we like 0.3ml insulin syringes).
How to draw B12 from a vial?
Draw B12 from the vial into your syringe of choice (for our B12 vials we like 0.3ml insulin syringes). You may need to push and pull the plunger back and forth a couple of times, in a pumping motion. Avoid touching the needle on the glass bottom of the vial, because it might dull its sharpness.
How to store vitamin B12?
Either way, when you give yourself vitamin B12 injections at home, store the vial in the fridge or any cool environment of 5-25°C / 41-77°F degrees.
How long does it take to dissolve B12?
* Dissolving our 40mg methyl B12 vial in 10ml of saline (the required amount) takes up to two hours.
Why is SQ good for B12?
SQ is great, because it’s painless and has a long history of efficient B12 delivery. So, how to self inject B12? Very Important: B12 in liquid form is extremely light sensitive (meaning, it undergoes photolysis, or destruction by light).
How to inject fat into skin?
Then thrust the needle in, as if you’re throwing a dart. You’ll normally do it at a 90° angle. If you have too little fat under your skin, use 45°. Inject slowly.
Where to give B12 injection?
For self-injection purposes, we normally recommend to inject in the stomach (around the belly button, see the picture above).
How to inject IM?
When you inject IM, hold the flesh firmly using your thumb and index finger. Then insert the needle in the center, and inject slowly. But again, if you’re self-injecting, SQ will be less painful (and thus more motivating). Also, SQ B12 injection administration sites are more accessible, making self-injection easier.