How do you inject B12 at home?

To inject B12 at home, you generally perform an intramuscular injection, which is detailed below:

Intramuscular B12 Injection Guide

Before you start, ensure you have all necessary supplies:

Wash Your Hands: Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water.
Prepare the Injection Site:
- Choose an injection site. Common areas include the thigh, upper arm, or hip. Clean the site with an alcohol wipe. Allow it to air dry.
Prepare the Syringe:
- Draw up the correct dose of B12 solution from the vial into the syringe. Remove any air bubbles by gently tapping the syringe and pushing the plunger until all air is out and the correct dose is reached.
Injection Technique:
- Skin Positioning: Press on and pull your skin so that it is taut at the injection site. This helps to access the muscle layer more easily.
- Needle Insertion: Insert the needle into the muscle at a 90-degree angle.
- Release Skin: Let go of your skin, leaving the needle in.
- Aspirate: Pull back the plunger slightly to make sure that no blood enters the syringe. If blood appears, it means you hit a blood vessel; withdraw the needle, and choose a new injection site.
- Inject the Medicine: If no blood is seen, slowly inject the B12 solution by pressing the plunger.
Withdrawal and Aftercare:
- Once the medicine is injected, withdraw the needle quickly at the same angle.
- Apply light pressure to the injection site with a clean cotton ball or bandage to stop any bleeding.

Always use a new, sterile needle and syringe for each injection.
Never reuse needles or share needles with anyone else.
Dispose of used needles properly in a sharps container to prevent injury and contamination.
If you are unsure about any aspect of injecting B12 at home, seek advice from a healthcare professional.