Vitamin B12 may be prescribed by your doctor for a number of reasons. Most medical professionals do not recommend injecting yourself due to the difficulty of going deep enough into the muscle, and the pain involved. If you do have to inject yourself, or have a family member inject you, find out the best places to do the injecting.
The Best Injection Sites for Vitamin B12
B12 is injected intramuscularly, meaning the shot has to be placed in muscle tissue. The easiest place to inject vitamin B12 if you are injecting another person is the buttocks, which provides a large enough muscle mass on most people to handle the injection. If you are injecting yourself, the upper thighs 6 - 8 inches from the leg crease in the middle section of the thigh is the easiest place to inject. This is also the best spot for injecting into someone under 3 years old.
If you are injecting someone else, additional places to consider are:
- Outer hip in front of the large hip bone, beneath the front of the hip bone in the muscle - avoiding the sciatic nerve running down the back of the hip
- Deltoid in the upper arm in the center of the inverted triangle the muscle makes when flexed
Injecting Vitamin B12 at Home
If you are injecting yourself on a regular basis, make sure you properly store and dispose of the vitamin and needles to prevent problems. Follow these tips to ensure safe handling:
- Store the B12 in a cool room between 59 and 84 degrees F. Do not refrigerate.
- Dispose of your needles in a sharps container and speak to your doctor's office about where to surrender the container when it is full.
- Keep the B12 and the needles well out of reach of both children and pets.
Giving Yourself B12 Injections
Your doctor, a nurse practitioner or a registered nurse can teach you how to administer the injections by yourself. You may find you need to rotate the injection site over time to prevent scar tissue build up. The injection site may feel sore for several days. If you have any questions about this, talk to your health care provider.
