Today, we’ll teach you how to give a B12 injection at home, whether to yourself or to someone else. While we wrote these instructions for our injectable B12, you’ll find they work well with any B12 injection kit. Say goodbye to clinic or hospital visits.
B12 Shots At Home: Instructions
We’ll show you how to do it subcutaneously (SQ) rather than intramuscularly (IM). With this method, giving yourself a B12 shot at home is extremely simple. We actually prefer SQ because it’s painless and has an established track record of effective B12 delivery, whereas IM can be painful and tends to put people off self-injecting.
So, how to self inject B12?
Important:
B12 in liquid form is highly light-sensitive, meaning it undergoes photolysis, or destruction by light. If your B12 vial comes pre-dissolved, immediately cover it with aluminum foil to protect it from light exposure.
For this reason, we recommend buying B12 in powder form and keeping it dry until you’re ready to start injecting. In its dry form, B12 is remarkably stable against both heat and light. Once you’ve dissolved the B12 in saline (which absorbs better than water and causes less pain), cover with aluminum foil.
Our 40 mg methyl B12 vial can take up to two hours to dissolve in 10 ml of saline. So, roll the vial gently on a flat surface (don’t shake it), and wait at least two hours before injecting. When you give yourself vitamin B12 injections at home, you’re going to want to take good care of your vial. Store it in the fridge or any other cool environment (5-25°C / 41-77°F).
Subcutaneous (SQ) or Intramuscular (IM)?
You can give yourself a B12 shot using either IM or SQ delivery. Both are effective. However, as we mentioned, we really recommend the latter. SQ shots are painless, extremely easy to do yourself, and carry no risk of nerve injury. In contrast, IM injections can be painful, and are more error-prone than injecting into fat. Also, IM is not necessary at all, as B12 has a long, documented history of effective SQ delivery.
Best Sites to Inject B12?
Here are common B12 subcutaneous injection sites:
As you can see, if you’re considering giving yourself a B12 shot in the thigh, you definitely can. While the thigh is a common area for intramuscular injections, you can also inject subcutaneously if you have enough fat there. However, for most people we recommend the stomach area around the belly button, because it tends to have the most fat.
How to Give Yourself a B12 Shot (SQ)
Here’s how to give a B12 shot subcutaneously:
- Prepare for Injection
To prevent infection, wash your hands before giving a B12 shot. The skin is the body’s first defense against infection, so clean the injection site too (with an alcohol swab or soap). Wait until the area dries out completely.
- Draw the B12
Draw B12 from the vial into your syringe of choice (we recommend 0.3 ml insulin syringes for our B12 vials). You may need to push and pull the plunger back and forth a couple of times to ensure proper filling. Avoid touching the needle to the glass bottom of the vial, as this might dull its sharpness.
- Remove Air Bubbles
Hold the syringe upside down and check for trapped air. If you see an air bubble, flick the side of the syringe. You may need to flick it several times, until all the air rises to the top. Then push the plunger just enough to expel the air.
- Administer the Injection
Pinch the fat to ensure you’re only penetrating SQ tissue. Then, thrust the needle in like throwing a dart, at a 90° angle (or 45° if you have less fat). Inject slowly.
- Rotate Injection Sites
When you give a B12 injection, it’s important to rotate between injection sites to maintain healthy skin. Repeated shots in the same spot can scar or harden fatty tissue, which may or may not interfere with absorption. Keep injection sites at least 1″ (2.5cm) apart, and avoid injecting into any swollen or burned areas.
How to Inject Vitamin B12 Intramuscular?
If you prefer injecting IM, follow the same instructions. However, instead of pinching your fat, hold the flesh firmly between your thumb and index finger and insert the needle in the center. Refer to this page for the best B12 injection sites, including IM sites.
B12 Self-Injection Is Easy
Learning how to self administer B12 injections unlocks a new level of independence. You no longer have to rely on doctors who won’t agree to give enough shots or private clinics that charge up to $250 per shot. Instead, you can order injectable B12 and do it yourself. Self-administering B12 injections is safe, easy, and affordable.
Still unsure about how to give yourself a B12 injection at home?
Contact us and we’ll help 🙂