How to Self-Inject Vitamin B12

You will need the agreement of your doctor to self-inject vitamin B12 to yourself in your home. While most people can accomplish the task, not all doctors will recommend it to their patients. Learning how to properly self-inject involves knowing where to inject, how to self-inject and how often to self-inject vitamin B12.

What you will need:

• Syringes


• B12


• Rubber gloves (optional)


• Alcohol


• Cotton balls


• Band-Aids 

1. Obtain a prescription from your doctor for the vitamin B12 and syringes for your vitamin B12 self-injections. Also request that he or his staff advise you on the proper method to use for the self-injection. Once you fill the prescription, practice the procedure on an orange which provides the same toughness of the muscle tissue you will need to penetrate to self-inject the vitamin B12.


2. Wash your hands well before administering the shot. Alternatively, you may wear a pair of rubber gloves for the procedure.


3. Prevent the transmission of bacteria by the syringe by disinfecting it prior to use. Remove the cover from the syringe, and remove the safety cover from the needle. Test the operation of the syringe to ensure it works properly. Pull on the plunger’s inside tube to the prescription’s dosage.


4. Insert the needle through the rubber center of the vitamin B12 vial. With the needle in contact with the vitamin B12, push on the syringe to expel all air and then pull up the plunger to the required dosage of the prescription. Position the syringe and vial upright, tap the syringe on its side to dispel air bubbles. Push on the syringe plunger slightly to push out a little of the vitamin solution and to remove any air bubbles remaining. This also ensures the proper functioning of the syringe.


5. Numb the injection site per the instructions of your doctor, or use an ice pack. Apply alcohol with a cotton ball to disinfect the injection site to remove bacteria that may transfer in the injection process into the body.


6. Pinch the injection site to support the muscle using your gloved or disinfected hands.


7. Inject the vitamin B12 into the injection site per your doctor’s instructions. Inject at a moderate pace. B12 may seep through the skin if injected too quickly, and the injection may cause pain if done too slowly.


8. Release the pinched skin after self-injecting vitamin B12 and remove the needle. Rub a disinfected cotton ball lightly and in a circular fashion on the injected site.


9. Place a Band-Aid on the injection site if bleeding occurs, or you may apply pressure to the site using a clean cotton ball until the bleeding stops.


10. Dispose of the needle, cotton balls and the syringe according to acceptable practices.