Places To Inject B12 Shots

Vitamin B12 is injected into the muscle.

Vitamin B12 is one of the eight B vitamins that help the body make healthy blood cells and convert food into energy. Most people get enough of it through their diet or supplements, but doctors sometimes prescribe B12 injections for people who have a severe deficiency because of age, diet or genetics.

How It's Given

Vitamin B12 is given intra-muscularly, meaning it's injected directly into the muscle rather than just under the skin. Patients sometimes administer their own injections at home after initial instructions from a healthcare provider.

Preferred Injection Sites

Injections should be given in large muscle groups that are easy to reach. The easiest site is usually the vastus lateralis muscle, or the large quadriceps muscle at the top of the outer thigh. Some patients also do well injecting themselves in the deltoids muscle, which is the large, thick muscle on the side of the upper arm near the shoulder. The gluteal muscles are too hard for patients to reach by themselves. Also, as an instructional video from My Diet Solutions cautions, the shot must be given on the outer buttock or hip to avoid hitting the sciatic nerve, which would be terribly painful.

Who Needs B12 Injections

Vitamin B12 deficiency is also called pernicious anemia. The Scripps Health website says the condition is relatively rare and is often associated with autoimmune or digestive conditions that interfere with normal absorption of B12. Vitamin B12 injections are also popular in weight-loss programs and fitness centers, but Mayo Clinic dietician Katherine Zeratsky points out there's "no solid evidence" that it works. People with severe vitamin B12 deficiency can suffer from fatigue and weight gain, and often lose weight and gain energy after their B12 levels are restored. But high doses of B12 won't necessarily boost energy or metabolism in people who don't have a deficiency.

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