Intramuscular Injection Instructions

1. Select the area for injection and wipe with alcohol. 

2. Quickly insert the needle into the muscle at a 90° straight into the large muscle of the buttock (the upper/outer quadrant), upper thigh (upper outer quadrant of the quadriceps) or deltoid (shoulder)

3. Aspirate (pull back on the plunger of the syringe) to make sure there is no blood.

   1. If there is blood, advance or withdraw the needle until you can no longer aspirate blood. 

4. Inject the medication slowly.

5. Withdraw the needle at the same angle you inserted the needle.

6. Apply pressure if bleeding and then a band aid.

7. Repeat the injection weekly (or as directed). Rotate between injection locations as needed for comfort.  

8. Discard the needle and syringe with the cap on in a sharps container (available at the pharmacy) or you can make one from an empty plastic container with a lid (water bottles work great). When the container is full, cap or tape the opening of your container and discard it in the regular trash.

*Note that this video did not capture the initial cleansing of the skin with an alcohol pad but this must be done prior to injection. We recommend anything over 2 ml to be injected into the bigger gluteal muscle. Never inject more than 3 ml of volume in any given area.