Vitamin B12 shot

[rubberhead]

A friend of mine gave me a Vitamin B12 shot BUT she was to inject the whole vial (1000 mcg/mL) direction on medicine bottle.  She only injected 1/2 of it because she could not get all of it to draw up in the needle!!!!  Is the other 1/2 ok to use if I have a clean needle?
Also, she asked me if it went in the muscle or not!!!  She said she worked at a Pediactric office & nursing home (later a person that knows her well said she did NOT give shots) she told me she knew how to give shots!!  HELP

[rubberhead]

Thanks for your advice.  My Dr. prescribes the vials & needles for me.  Next time you bet I will know a RN is sticking me!!!!

[Red_Star]

The vial may be contaminated. For that reason i would recommend not using the left over B12 injection.  This is my personal opinion however.  I need to supplement with B12 as i have autoimmune pernicious anaemia. I started out having B12 injections but was looking for alternatives as i am not a fan of injections. I had adverse side effects from the B12 shots too; extreme shortness of breath for days and an acne rash over half my body that lasted four months.  Thankfully i have found sublingual (under the tongue) B12 spray is amazingly effective. No pain either which is a bonus. :)

I found some very informative info about B12 injections....

Step 1
Check the vial of B12 to make certain the contents are not expired, that there is enough for your injection and that the fluid is of normal color and consistency. If you are not sure what the liquid should look like, consult your doctor or pharmacist for information.

Step 2
Gather all of your supplies before you begin the injection process to prevent contamination and to ensure the injection procedure is as quick and painless as possible.

Step 3
Wash your hands with soap and water, dry them thoroughly, then put on a pair of latex or synthetic gloves. Gloves may not be necessary if you are injecting yourself with B12.

Step 4
Open the syringe wrapper and fill the syringe with an amount of air equal to the amount of medicine you will administer. To remove liquid medication from a vial, you must add an equal amount of air to the vial.

Step 5
Remove the metal or plastic vial top and wipe down the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab. This will prevent the liquid from becoming contaminated.

Step 6
Insert the tip of the syringe into the vial and depress the plunger to push air into the vial. Immediately turn the vial upside down with the syringe still inside the vial. The tip should be below the medicine level and the liquid should flow into the syringe to the correct dosage line.

Step 7
Pull the syringe from the vial; carefully expel any extra liquid inside the needle, if necessary.

Step 8
Wipe the injection area with alcohol to remove any bacteria or other contaminants. Let the area dry before proceeding.

Step 9
Follow your doctor's instructions as to where to administer your B12 shot. A B12 shot should be given into one of four areas: the middle of the vastus lateralis muscle that runs along the front of your thigh, the ventrogluteal muscle on the side of your hip, the deltoid muscle on your upper arm just below your shoulder, or the dorsogluteal muscle on your upper buttocks.

Step 10
Inject the B12 solution at a 90-degree angle, or straight into the muscle. Do not force the needle into your skin. The syringe should easily slide into your muscle.

Step 11
Pull back on the plunger slightly and look for blood. If blood enters the syringe, it may indicate you have inserted the needle into a blood vessel, according to Drugs.com. If this occurs, remove the syringe immediately without injecting the B12. Discard the B12 and the syringe and repeat the process from the beginning on the other side of your body. If no blood appears, depress the plunger and inject the B12 into your muscle.

Step 12
Remove the needle by pulling it straight out. Press a sterile gauze pad against the injection site for several minutes.

Step 13
Discard used syringes into a sharps container. If your doctor did not provide one, you can make your own by securely taping the lid onto a large, metal coffee can and then cutting two small 90-degree slits into the center of the lid. The slits should be large enough to push used needles through, but small enough to prevent fingers from entering the can. Dr. James A. Neubrander states that home medical waste can be disposed of with normal household trash, provided you tape over the slits before throwing the can away.

Tips and Warnings

Drugs.com explains that cc and ml are the same measurement, but with different names. Therefore, 2 cc of a medication is equivalent to 2 ml of the same medication.

Do not use vitamin B12 shots or any other supplement unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor. Seek emergency medical attention if you develop symptoms of an allergic reaction such as hives, swelling or breathing problems after administering a B12 shot. Severe side effects that warrant medical attention include chest pain, rapid weight gain or swelling, shortness of breath and abnormal redness, warmth or pain in your extremities.