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Intramuscular Injection
Patients with a body mass index of >30 typically are recommended to take intramuscular injections rather than subcutaneous ones. Also, some medications (such as progesterone in oil) are made to be taken only by the intramuscular route.
Giving an Intramuscular injection:
- Prepare medication for injection as you have been instructed.
- The best injection site is the upper outer portion of buttock. To decrease soreness at the injection site, alternate buttocks nightly. Wipe with alcohol, allow alcohol to dry.
- Hold needle in your dominant hand (the one you write with) and gently spread the skin (which you have wiped with alcohol) between the thumb and index finger of your other hand.
- nsert the needle straight into the buttock, at a 90 degree angle to the body. Pull back slightly and gently on the needle to make sure frank blood is not being aspirated. If frank blood is obtained, do not inject the medication. Remove the needle and hold a gauze to the area. Repeat steps 2-4 in an adjacent area of the buttock. If there is no blood on aspiration, move to step 5.
- Taking care to keep the needle completely inserted in the buttock. Gently push the plunger, injecting the medication into the buttock. Remove the needle and dispose into sharps container.
The medication may burn slightly as it is injected or right after. This is normal and not a cause for concern. You should notify a member of the nursing staff if you experience redness, swelling, rash at the injection site.