Intramuscular Injection (Self-injection)
Intramuscular Injection (Self-injection)
(IM Injection; Injection, IM; Injection, Intramuscular)
Definition
| Intramuscular Injection |
|
| A needle passes through skin and fat layers into the muscle fibers to deliver medicine. |
| Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Reasons for Procedure
- Certain antibiotics
- Certain contraceptive hormones
- Most vaccines
- Epinephrine injections for severe allergic reactions
Possible Complications
- You may have some bleeding, soreness, or redness at the site.
- Allergic reaction to the medicine is possible. If you may be allergic to a medicine, do not inject it.
- Rarely, the site may become infected.
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
- Make sure you have all of the items that you will need (such as syringe, medicine, and cleaning materials).
- Make sure that you have the right medicine and that it has not expired.
- Wash hands with warm, soapy water before giving the injection.
- Select a site for injection. This should be an area on your body with a large muscle (such as the thigh).
- Cleanse the area with an alcohol wipe.
Description of Procedure
- Remove the needle cap.
- Smooth the skin with one hand.
- Hold the syringe the way you would a pencil. Insert the needle at a 90° angle to the skin. (The needle should be completely covered by skin).
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Hold the syringe with one hand. With the other, pull back the plunger to check for blood in the syringe.
- If you see blood, do not inject. Withdraw the needle and start again at a new site.
- If you do not see blood, slowly press down on the plunger until it stops.
- Remove the needle from the skin.
- If there is bleeding at the site of injection, apply a bandage.
- Immediately put the syringe and needle into a container that is puncture-proof.
- Find out what services are available in your area for disposing of biological waste.
Will It Hurt?
- Inject medicine that is at room temperature.
- Remove all air bubbles from the syringe before the injection.
- Relax the muscles in the injection area.
- Quickly break through the skin.
- Do not change the direction of the needle as it goes in or comes out.
- Do not reuse disposable needles.
Care After Injection
Call Your Doctor
- Difficulty giving yourself the injection
- Continued bleeding at the injection site
- A lot of pain
- Medicine is injected into the wrong area
- Rash or swelling at the injection site
- Fever or allergic reaction develops
RESOURCES
Family Doctor.org http://familydoctor.org
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases http://www.niaid.nih.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Diabetes Association http://www.diabetes.ca
Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index%5Fe.html
References
Bielanowski DA. Intramuscular injection. Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health: Intramuscular Injection. BNet website. Available at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi%5FgGENH/is%5F/ai%5F2699003418/pg%5F3. Accessed June 10, 2008.
Intramuscular injection (IM). Cincinnati Children's Hospital website. Available at: http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/info/medication/f-i/intramuscular-injection.htm. Updated September 2007. Accessed June 10, 2008.
Selecting, evaluating, and using sharps disposal containers website. US Health And Human Services website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/sharps1.html. Accessed October 14, 2005.
What are the different methods of drug delivery? Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center website. Available at: http://www.hopkins-arthritis.org/patient-corner/. Accessed June 10, 2008.
