Got questions about your health or an ailment? Maybe just looking to figure out what nutrition program is right for you? Ask away in here, as Hyundai Aftermarket's resident medical advisor answers your questions.
Vitamin B12 injections
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 365
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa, OK
Vehicle: 2000 Tiburon
Vitamin B12 injections
I decided to try B12 in order to increase my appetite (I can't get myself to eat as much as I would like). I ordered from http://trimnutrition.com because they include the needles and cotton swabs which is pretty convenient. I've never given myself an injection before.
The directions say to give a subcutaneous injection, however, I was under the impression that b12 shots were supposed to be intramuscular. The package came with 25G 5/8" 1cc syringes...wouldn't a 29G 1cc insulin pin have been sufficient for a subcutaneous injection? Should I get some insulin pins and go SC or ignore the directions and try IM with the provided needles?
The directions say to give a subcutaneous injection, however, I was under the impression that b12 shots were supposed to be intramuscular. The package came with 25G 5/8" 1cc syringes...wouldn't a 29G 1cc insulin pin have been sufficient for a subcutaneous injection? Should I get some insulin pins and go SC or ignore the directions and try IM with the provided needles?
Administrator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,943
Likes: 0
From: ɯooɹpǝq ɹnoʎ
Vehicle: ǝdnoɔ sısǝuǝƃ
My wife was taking prescribed B12 injections and she was told to inject into a large muscle. Not sure what gauge it was, but she's also putting drops under her tongue she got from GNC.
http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2133505
http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2133505
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 0
From: Boston
Vehicle: 2006 Pontiac GTO
Probably the same thing whether you do it intramuscular or subcutaneous. Intramuscular is harder to do though, you usually have to first pull back on the plunger to make sure you're not accidentally injecting into a vein. Subcutaneous is pie.
But have you tried other ways to increase your appetite first?
I tried this once and it made me scary hungry all the time: for a day or two, make a plan to eat something every hour (even if you're not hungry). Yes, EVERY HOUR. And no crap food or snacks, some actual solid food with protein. And drink a good amount of water with it. You don't have to eat a lot, basically split big meals into smaller portions. (don't eat too much at any time as it will be hard to eat the next hour). The body will get used to this really fast (increases the metabolism) and after a day or two, you'll be hungry in like 2-3 hours even after a big meal. That's what happened to me anyway. The "effect" should last as long as you keep eating as often as you're hungry, but it gets old (meal-preparation-wise).
But have you tried other ways to increase your appetite first?
I tried this once and it made me scary hungry all the time: for a day or two, make a plan to eat something every hour (even if you're not hungry). Yes, EVERY HOUR. And no crap food or snacks, some actual solid food with protein. And drink a good amount of water with it. You don't have to eat a lot, basically split big meals into smaller portions. (don't eat too much at any time as it will be hard to eat the next hour). The body will get used to this really fast (increases the metabolism) and after a day or two, you'll be hungry in like 2-3 hours even after a big meal. That's what happened to me anyway. The "effect" should last as long as you keep eating as often as you're hungry, but it gets old (meal-preparation-wise).
