Injections are several times faster than oral medication. Therefore, in many cases, doctors prescribe intramuscular injections. Usually they are put up by qualified medical personnel. However, many people do not have the opportunity to visit a hospital or clinic several times a day, so they prefer to give injections at home. You can read more about how to put an intramuscular injection correctly in this article.
Types of drug administration
The use of drugs is necessary in many cases: acute respiratory viral infections, complications after a cold, and in severe cases - treatment of bacterial infections (sepsis, bronchitis, pneumonia), prevention of complications after surgery. There are several options for taking drugs.
- Oral administration is advisable if the disease is not too serious, and the patient's body is able to resist infection. The introduction of drugs by ingestion has several disadvantages - the drug is absorbed longer and has an effect on the intestinal microflora. The advantages of this method include the highest physiology.
- Intravenous - in this case, the solution with the medicine is injected with a needle directly into the vein. Intravenous administration allows you to deliver the medicine to the right place in the shortest possible time, since the circulatory system instantly distributes the drug throughout the body.
- Intramuscular injection In this way, all types of liquid preparations can be administered, which makes this method universal.
Pros and cons of the method
Intramuscular administration has its advantages and disadvantages. The drug is absorbed into the blood within 15 minutes after administration. In this case, the drug is absorbed less fully than when injected into a vein, but better compared with the oral method. The advantages of intramuscular administration include the fact that you can enter not only aqueous solutions, but also drugs based on oils and emulsions. Since the maximum volume of administration is limited to 10 ml, the injections allow you to accurately calculate the right amount of the drug, and it is extremely difficult to make a mistake with the dosage. Muscle tissues usually do not contain many receptors, so allergies to drug components are much less common.
The disadvantages include the special injection technique, which requires special training, and the possibility of nerve damage with the wrong technique.
What is needed for an injection?
If you decide to independently inject yourself or another person with a shot in the muscle, then in addition to certain knowledge, you will need some tools. First of all, this is a syringe. Its volume should correspond to the volume of injected medicine, and the needle should be thin and sharp. There are currently many brands on the market, but only a few of them have really good quality. Some manufacturers produce syringes with a thick needle that injures the skin when pierced and causes discomfort. Therefore, before starting the course, choose the best option that suits your quality.
Another thing you can’t do without is alcohol wipes. They will help disinfect the skin before and after the injection to prevent infection from entering the wound. In addition, you will need to buy a drug for intramuscular administration, which your doctor has prescribed, gloves and a solution for diluting the drug (most often this is Lidocaine).
What is the best place to inject?
The most optimal place for the injection is the buttocks. This is a soft place in which there are few nerves, which means that it is almost impossible to accidentally get "wrong". How to put an intramuscular injection in the buttock? Mentally divide the entire surface into four equal parts. You will need to put an injection in the upper right part of the right buttock. Why are experts advised to give injections in this place? The fact is that this area is located quite far from the sciatic nerve, spine, tailbone and ilium. As a result, it turns out that this is the safest place, when injected into which it is quite difficult to do something wrong.
Training
After you get all the necessary medicines, you can proceed directly to the preparation for intramuscular administration. To do this, you need to take an ampoule with the drug and check the expiration date, as well as the tightness of the package. If the period has expired or the cap does not fit snugly, then it is better to purchase another medicine. Next, you need to put on gloves and draw a solution into the syringe, which then should be introduced into the ampoule and shaken well. As a result, you should get a clear solution without impurities. After this, you can proceed directly to the injection.
Step-by-step instructions for performing an injection
How to put an intramuscular injection? In order for everything to go perfectly, you need to adhere to the following steps:
- Disinfect the injection site. Wear a mask or bathrobe if you are unsure of your own health. It is advisable to wear gloves, since even the most cleanly washed hands still contain bacteria.
- Prepare a syringe and ampoule with the prepared solution. Doctors say that you need to prepare the medicine immediately before the procedure. If you have a medicine from the last time, then do not use it, but prepare a new one. After a few hours, the finished solution significantly reduces its effectiveness.
- If you are injecting for the first time, then it would be advisable to first make a small subcutaneous test, which will show if the person is allergic to the medicine.
- Help the patient lie comfortably. The best posture is lying on your stomach in a relaxed state. If the patient is too stressed, the injection will be even more painful for him.
Injection Technique
The injection technique algorithm may vary in different cases. Most often, injections are placed in the upper outer corner of the buttocks, since there are no nerves or bones in it, but the system of small blood vessels is well developed. It is best to inject with one sharp and confident movement. Raise your hand slightly and quickly insert the needle into the muscles. It will be easier for the patient to bear the pain if you distract him with conversation at this moment. Try to administer the drug slowly (but not very) without moving the needle. Remove the syringe from the buttock in one quick motion and then apply a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
Is it worth it to do the injection yourself?
It is much more difficult to give an injection to a child than an adult. This is complicated by the fear of a small patient, and the worries of an adult. But if you cannot call a qualified nurse, then with certain knowledge you can cope with this on your own. How to put an intramuscular injection into the buttock of a child? The procedure in this case is exactly the same as in adults. But it should be borne in mind that children rarely lie quietly waiting for an injection, so it would be better to ask another adult to help you. The main task of mom or dad in this matter is to overcome your fear and still give an injection. You can put an injection not only in the buttock, but also in the hand. However, this is recommended only in emergency cases, as the hand has more nerve endings and less muscle. How to put an intramuscular injection in the arm of a child? Select a syringe with a small needle and administer the medicine while holding the baby with the other hand.
How to inject yourself
How to put an intramuscular injection in the thigh to yourself? In that case, if you have no one to give an injection, you will have to learn how to do it yourself. Sensations from the injection can not be called pleasant, but they will help you recover faster. If you decide to inject yourself, you won’t be able to reach your buttocks. Therefore, your hip or shoulder should be your choice. Unfortunately, both methods will be quite unpleasant. If you decide to inject the medicine into your thigh, then select the soft part on the upper right side of the leg. The needle must be inserted a maximum of a couple of centimeters, so as not to hurt any important nerves or vessels.
How to put an intramuscular injection in the shoulder? In this case, try to completely relax your hand, laying it on a hard surface. The medicine is best administered at the top. In order for you to better see the injection area, you can sit opposite the mirror.
Pet injection
Injections may be necessary not only for people, but also for animals. How to inject a cat intramuscularly? It is best to inject the medicine into the shoulder or thigh. The muscles in these areas, like in humans, are streaked with blood vessels, but there are very few nerves in them, so the drug is rapidly absorbed and distributed throughout the body.
How to inject a cat intramuscularly? Fix the animal, clean the desired area from the hair and insert the syringe with the medicine about 2/3 at a right angle.
Expert Advice
How to put an injection intramuscularly in the buttock? If you want to give an injection to yourself or your loved one without harm to health, then it will be better to adhere to the following rules and recommendations:
- Change sides of the injection every day. This will reduce the pain of the procedure and make it easier to transfer the course of drugs.
- If seals appear in the injection area, then anoint the sore spot with Troxevasin.
- Never use syringes several times!
- Insert the needle quickly, and the drug slowly.
- Hold the injection site with one hand.
- Prepare a solution for injection immediately before the procedure.