How do I give B6 and B12 injections safely? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

How do I give B6 and B12 injections safely?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

Full Bio →

Written by

UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

Advertiser Disclosure

It’s all about your brand. Let us do the heavy lifting.

Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident fitness software decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. Our partners do not influence our content. Our opinions are our own.

Editorial Guidelines: The Editorial Team at Exercise.com is dedicated to providing fair, unbiased information about the fitness industry. We update our site regularly and all content is reviewed by credentialed fitness experts.

Get the Basics...
  • If the injection is done by the same person who is receiving the shot, the best and safest place to inject the vitamin is through the vastus lateralis.
  • The injection tip should be swabbed with alcohol, as well as the site of the injection.
  • The needles should be injected at a 90-degree angle.

If a person begins to suffer from malnutrition or is diagnosed with a vitamin deficiency, their doctor may recommend that they receive B6 and B12 injections in order to balance out their body’s systems.

Though the body may be weak and tired with extreme fatigue from the deficiency, the injections must be made through an intramuscular technique. Typically the injection may be given in the muscle of the arm if it is administered by another person or doctor.

However, if the injection is done by the same person who is receiving the shot, the best and safest place to inject the vitamin is through the vastus lateralis, the mid-thigh.

The reasoning for this is that the vastus lateralis is typically one of the most muscular sites on the human body, even in a person with a very thin frame.

The injection tip should be swabbed with alcohol, as well as the site of the injection, just like any other needle or shot procedure. The shot of the B6 should then be administered. The needles should be injected at a 90-degree angle.

When completed, the same syringe should be used to obtain the B12 vitamin for the next injection of the vitamin. The vials for the B6 and B12 vitamins should be empty once the procedure is over.

In addition to supplementation, a regular exercise routine can keep your body healthy and strong. Go PRO today for access to workout plans, personal trainers, and more.

What Are the Alternatives to B6 and B12 Injections?

There are many supplements in a variety of forms available for B12 and B6 vitamins. Although an injection may be recommended by a doctor, the patient may opt for a supplement or oral vitamin instead. There are both prescription and liquid forms of vitamin B as an alternative to the injections.

Though the dosage of a vitamin B injection is not comparable to a liquid multivitamin supplement, the user may still get the partial effects if the doses are used correctly. The injections of vitamin B supplements will give more positive, effective results over the liquid forms.

However, if a patient prefers the over-the-counter liquid forms of vitamin B, the doctor may just recommend a higher dosage of the over the counter substance and observe the effects from there.

Not only is there an oral liquid form of vitamin B supplements, but there is also a nasal spray that will help the body receive vitamin B without the injections.

Similar to the injections, the nasal spray takes the vitamin B supplement directly to the bloodstream of the body. Though the nasal spray coordinates the supplement through another entrance of the bloodstream, it has a similar effect to the injections.

Get More Out of Your Health and Fitness Routine. Go PRO!

Sign Up

What Is a Vitamin B12 Sublingual?

Another technique for absorbing B12 vitamins into the body rather than taking injections is to use a B12 sublingual vitamin. A sublingual vitamin is a liquid form which is not immediately swallowed. Instead, the dosage is held under the tongue for one minute, during which time the vitamin is absorbed through the salivary glands.

Why May a Person Need to Receive B12 or B6 Injections?

A person with vitamin B deficiency may have to receive these injections due to their lack of consuming vitamins on a daily basis. According to WebMD, pregnant vegetarians, or new vegetarian moms may be at risk for vitamin B deficiency due to their restrictive diet.

If a doctor notices that a female patient is at risk for vitamin B deficiency, they may recommend that the woman should adjust their diet appropriately or take vitamin B supplements in order to obtain a better balance within the body.

What Are the Side Effects of the B12 or B6 Injections?

The side effects of these injections may include nausea, diarrhea, or headaches. When the body is still growing accustomed to obtaining these injections, these mild side effects may come and go. They will most likely not last very long.

If however, the side effects remain for longer than anticipated or are interfering with everyday activities, a doctor should be consulted. Muscle and chest pain, along with weight gain are two out of the ordinary side effects that may lead a person to consult with their doctor.

It is important to pair your supplement regimen with a regular exercise routine. Sign up for an Exercise.com PRO plan today for access to training logs, workout plans, and more.

Learn more about Exercise.com Fitness Business Management Software.

Schedule your demo today.