Women's Health Naturopathic Doctor: B-12 Shot

1. Swab the tops of your bottles with rubbing alcohol. 
2. Put the large needle “Draw needle” on your syringe and fill your syringe with the appropriate amount of each medication. 
3. Fill the same syringe with all the vitamins as long as the total quantity is under 3cc. While they need to stay separate for storage, they can be mixed together in the syringe.
4. Tap the syringe to remove any extra bubbles.
5. Push the plunger up slowly to release any bubbles at the tip of the syringe.  
6. Inject the upper outer quadrant of the gluteus maximus or “butt cheek.”
7. Refer to a Youtube video or schedule an appointment with your Naturopathic Doctor for proper location instruction if you require additional support.
8. To visualize the proper location cut the gluteus in to 4 quadrants by visualizing a plus sign over the gluteux maximus, and inject the upper outer quadrant. 
9. Avoid the midline of the gluteus as it contains the sciatic nerve. 
10. Alternative injection sites are the deltoid muscle <1.5 cc max solution, the top of the thigh or side of the thigh <2cc max solution
11. Dispose of your sharps in a sharps container.
12. You can unscrew the needle and place that in to the sharps container and then throw the syringe in regular trash to eliminate waste with your sharps containers. 
13. Dispose of your sharps in accordance with your state law. In Arizona patients can use a sturdy plastic bottle like a gatorade bottle ( not a plastic water bottle) and repearedly duct tape it closed. It can then be disposed in regular trash.
14. Many pharmacies also provide a sharps removal service.
15. Check with your local pharmacist for the correct way to properly dispose of your sharps in your state. 
16. Please Note: B-complex can slightly sting and burn. This is normal. Slow the rate of the injection down to your comfort level. Apply a warm pack if too uncomfortable. If the injection is severely painful you have hit a nerve. Make mental notes when you find a less painful location for your shot. If adminstering the shot yourself it helps to turn and look in to a bathroom mirror. Or make sure your shot is loaded up properly and have someone administer it for you. 
17. Any redness, heat, swelling, or streaking is a sign of an infection from lack of sterile technique that requires antibiotics.
18. Discard your injectable vitamins as instructed by the compounding pharmacist, or per the expiration date. Do not inject expired vitamins, or vitamins that have not been properly refrigerated as this will cause a fungal or bacterial infection.
19. When you need refills of your vitamin injections please contact the compounding pharmacy as we call in refills for a year for each patient.
20. When your refills have run out you are legally due for a visit or we cannot prescribe you any medication.

For further assistance administering your injection please visit the SCHEDULE page to treat yourself to a Naturopathic visit with me.

Dr. Nicole Sundene

(480) 837-0900

Dr. Sundene is a Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is a Female Hormone Expert in Women's Health and Bioidentical Hormones. She specializes in Holistic Women's Health for Menopause,  Thyroid,  Hashimotos,  PMS, Perimenopause, Autoimmune, Postpartum, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Food Allergies,  Digestion, Dermatology, Acne, Psoriasis,  Eczema, and Adrenal Hormonal Conditions. In 1999 she began working for a Hormone Doctor prior to starting Naturopathic Medical School. With over 23 years of experience in both Prescription and Natural women's health and hormones, she presents to women the best-integrated health solutions for their Chronic Disease. 

She has been an Herbalist for over 28 years and enjoys teaching women how to use herbs to balance their hormones, nutrition and optimize their health. Dr. Sundene relies on blood testing for her hormone metrics. The hormone testing is covered per the patient's insurance plan (not Medicaid) and conducted at certain points in the woman's menstrual cycle. To learn more about Hormone Testing for Women Visit: Bioidentical Hormones. Follow Dr. Sundene on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for more tips on Women's Health, Female Hormones, and Naturopathy!