The Benefits of Intramuscular Needle Syringe Injections

There are a variety of medical conditions that are best treated by intramuscular needle syringe injections. The intramuscular injection is one that is inserted below the first level of fatty tissue in the body and reaches down into the first layer of the muscle. While these injections are more painful than subcutaneous injections, there are various important reasons they are the chosen method for certain medications.


Drugs that are administered through intramuscular injection are absorbed by the body at a faster rate than subcutaneous injections, which are injections just below the skin. If there is a medication that needs to be absorbed by the body quickly or as a gradual release, it will be prescribed as an intramuscular injection. This is the second most favorable method to administer these types of medications next to intravenous administration.


Many medications have a large volume of liquid in them. Because it is difficult for the skin to absorb a large amount of liquid, the subcutaneous shot is not a good choice. The muscle is much more capable of absorbing the liquid quickly, allowing the body to use the medication that was administered, rather than fighting the effects of skin that is painfully filled with fluid.

Types of Medications

There are various types of medications that are administered through an intramuscular injection, including vaccines, progesterone, antibiotics and contraceptives. These important medications are recommended as an intramuscular needle syringe injection because they cannot be taken orally, and it would be too inconvenient to administer them intravenously, especially the medications that need to be administered daily.

Areas of the Body

There are a few areas on the body in which these types of injections are typically administered. The muscle in the upper arm, called the deltoid muscle, is the common area for doctors or nurses to administer this type of injection. Other common areas include the vastus lateralis in the upper leg and the upper, outer quadrant of the buttocks. The upper leg muscle and buttocks muscle are the two most common areas patients self-administer or have a partner administer their injections for them.

There are many benefits of the intramuscular needle syringe injection. If you have a medical condition that can be treated at home with self-administered injections, it is worth understanding the benefits of these injections and how to use them appropriately.

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