II. Technique: Location
- Deltoid muscle
- Outer thigh (Vastus lateralis muscle)
- Upper, outer aspect of buttock
- Avoid sciatic nerve at inferior medial aspect
III. Precautions
- Avoid frequent site reuse due to injection site fibrosis risk
IV. Efficacy
- Many standard IM medication uses are no more effective than their oral counterparts
- Vitamin B12 Replacement
- Ketorlac (Toradol)
- Corticosteroids
- Ceftriaxone in cases of refractory Otitis Media or Urinary Tract Infections in children
- Shatsky (2009) Am Fam Physician 79(4):297-300 [PubMed]
V. Contraindications
- Bleeding Diathesis (e.g. Coagulopathy or Thrombocytopenia)
VI. Indications
- Analgesics
- Sedative-Hypnotics
- Vaccinations
- Sex Hormones
- Testosterone
- Estradiol
- Depo Provera
- Lupron
- Antibiotics
- Miscellaneous
- Interferon Beta (Multiple Sclerosis)