Intramuscular Injections in Edmonton
Solis gives intramuscular injections in Edmonton for vitamin B12, vitamin D3 and Lipotropic Plus. An intramuscular (IM) injection delivers a dose into a muscle, usually the upper arm. The shot takes a few seconds. No referral is needed. Call the clinic for prices and appointment times.
Why Choose Solis for Intramuscular Injections?
Expert Team
Onsite Anesthesiologist and Registered Nurses, ACLS and BLS certified.
Emergency Ready
Fully equipped to handle unexpected emergencies, with safety first.
A Quick Visit
The shot takes a few seconds, with no IV line and no drip.
No Referral Needed
No prescription for vitamin shots, and each shot has a listed dose.
What is an intramuscular injection?
An intramuscular injection (IM injection) delivers a vitamin or medicine into a muscle. The muscle's blood supply carries the dose into your bloodstream. The dose skips your stomach and gut.
This path is the intramuscular route. B12 shows why it matters. Your gut absorbs B12 from food only with intrinsic factor, a protein your stomach makes. People who make too little intrinsic factor absorb little B12 from food. A B12 shot skips the gut.
- Intramuscular: a shot into a muscle. It takes seconds.
- Intravenous: a drip into a vein through a thin line. Most take 30 minutes or more.
- Subcutaneous: a short needle into the fat under the skin, like an insulin pen.
Intramuscular injection sites
Four muscles take intramuscular injections. The clinician picks the site from the product, the dose and your body size. The CDC names the deltoid as the standard site for adult shots.
Deltoid (upper arm)
The deltoid caps the top of the shoulder. You stay seated and roll up a sleeve, so wear a short or loose sleeve to your visit.
Vastus lateralis (outer thigh)
The vastus lateralis runs down the outer thigh. It is the standard site for babies and a backup site for adults.
Ventrogluteal (side of the hip)
The ventrogluteal site sits on the side of the hip, away from large nerves and blood vessels. According to a July 2023 review from the Cartagena School of Nursing at the University of Murcia, covering 17 studies and 1,429 patients, ventrogluteal shots caused less pain, bleeding and bruising than dorsogluteal shots.
Dorsogluteal (upper buttock)
The dorsogluteal site sits in the upper outer buttock, close to the sciatic nerve and large blood vessels. Nursing guidelines prefer other sites for that reason. A trained nurse can still use it safely by finding the right landmarks.
Needle size and length for an intramuscular injection
IM needles measure 22 to 25 gauge. A higher gauge number means a thinner needle.
Needle length depends on body weight. The needle passes the fat layer and reaches the muscle. For the upper arm, the CDC sets these lengths for adults:
- Up to 152 lbs (70 kg): 1 inch (25 mm)
- Women 153 to 200 lbs, men 153 to 260 lbs: 1 to 1.5 inches (25 to 38 mm)
- Women over 200 lbs, men over 260 lbs: 1.5 inches (38 mm)
- Outer thigh, any weight: 1 to 1.5 inches (25 to 38 mm)
Vitamin injections at Solis
Each injection below is a shot into a muscle, not a drip. Call for the current price list.
B12 injections (1000 mcg)
Vitamin B12 builds red blood cells and keeps nerves working. Long-term use of metformin or acid reducers (PPIs) lowers B12 in some people.
Read more about B12 injections in Edmonton.
Vitamin D3 injections (25,000 IU)
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium for bones. According to August 1988 research from Boston University's Vitamin D, Skin and Bone Research Laboratory and the University of Alberta's Department of Physiology, Edmonton sunlight produced no vitamin D in skin from October through March. Your vitamin D level and health history decide whether a shot fits.
Read more on our B12 and vitamin D injections page.
Lipotropic Plus injection
Lipotropic Plus contains methionine, inositol and choline. These nutrients help the liver process fat. People call this type of shot a lipo shot.
Research has not shown that lipo shots cause weight loss on their own. Use them with a food and activity plan, not in place of one.
Intramuscular injection or IV drip?
Both routes skip your stomach. They do different jobs.
- Time: a shot takes seconds. Most drips take 30 minutes. NAD+ takes 1 to 2 hours.
- Fluids: a shot adds no fluid. A drip adds fluid for hydration.
- Ingredients: a shot delivers one product. A drip mixes several vitamins and minerals.
- Needle: a shot uses one quick needle. A drip keeps a thin line in a vein for the visit.
Choose a shot for one nutrient, like B12 or vitamin D, in a short visit. Choose an IV drip for fluids or a mix of nutrients. Glutathione comes as an IV push, not a muscle shot.
Safety and when to get help
Soreness, redness, bruising or swelling at the injection site usually fades in 1 to 2 days. Allergic reactions are uncommon but possible.
Tell the clinic before your shot if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder. Also list kidney or liver disease, allergies, other medicines and any past reaction to a shot.
Get urgent help for trouble breathing, facial swelling, fainting or symptoms that get worse fast.
Who this is for, and who it isn't
A good fit if
- You have low B12 or vitamin D, or a reason you absorb them poorly
- You take metformin or acid reducers long term and your B12 is low
- You want one nutrient in a short visit, with no IV line
Probably not, if
- You need fluids or rehydration. An IV drip fits better.
- You expect a shot alone to cause weight loss
- You have new numbness, severe tiredness or other symptoms that need a diagnosis first
Shot or pill?
Pills work for many people. A daily 1,000 mcg B12 pill raised blood levels as well as shots in small trials, and pills cost less.
Shots fit people whose gut cannot absorb B12 or who cannot take a daily pill. Vitamin D also comes as a daily pill or drops.
Visit the West Edmonton clinic
Solis is at 16534 118 Ave NW in West Edmonton. Patients come from across Edmonton and from St. Albert, Spruce Grove and Stony Plain. Call ahead to confirm appointment times.
Frequently asked questions
What is an IM shot?
IM means intramuscular. An IM shot delivers a dose into a muscle, usually the upper arm. A drip delivers fluid into a vein.
Do I need a referral for a vitamin injection?
No. Solis gives vitamin shots without a referral or prescription. Call the clinic to book.
Does an intramuscular injection hurt?
The shot feels like a quick pinch and some pressure. The muscle can ache for 1 to 2 days. A loose, relaxed arm makes the shot more comfortable.
How long does the visit take?
The shot takes a few seconds. Ask about the full visit length when you book.
How often can I get a B12 shot?
Your B12 level, the cause of low B12 and your health history set the schedule. No single schedule fits everyone. Learn more about B12 injections in Edmonton.
How much do vitamin injections cost?
Prices change. Call the clinic for the current price list and what each fee includes.
Related care and patient guides
Ask about a vitamin shot
Call to confirm current availability, appointment times and the price list before your visit.
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