Intramuscular injection 334821 218685794 2008-06-11T18:58:27Z 85.176.200.25 '''Intramuscular injection''' is the [[medical injection|injection]] of a substance directly into a [[muscle]]. In [[medicine]], it is one of several alternative methods for the administration of [[medication]]s (see [[Route of administration]]). It is used for particular forms of medication that are administered in small amounts. Depending on the chemical properties of the drug, the medication may either be absorbed fairly quickly or more gradually. Intramuscular injections are often given in the [[deltoid muscle|deltoid]], [[vastus lateralis]], ventrogluteal and dorsogluteal muscles. When the [[gluteal muscles]] are used, injections should be made on the upper, outer quadrant of the [[buttock]] to avoid damaging the [[sciatic nerve]]. [[Injection fibrosis]] is a complication that may occur if the injections are delivered with great frequency or with improper technique. [[Thrombocytopenia]] (low [[platelet]] counts) and [[coagulopathy]] (bleeding tendency) are [[contraindication]]s for intramuscular injections, as they may lead to [[hematoma]]s. Examples of medications that are sometimes administered intramuscularly are: * [[codeine]] * [[methotrexate]] * [[metoclopramide]] * [[olanzapine]] * [[Streptomycin]] * [[diazepam]] * [[prednisone]] * [[Interferon beta-1a]] * sex hormones, such as [[testosterone]], [[estradiol valerate]], and [[Depo Provera]] * [[dimercaprol]] * [[ketamine]] * [[naloxone]] * [[quinine#dosing|quinine]] in its [[gluconate]] form In addition, some [[vaccine]]s are administered intramuscularly: * [[Gardasil]] * [[hepatitis A]] vaccine Also certain substances (i.e. [[ketamine]]) are injected intramuscularly for [[recreational drug use|recreational]] purposes. ==External links== * {{MeshNumber|E05.300.530.460|Injections,+Intramuscular}} [[Category:Medical treatments]] {{treatment-stub}} * '''[http://www.simmed.com/Demo/Default.aspx Animated Intramuscular Injection tutorial]''' [[de:Intramuskuläre Injektion]] [[es:Inyección intramuscular]] [[de:Intramuskuläre Injektion]] [[fr:Injection intramusculaire]] [[de:Intramuskuläre Injektion]] [[nl:Intramusculair]] [[no:Intramuskulær injeksjon]] [[pl:Iniekcja domięśniowa]] [[pt:Injeção intramuscular]] [[sl:Intramuskularna aplikacija]]