What is the maximum volume that can be injected intramuscularly?

What is the maximum volume that can be injected intramuscularly?

Overall, 5 mL has been cited for adults as the maximum volume for a single IM injection, with lower maximums proposed for adult patients with less-developed or small muscle mass.

What is a safe amount of medication to inject intramuscularly?

The maximum amount of medication for a single injection is generally 1 ml. For immunizations, a smaller 22 to 25 gauge needle should be used.

What happens if you inject into muscle?

Intramuscular injections commonly result in pain, redness, and swelling or inflammation around the injection site. These side effects are generally mild and last no more than a few days at most. Rarely, nerves or blood vessels around the injection site can be damaged, resulting in severe pain or paralysis.

Which site is most desirable for a 3 ml intramuscular injection?

The ventrogluteal site, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis location are the preferred location for large volume deep muscle IM injections. These injection locations allow for a high degree of safety, reliability and accessibility when a patient is lying supine, prone or in side lying position.

Can you give 4 mL im injection?

For “deep” IM injections, the recommended volume ranges from 2 to 5 ml. If the patient’s available muscle tissue is limited and the dorsogluteal muscle must be used, volumes of up to 4 ml can be administered into this site.

Can you inject 3ml at once?

The maximum amount of medication for a single injection is 3 ml. The deltoid muscle has a triangular shape and is easy to locate and access, but is commonly underdeveloped in adults. Begin by having the patient relax the arm.

What is the largest amount of medication that can be injected into the deltoid muscle?

The deltoid site is mostly commonly used for immunizations. However, up to 1 mL of any medication may be administrated to this muscle (the maximum volume should never exceed 2 mL).

What can go wrong with an intramuscular injection?

The microbes in injection substances, injection equipment or already-existing on the skin, can enter the body causing very serious infections. Similarly, incorrect injection techniques or erroneous injection locations, can cause blood vessel breakage, muscle or nerve damage and paralysis.

Can you give 3 ml in deltoid?

If injecting medication into the deltoid muscle of an adult, the volume of solution should not exceed 1 mL. If injecting into the vastus lateralis, ventrogluteal, gluteus medius, or dorsogluteal muscles of an adult, the volume should not exceed 3 mL.

Can you give a 4 ml im injection?

How many mL can you inject into the deltoid muscle?

When to use an intramuscular ( IM ) injection?

Intramuscular (IM injection is one of many routes for administering medications, including antibiotics, vaccines, hormonal therapies, and corticosteroids. 1,2 Even when alternate routes of administration are available, IM injections may be preferred when a patient cannot tolerate oral…

What’s the maximum volume of an IM injection?

Overall, 5 mL has been cited for adults as the maximum volume for a single IM injection, with lower maximums proposed for adult patients with less- developed or small muscle mass.3,13,14 iNTRAMUsCUlAR iNJECTiONs Once administered exclusively by physicians, IM injections became a primary-nurse responsibility during the 1960s.1

Which is the best muscle for IM injections?

Using the vastus lateralis muscle avoids the risk of sciatic nerve damage from gluteal injection. Also, the vastus lateralis muscle has a larger muscle mass than the gluteal region and therefore has reduced risk of severe local reactions. The deltoid in infants is not sufficiently bulky to absorb IM medications adequately.

How big of an injection should I get?

Large-volume injections (3 mL or greater), however, are not frequently administered; and many clinicians may not be familiar with their appropriate use, possible side effects, and potential efficacy.