How Do I Give Myself a Shot?

Many people have a fear of needles. As many as 50% of adolescents and 30% of young adults may experience needle fear when getting a vaccine or taking certain types of medications.

Sometimes there isn’t another way to take medication, and an injection is necessary. In the beginning, it may seem scary. But with some practice, giving yourself a shot can be quick and maybe even painless.

Let’s take a look at the different types of injections and how to best give them to yourself.

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Intramuscular vs. subcutaneous injections 

The first step in giving yourself a shot is to understand what type of injection you’re using. The two most common injection types are intramuscular and subcutaneous shots.

Intramuscular injections are given into a muscle. Examples include medications like extended-release aripiprazole (Abilify Maintena) and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin).

Intramuscular shots require a needle around 1 inch long for most adults. This length allows the medication to pass through several layers of skin and fat. The muscle is under these layers.

The thickness of a needle is measured in millimeters. It’s referred to as “gauges.” Needle gauges for intramuscular injections typically range between 22 (about 0.7 mm) and 25 (about 0.5 mm). A good way to remember needle width is the lower the gauge number, the wider the needle.

Subcutaneous injections are given just under the skin. Examples include insulins, like Lantus (insulin glargine), and the blood thinner enoxaparin (Lovenox).

Subcutaneous injections aren’t injected as deep as intramuscular shots. These shots are placed in the layer of fat between your skin and muscle.

Subcutaneous injections require a smaller needle, usually about ¼ inch to ½ inch long. If an injector pen is being used, needles can be as short as 0.16 inch (4 mm).

The needle width is also smaller. Common gauges for subcutaneous needles are 25 (0.5 mm), 27 (0.4 mm), and 31 (0.26 mm).

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about which needle length and gauge will work best for your medication.

How do I draw up the medication into the syringe?

Before giving yourself a shot, gather up all the supplies you’ll need. This may include syringes, needles, and alcohol pads. Be sure to wash your hands before you get started.

Every medication has unique requirements for storage and preparation. If you’re unsure, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about these specifics. 

Here’s a list of basic steps to draw up a medication from a vial:

1. Inspect your medication. Make sure the medication name on the vial matches the name on your prescription label. Check for any unusual colors, clumps, or changes inside your vial. Make sure that the medication hasn’t expired.

2. If this is the first time using the vial, remove the plastic top. A rubber stopper will be underneath. Clean the stopper with an alcohol pad.

3. Keeping the syringe cap on the needle, pull back the plunger and add some air into the syringe. A good rule here is to add the same amount of air as the dose of your shot. For example, if you’re injecting 1 mL of medication, fill the syringe with 1 mL of air.

4. Remove the cap from the needle. Insert the needle into the top of the vial and inject the air. This added air makes it easier to remove the medication. Make sure to leave the needle in the vial.

5. Hold the vial with one hand and the syringe with the other. Turn the syringe and vial upside down, and draw out the amount needed for your dose. If you draw out too much medication, push on the plunger to place the liquid back in the vial.

6. With the needle still in the vial, check the syringe for air bubbles. If you see bubbles, gently tap the syringe with your finger to make the air rises to the top. Slowly push the plunger in to remove any air.

7. Remove the needle from the vial.

Now you’re ready to inject your medication. Before we move on to where to give it, here’s another important tip: Avoid recapping the needle. It’s very easy to accidentally poke yourself doing this.

This may seem like a lot of steps to follow. But once you get used to it, the process gets easier. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to show you proper technique. They can make sure you understand all the steps involved.

Several medications now come as injector pens. These devices make giving yourself an injection easier.

Some injector pens are multi-dose. This means they contain more than one dose of medication. Multi-dose pens often have a dial on them so you can select your dose. They also require new pen needles for each dose. Examples of multi-dose pens include Levemir Flextouch (insulin detemir) and Ozempic (semaglutide).

Other injector pens are single-use. They have one dose and are usually ready to use. After injecting your dose, dispose of both the pen and needle. Examples of single-use pens include EpiPens (epinephrine) and Trulicity (dulaglutide).

If you’re having problems using a vial and syringe, talk to your healthcare provider. Ask them if your medication is available as an injector pen.

Where do I inject my shot?

Intramuscular injections are given in the outside of the upper arm, in the hip, in the buttocks, or in the thigh. The thigh is usually the easiest place to give yourself an intramuscular shot.

Insert the needle on the outside part of your thigh about halfway between your hip and knee. The needle should enter your thigh at a 90-degree angle. That means it should be a straight shot — not given diagonally. 

A good tip is to rest the heel of your palm against your thigh and insert the needle quickly. Pushing the needle in slowly is more painful.

Subcutaneous injections can be given in the stomach, the back of the upper arm, or your thigh. Many people use the stomach area because it’s the easiest to access. For subcutaneous injections, you should pinch about 1 inch of fatty tissue and give the shot there.

A good tip for picking a place to inject subcutaneous shots is the clock method. Imagine your belly button as the center of a clock, with 12 pointing up toward your head. For each injection you give yourself, you move to the next hour on the clock. 

Rotating injection sites is important. Whether you’re giving yourself an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, try to avoid giving the shot in the same place twice in a row. The longer the time before reusing an area, the more time that skin and tissue have to heal from the injection.

Before giving yourself the shot, clean the site you’ve chosen with an alcohol pad and allow it to air dry. Once you’ve inserted the needle, press the plunger down on the syringe and count to five. This gives the medication plenty of time to enter your body without squirting back out.

What do I do if I make a mistake?

Mistakes can happen, especially if you’re new to giving yourself a shot. What happens if you make a mistake? What should you do next?

If you know you didn’t inject yourself, it’s okay to start the process over with a new syringe and a clean needle. This could happen if you drop or damage the syringe, or if you push medication out of the syringe after removing it from the vial. 

If you gave yourself an injection and something went wrong, it’s important to call your healthcare provider as soon as possible. If you gave yourself the wrong amount of medication, they can instruct you on what steps to take next.

How do I make the bleeding stop?

Bleeding can occur after giving a shot. Usually, the amount of blood is small because of the size of the needles and the places you inject them. However, some people may be more prone to bleeding due to certain medical conditions or medications.

You can use a small cotton ball and some light pressure to stop bleeding. You can also cover it with a small bandage. If you bleed enough to soak through the cotton ball, contact your healthcare provider.

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Written by:

Clay M. Cooper, PharmD

Clay Cooper, PharmD, has over 10 years of pharmacy practice experience in a variety of healthcare settings, including in independent community pharmacy, retail pharmacy, and long-term care pharmacy. He is a licensed pharmacist in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

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