So I got a flu shot which was an intramuscular injection. As often happens, I start to thinking afterward that I wish I had asked some questions. Not that it matters any more, since the shot is over, but:
Shots that are intended to be intramuscular injections, what happens if they miss the muscle?
Does it matter?
Do they know?
If so, how do they know?
I noticed that some of the fluid leaked back out. It was clear and obviously not blood. Since there wasn’t too much in the syringe to begin with, need I worry over that little bit wasted?
This is why I keep a medical journal - I always think of these questions AFTER I leave, and if I don’t write them down I forget to ask them NEXT time.
Irritated skin/tissue possibly and a wasted dose of whatever you were supposed to get intramuscularly.
It depends where the injection ends up, and what you’re injecting.
Many drugs have similar bioavailability whether given subcutaneously or intramuscularly. I know I’ve seen a study that suggested this was true for the flu vaccine (I’m to lazy to look for a cite right now) and I’ve seen conflicting studies for hormone injections. Intramuscular injections tend to have a faster absorption rate, depending on factors such as age, activity levels, and the particular muscle chosen. Large amount of subcutaneous fat can slow down the absorption rate from subcutaneous injections. Some drugs are meant to be absorbed slowly and be effective for a longer period, others are meant to be absorbed rapidly.
Larger volumes and more irritant substances are usually given intramuscularly rather than subcutaneously. Accidental subcut injection may cause pain, inflammation or even skin sloughing. Having said that, the reverse may be true for some drugs (at least with veterinary preparations).
Accidental intravenous or intraarterial injection is potentially much more dangerous. Depending on the substance injected, it could cause complications such as seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, tissue necrosis, death. Which is why injection sites are usually chosen to minimise the risk of accidentally hitting a major vessel or nerve, and you draw back before injecting.
thanks toodlepip, that was a pretty thorough response.
I ended up having to go back out because one of my BP meds was low and so I asked the pharmacist, and he basically said that there would be no problem.
Should I repeat a dose of influenza vaccine administered by an incorrect route (such as intradermal or subcutaneous)?
If the DOSE (amount) of vaccine was age-appropriate, it can be counted as valid regardless of the ROUTE by which it was given.
From hereCDC website Q & A
I was given the flu shot subq instead of IM and called the CDC experts.They said the rule is that I didn’t need to get the shot repeated since it will still be effective,but may not be quite as effective as an IM injection.There is probably no significant difference,but next year insist on the standard IM route of administration. hadaji;13011922]So I got a flu shot which was an intramuscular injection. As often happens, I start to thinking afterward that I wish I had asked some questions. Not that it matters any more, since the shot is over, but:
Shots that are intended to be intramuscular injections, what happens if they miss the muscle?
Does it matter?
Do they know?
If so, how do they know?
I noticed that some of the fluid leaked back out. It was clear and obviously not blood. Since there wasn’t too much in the syringe to begin with, need I worry over that little bit wasted?
This is why I keep a medical journal - I always think of these questions AFTER I leave, and if I don’t write them down I forget to ask them NEXT time.
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