What are the disadvantages of the different types of injection?

Each of the main types of injection (intravenous, intramuscular, intradermal and subcutaneous) have a number of disadvantages, which will help the healthcare professional choose the most appropriate injection technique to use based on the patient and type of product to administer. Here, at YuBoost, your safety is our top priority. Our vitamin, mineral (magnesium, zinc) and glutathione (natural antioxidant) injections are administered by a team of qualified nurses, chosen for their home-care expertise, after a short medical consultation to review your medical history.

The disadvantages of intravenous injections

• Unsuitable for slow absorption
• Time: the patient must remain lying down or seated for 30 min
• Risk of haematoma

Must be administered by a qualified professional to prevent complications due to incorrect handling: gas embolism, blood backflow

Intravenous injections are the most commonly-used method of administration when rapid results are required as they act directly on the bloodstream: as such, the substance is assimilated by the body almost instantly. For the same reasons, IV injections should be avoided when administering products that require slow absorption. Moreover, the healthcare professional will also ensure no air is injected to avoid the risk of gas embolism. Post-injection vigilance is also required (blood backflow, patient reaction). Some people may feel a slight discomfort when the needle is inserted in the vein, or may experience bruising, itching, inflammation or redness at or around the infusion site, which disappears after a few minutes or several days.

To supplement the dietary intake of our patients with vitamin deficiency or those who wish to boost their energy level and wellness, here at YuBoost, we propose intravenous injections of vitamins and minerals (magnesium, zinc) for an instant booster effect. We use paediatric lines (catheters) to maximize your comfort.

The disadvantages of intramuscular injections

• Unsuitable for slow assimilation
• Risk of haematoma
• Vigilance: nerves, blood backflow and patient reaction
• Not suitable for patients on anticoagulants

Like IV injections, intramuscular injections are not recommended when administering a product that’s to be absorbed slowly. As muscular tissue is highly-vascularized, the injected product is rapidly assimilated into the bloodstream. We use this technique here in YuBoost to administer our Boost injections.

IM injections present some risks: haematoma, for example, or nerve damage during injection. If the injection is to be given into the gluteus medius muscle, it will need to be carried out by a qualified nurse exercising extra caution, to avoid touching the sciatic nerve. It should also be noted that only a small amount of product can be administered into the deltoid muscles. The patient may be required to lie down, depending on the area in which the injection is given. Moreover, patients on anticoagulants can’t be given intramuscular injections.

The disadvantages of intradermal injections

• Limited indications
• Very small amount of product
• Unsuitable for rapid absorption

Intradermal injections are recommended for a limited number of situations: although they’re perfectly suited to detecting allergic reactions or specific diseases such as tuberculosis, they’re not intended for administering vaccines, vitamins or medication.  Moreover, they’re only intended for injecting very small amounts of a substance that requires slow absorption.

The disadvantages of subcutaneous injections

• Small amount of product
• Unsuitable for rapid assimilation
• Pain may be felt

Furthermore, subcutaneous injections can only be used to administer small amounts of a product to the patient. They’re not recommended for medical emergencies as assimilation is slower than with IV and IM injections, as subcutaneous tissue is less vascularized. Although subcutaneous injections are generally painless, they can cause some patients to feel slight discomfort as subcutaneous tissue contains pain receptors.