• Deltoid - 1ml for adults
• Vastus lateralis – 1ml for adults
• Ventrogluteal - 2.5ml for adults
• Dorsogluteal – 4mls for adults
• Rectus femoris – 5ml for adults
Drugs given by this route include: Iron, vitamins, penicillin and morphine.
Normal practice is to aspirate before administration of medication to ensure the needle is not in a vein or artery however according to Malkin, 2008 this is only necessary in the dorsogluteal site as needle insertion is close to the gluteal artery. If auto-disable needles and syringes are used it is not possible to aspirate anyway.