Written by Eknoor Mann, RN Reviewed by Basmeen Kaur, RN Updated May 2026

What an IM shot actually is.

An IM (intramuscular) shot, one small injection, given by a registered nurse in your preferred space, across the GTA.

What an IM Shot Is

An IM (intramuscular) shot is a small injection given into a large muscle, usually the upper arm, sometimes the glute. The visit is short. The work happens after, and how long that work lasts depends on the vitamin, not the needle. The water-soluble ones (B12, glutathione, biotin) are put to work soon after they arrive rather than stored, so they're made to be topped up on a rhythm — most clients book them as a regular visit. Fat-soluble vitamin D is the exception, releasing slowly from the tissue and holding for months.12 Either way, none of it passes through the stomach. Each visit is administered by a registered nurse, with nurse practitioner oversight on the intake.

  1. 01

    A pinch. That's it.

    The same kind of needle as a flu shot. Same place: upper arm or glute. The injection itself takes seconds. The whole visit takes a few minutes.

  2. 02

    Skips your stomach entirely.

    No pill to swallow. No waiting for the gut to break it down. Whatever's inside lands where the body can use it.2

  3. Different shots, different clocks.

    Most are put to work right away and are made to be topped up on a rhythm, booked as a regular visit. Vitamin D is the exception: fat-soluble, it releases slowly and can hold for months. The vitamin sets the pace, not the needle.

Our Visits · At a Glance

A shot for the way you've been feeling.

The whole menu in one breath. For the fuller, honest version of each, see below.

Suitability for each is reviewed by the nurse practitioner at intake.

Mechanism · Delivery Route

So what's actually happening?

Picture a flu shot. The needle, the place, the pinch. Same setup. The difference is what happens after. Once a vitamin enters muscle, it dissolves into the bloodstream, and the timing belongs to the vitamin. The water-soluble ones, B12, glutathione, and biotin, are put to work soon after they arrive rather than stored, which is why they're best repeated on a rhythm. Vitamin D, the fat-soluble exception, releases slowly across the months that follow.2

When a vitamin is taken by mouth, it has to make it through stomach acid, the gut wall, and a first pass through the liver before any of it reaches the bloodstream. A lot is lost along the way. For some vitamins, almost nothing arrives intact.

An IM shot skips that route entirely. The vitamin is placed straight into muscle tissue and dissolves into the bloodstream from there. How long it lasts is a property of the vitamin, not the injection: water-soluble vitamins are put to work quickly and suit a regular rhythm, while fat-soluble vitamin D releases slowly. In one published clinical study, a single vitamin D shot was still measurable in adults' blood as long as twelve months later.3

IM Shots IV Therapy Both Together
Delivery method Delivered into the muscle. Delivered directly into the bloodstream. Combines targeted IM support plus IV hydration and broader nutrient support.
Appointment time About 5 minutes for the injection itself. 30 to 60 minutes, with glutathione IV running closer to 15 minutes. 45 to 75 minutes.
Hydration No hydration included. Includes fluids and electrolytes for hydration. Includes fluids, electrolytes, and targeted IM nutrient support.
Nutrient support Focused nutrient support (e.g., B12, B-complex). Broad, multi-nutrient support (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants). The best of both, targeted + broad-spectrum support.
Best for Quick, targeted support for energy, mood, or immunity. Hydration, recovery, and whole-body wellness. Layered, personalized support for optimal results.
Can it be combined? Yes, shots can be booked on their own or added to an IV when clinically appropriate. Yes, IV therapy can be booked on its own. Yes, recommended when clinically appropriate.

Every visit is administered by Registered Nurses, with nurse practitioner oversight.

"Sustained levels can be explained by fat-tissue storage with slow and gradual release."

— Wylon K et al., on intramuscular vitamin D, PLOS ONE 20172

What We Offer · Why We Offer It

Each visit, in its full picture.

Each visit is chosen for what the published research actually supports, not for what's most marketable. Suitability for any one is reviewed by a nurse practitioner at intake. What's right for the person next to you may not be right for you.

N° 01 · The Steady

When the everyday tired feels heavier than it should.

Vitamin B12 · cellular energy support

Most people don't notice it as a single thing. It's the second coffee that doesn't quite land. The Tuesday afternoon that already feels like a Friday. The week where focus feels a little further away than usual.

We use a pharmacy-prepared form of vitamin B12, given as cyanocobalamin or methylcobalamin. Vitamin B12 is one of the vitamins your body uses to make energy at the cellular level. In healthy adults, B12 absorption can drift over time. Plant-forward diets, certain medications, and even a normal aging gut can quietly affect how much makes it through.1 An IM injection delivers the vitamin past the gut so the absorption variables come off the table.1

Published research in 213 adults whose B12 levels had drifted low documented that a course of these shots moved their lab numbers, the kind your family doctor would order, from 168 to 402, and red-blood-cell numbers back into healthy range.5 That's the published evidence in adults with low levels. It's not a promise of a particular feeling for anyone walking in. For people whose levels are already where they should be, The Steady is supportive, not corrective.

Suitability is reviewed at intake.

N° 02 · The Reserve

A single visit. Held across the seasons.

Vitamin D · slow-release support

Vitamin D is unusual among vitamins: it's fat-soluble, slow to leave the body, and stored gradually in muscle and surrounding fat tissue.2 Between roughly October and April, the angle of the sun in Toronto means our skin makes very little of it on its own. That's geography, not opinion. Vitamin D levels often drift downward through the indoor months.36

In a clinical study of adults whose vitamin D levels were low, a single IM shot held lab values elevated for up to twelve months.3 Twelve months is what the published data shows in adults with low levels. We don't promise a specific number for anyone walking in. What we will say is that the delivery shape, one visit, slow release, no daily pill, no remembering, fits a Canadian year as well as almost any supportive option we offer.

Suitability is reviewed at intake.

N° 03 · The Restore

For after the everything.

Glutathione · offered as IM or IV

Glutathione is your body's master antioxidant, a molecule every cell produces to clean up the metabolic exhaust of being alive.9 Research suggests stressors like sleep loss, intense training, environmental load, and a heavy workweek can draw down the body's natural reserves of glutathione.9 Taken by mouth, it's broken down in the gut before it reaches the bloodstream. An IM injection, or an IV drip, bypasses that breakdown.

You can book this visit two ways. The Restore is offered as an intramuscular injection (a few minutes, single-dose) or as an IV drip (about fifteen minutes, slower entry into circulation). The IM route is the focus of this page. For the IV route, the booking platform applies the same intake review and contraindications.

What we do offer it for: antioxidant support during periods of high oxidative load: the high-stress weeks, the week after a long flight, the heavy training block, the stretch when the body has been working overtime. We offer glutathione for antioxidant support, not for skin lightening. Reviews of glutathione for skin lightening report it is not supported for that use, and note safety considerations with intravenous administration.78

Suitability is reviewed at intake.

N° 04 · Biotin

For the upkeep you only notice when it slips.

Biotin (vitamin B7) · hair, skin & nail support

Hair, skin, and nails are never really finished. They're in constant, quiet renewal, and biotin (vitamin B7) is one of the vitamins the body draws on to keep that everyday work going. Because it's water-soluble, the body doesn't store it away. It uses what it needs each day and lets the rest go. A shot is a simple way to keep that supply topped up.

We'll always be honest about the frame. Biotin is supportive maintenance for the hair, skin, and nails you already have, not a promised result and never a fix for hair loss.14 And because it's short-acting, your body uses what it needs and gently lets the rest go, which is why biotin tends to suit a returning rhythm rather than a single visit.

Suitability is reviewed at intake.

Start the Conversation

Not sure which one fits?

Talk to one of our registered nurses. No commitment, no pressure, a short conversation about how you've been feeling, and an honest take on whether one of these visits makes sense for you. A nurse practitioner reads every intake before any vitamins are given.

Talk to a nurse Or start the intake

How it works

We come to you,
and we don't rush off.

  1. Booking your mobile IM shot visit on a laptop and phone.

    Intake & nurse practitioner review

    It starts with a few health questions at intake. A nurse practitioner reads your file before anything else. If something gives us pause, a medication, a condition, a question of timing, we reach out before a thing is charged. We'd rather say not yet than rush you.

  2. A Drip Tonic registered nurse administering an IM shot to a client relaxing at home.

    Your nurse arrives · single-use kit in hand

    A registered nurse comes to your home, office, or hotel at the time you booked. Quick check of your vitals. Single-use equipment opened in front of you. A clean wipe. A pinch into the upper arm or glute. Done.

  3. A vial and a clock on warm linen, the slow release after an IM shot.

    Settled, before we go

    When it's done, your nurse stays with you, as long as that takes. Long enough to know you're settled and at ease, never a minute rushed. No reaching for the door, no checklist. Just a calm landing, and someone there for it.

Book your shot

Common Questions

Questions people ask before booking.

The questions that come up most often, answered honestly. Anything missing? Write to wellness@driptonic.ca. We read every one.

01

What's actually in a shot?

A single, pharmacy-prepared vitamin in a small volume of fluid, drawn into a syringe, injected into the upper arm or glute. Suitability is reviewed by a nurse practitioner at intake.

02

How long does the whole visit take?

The injection itself takes only a minute or two. Because we stay with you for the intake check and a brief settle afterwards, plan on about 15 to 20 minutes for the whole visit. Returning visits are typically shorter.

03

How often can I get one?

Frequency is determined on an individual basis by the nurse practitioner at intake. More is not better.

04

Will I feel anything?

You may feel a brief sting at the injection site, and often little after that. Some clients notice mild soreness in the muscle for a day or so, similar to a flu shot. In published research on a 12-month sustained IM dose, fewer than 1 in 8 people reported any injection-site discomfort, and every case was mild and resolved on its own.3

05

Is this actually safe?

Drip Tonic provides supportive wellness services, intramuscular vitamin injections administered by registered nurses in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario, under nurse practitioner medical direction. Any needle carries a small, real risk profile: brief soreness at the site, occasional bruising, rare allergic reaction. The risk is low, not zero. We set the floor of the visit high:

  • Pharmacy-prepared formulations. Sourced from an accredited Canadian compounding pharmacy, drawn and given by your RN using single-use, sealed supplies and careful technique.
  • Single-use needles. Opened in front of you, used once, disposed of safely.
  • RN administration. Every visit is placed by a registered nurse in good standing.
  • NP-reviewed intake. Your health history is reviewed before any vitamins are given.
  • Monitoring on-site. Your nurse confirms there's no immediate reaction before leaving, no drop-and-go.

If you're unsure whether a visit is right for you, message us.

06

How is an IM shot different from an IV drip?

An IV drip delivers fluids and a blend of nutrients into a vein over about 45 to 60 minutes. An IM shot is a single injection into a large muscle, taking a few minutes. Both bypass the digestive system. The absorption profile is the difference: an IV puts everything into circulation immediately; an IM shot enters from the muscle at the vitamin's own pace, water-soluble ones are taken up quickly and suit regular visits, fat-soluble vitamin D releases across the months that follow.2 Read the full IV explainer: What is IV therapy?

07

Can I get one on my lunch break?

Yes, if your intake is already on file and a registered nurse is available, the visit itself is brief (around 10 to 15 minutes once your nurse is in the room). For first-time visits we recommend booking a separate, unhurried slot instead of pairing it with something important the same day. Suitability is reviewed at intake.

08

What if I'm pregnant, breastfeeding, or on a blood thinner?

Pregnancy without OB clearance is on our do-not-book list, mirroring the Cleveland Clinic and Merck Manual guidance for parenteral vitamin therapy.1110 Lactation is reviewed case-by-case. Anticoagulants and bleeding disorders require clearance from your prescribing physician before any IM injection. The injection-site bleeding profile changes. Please flag any of these on your intake.

09

Where can you come to me?

Drip Tonic is a mobile service across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, including Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Vaughan, Markham, North York, Etobicoke, Scarborough, Richmond Hill, and surrounding areas. We also serve hotels, offices, and private events on request. See the full service area →

10

How do I book?

All bookings run through our JaneApp portal at driptonic.janeapp.com. Choose your shot and complete the intake. At your visit, your nurse takes your vitals and a Nurse Practitioner reviews your file alongside those vitals before your shot is given. If anything raises a flag, we'll tell you honestly, and you're refunded in full if your intake isn't approved.

Read the full FAQ Or ask us directly

Ready to Restore

Drip Tonic is mobile, RN-led, and by appointment. We offer four IM visits, and we'd much rather walk you through them than rush you into one.

Now you know what they are.
Come find your rhythm.

See the full menu Ask us a question

These statements have not been evaluated by Health Canada. This service is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Suitability is determined by NP intake review on an individual basis. Drip Tonic provides supportive wellness services administered by registered nurses with nurse practitioner oversight.

Sources

References & further reading

References & further reading Fifteen peer-reviewed & regulatory sources
  1. 1 Hariz A, Bhattacharya PT. Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) Deficiency. StatPearls, updated 2024
  2. 2 Wylon K, Drozdenko G, Krannich A, et al. Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of a Single Intramuscular High Dose versus an Oral Long-Term Supplementation of Cholecalciferol. PLOS ONE 2017;12(1):e0169620
  3. 3 Kwak DS, Sun HY, Yoo BW. Efficacy and Safety of Intramuscular Injections of Vitamin D3 B.O.N. on Serum Vitamin D Levels in Adults with Vitamin D Deficiency: A Prospective, Single-Center, Open-Label Study. Korean J Health Promot 2024;24(1):2–10
  4. 4 Zhang M, Han W, Hu S, Xu H. Methylcobalamin: a potential vitamin of pain killer. Neural Plasticity 2013;2013:424651
  5. 5 Schiavone FP, Lahner E, et al. Real-Life Use of Intramuscular Cyanocobalamin in a Cohort of Patients with Corpus Atrophic Gastritis and Vitamin B12 Deficiency. Nutrients 2026;18(2):271
  6. 6 Alswailmi FK, Shah SIA, Nawaz H, Al-Mazaideh GM. Molecular Mechanisms of Vitamin D-Mediated Immunomodulation. Galen Medical Journal 2021;10:e2097
  7. 7 Sarkar R, Yadav V, Yadav T, et al. Glutathione as a skin-lightening agent and in melasma: a systematic review. International Journal of Dermatology 2025, finds IV glutathione contraindicated for skin lightening
  8. 8 Alzahrani TF, et al. Exploring the Safety and Efficacy of Glutathione Supplementation for Skin Lightening: A Narrative Review. Cureus 2025
  9. 9 Gaucher C, Boudier A, Bonetti J, et al. Glutathione: Antioxidant Properties Dedicated to Nanotechnologies. Antioxidants (Basel) 2018;7(5):62
  10. 10 Shane-McWhorter L. Intravenous Vitamin Therapy (Myers' Cocktail). Merck Manual Professional Edition, reviewed July 2025
  11. 11 Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. IV Vitamin Therapy: Does It Work? Reviewed 2025, contraindication list for parenteral vitamin therapy
  12. 12 Labarrere CA, Kassab GS. Glutathione: A Samsonian Life-Sustaining Small Molecule that Protects Against Oxidative Stress, Ageing and Damaging Inflammation. Frontiers in Nutrition 2022;9:1007816
  13. 13 Aebi S, Assereto R, Lauterburg BH. High-dose intravenous glutathione in man. Pharmacokinetics and effects on cyst(e)ine in plasma and urine. European Journal of Clinical Investigation 1991;21(1):103–110, documents IV glutathione plasma half-life at ~14 minutes
  14. 14 Patel DP, Swink SM, Castelo-Soccio L. A Review of the Use of Biotin for Hair Loss. Skin Appendage Disorders 2017;3(3):166–169, documented benefit was confined to people with an underlying deficiency
  15. 15 Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM/AACC). Academy Guidance: Biotin Interference in Laboratory Tests. Biotin can interfere with immunoassays including thyroid and troponin, pause 48–72 h before bloodwork
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