Subcutaneous Injection Overview

A subcutaneous (sub-Q) injection is a shot that delivers medicine into the layer of fat between the skin and the muscle. This type of injection can be given by a healthcare professional, or a patient can self-inject.

Body Tissue Layers © 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Injection Sites © 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Prior to Procedure

• Make sure you have all of the items you will need easily available: syringe, medicine, cleaning materials, etc.

• Wash hands with warm, soapy water. Dry with a clean towel.

• Select a site. Cleanse the area (about 2 inches) with a fresh alcohol wipe.

• Wait for the site to dry.

Giving the Subcutaneous Injection

• Remove the needle cap.

• Pinch a 2-inch fold of skin between your thumb and index finger.

• Hold the syringe the way you would a pencil or dart. Insert the needle at about a 45 degree angle to the pinched-up skin. (The needle should be completely covered by skin.).

• Slowly push the plunger all the way down to inject the medicine.

• Remove the needle from the skin.

• If there is bleeding at the site of injection, apply a bandage.

• Immediately put the syringe and needle into a container that is puncture-proof.

• Find out what services are available in your area for disposing of biological waste.

General Injection Tips

• Change your injection site in a regular pattern.

• Give new injections at least 1.5 inches away from the last injection site.

Will It Hurt?

The needles for sub-Q injection are very thin and short, so pain is usually minimal. You may have some soreness later.

Tips for Minimizing Injection Pain

• Inject medicine that is at room temperature.

• Remove all air bubbles from the syringe before injection.

• Break through the skin quickly.

• Do not change the direction of the needle as it goes in or comes out.

• Do not reuse disposable needles.

RESOURCES:

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease: National Institutes of Health
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm

NIH Clinical Center
http://www.cc.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Cancer Care Ontario
http://www.cancercare.on.ca/pdfmedicationinfo/SC-injection-administration.pdf

References:

Health And Human Services. Selecting, evaluating, and using sharps disposal containers website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/sharps1.html . Accessed October 23, 2007.

How do I administer Lovenox? The Children’s Hospital (Denver, CO) website. Available at: http://www2.uchsc.edu/thrombophilia/docs/Administer_LOVENOX.pdf . Accessed on October 23, 2007.

Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center website. Available at: http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/diabetes/JohnsHopkinsHealthAlertsDiabetes_949-1.html . Accessed October 23, 2007.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm . Accessed October 14, 2005.