Where is subcutaneous injections given

Subcutaneous means under the skin. In this type of injection, a short needle is used to inject a drug into the tissue layer between the skin and the muscle. Medication given this way is usually absorbed more slowly than if injected into a vein, sometimes over a period of 24 hours. This type of injection is used when other methods of administration might be less effective. Other methods, like intravenous injection, can be difficult and costly.

For small amounts of delicate drugs, a subcutaneous injection can be a useful, safe, and convenient method of getting a medication into your body. Medications administered by subcutaneous injection include drugs that can be given in small volumes usually less than 1 mL but up to 2 mL is safe. Insulin and some hormones are commonly administered as subcutaneous injections. Other drugs that need to be given very quickly can also be administered via subcutaneous injection. Some pain medications like morphine and hydromorphone Dilaudid can be given this way as well.

Drugs that prevent nausea and vomiting like metoclopramide Reglan or dexamethasone DexPak can also be given via subcutaneous injection. Some vaccines and allergy shots are administered as a subcutaneous injection. Many other vaccines are administered as an intramuscular injection — into muscle tissue rather than under the skin. The location of injection is important for subcutaneous injections. The drug needs to be injected into the fatty tissue just below the skin.

Some areas of the body have a more easily accessible layer of tissue, where a needle injected under the skin will not hit muscle, bone, or blood vessels. Wash your hands. Wash your hands with soap and warm water to prevent potential infection. Be sure to thoroughly scrub between fingers, on the backs of hands, and under fingernails. Clean and inspect the injection site. Alternate injection sites to prevent damage to an area with repeated injections. Then you should clean the skin with an alcohol swab.

Let the alcohol dry thoroughly before doing the injection. Prepare the syringe with medication. The following parts of your body have subcutaneous layers: outer surface of the upper arm top of thighs buttocks abdomen, except the navel or waistline If you are very thin do not use the abdomen as an injection site. Do not use the same site for injections each time.

Rotate your injection sites in a regular pattern. Jot down on your calendar where you gave you last shot. This will help prevent giving the shot in the same place too soon.

Select a site and cleanse the area about 2 inches with a fresh alcohol pad, or cotton ball soaked in alcohol. Wait for the site to dry. Remove the needle cap. Pinch a 2-inch fold of skin between your thumb and index finger. More than likely, if there is blood, it is from slight bleeding after the injection.

Mastering the technique of injecting at home can take some practice. People should ask for help from a medical provider and not shy away from asking questions about the benefits of treatment or how best to minimize pain.

Warfarin is a blood-thinner, an anticoagulant that helps to reduce the consistency of blood and the presence of any unneeded blood clots.

It is used…. Managing diabetes involves taking regular injections of insulin to manage blood sugar levels. Find out about the benefits of common insulin injection…. Is a subcutaneous injection painful? Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Medications used How to do it Does it hurt? Complications Takeaway A subcutaneous injection or shot is one into the fatty tissues just beneath the skin. Medications used in subcutaneous injections.

Several things can be done to make the injection less painful, please discuss these options with the physician:. The medication prescribed should be injected into subcutaneous tissue. This is the tissue between the fat layer just under the skin and over the top of the muscles. Subcutaneous tissue is all over your body, but the most common areas for subcutaneous injections are:.

The grids shown on the body maps on the right are the best places for subcutaneous injections because these are away from joints, nerves and large blood vessels. Discuss the best sites for injection with the nurse or physician.