Subcutaneous injection: Definition and what to expect (original) (raw)

A subcutaneous injection, or shot, enters the fatty tissues just beneath the skin. It is shallower than an injection into muscle tissue.

Healthcare professionals often use subcutaneous injections for medications, such as insulin, which need to be absorbed into the bloodstream slowly and steadily.

Subcutaneous injections are usually safe and do not require as much force as intramuscular injections, which people inject into muscle tissue.

The needle for a subcutaneous injection is usually small and short and causes minimal discomfort.

The amount of pain someone feels depends on factors such as where they or another person administers the injection, their pain tolerance, and their skin sensitivity.

The pain level also depends on the medication they are injecting. Some medications may cause stinging, burning, or aching during or after the injection.

Subcutaneous injections tend to be less painful than intramuscular injections because the needles are smaller and do not have to push through as much tissue.

However, children and people who fear needles may still experience anxiety during injections.

A few strategies can help with the pain and anxiety:

• Use a numbing cream on the area a few minutes before the injection. Many doctors’ offices have these available.
• Try putting ice on the area to numb it a few minutes before the injection.
• Allow nursing babies to breastfeed during injections.
• Hold a child in a comforting position rather than having them lie down on an exam table, and speak calmly to them.
• Give a baby a pacifier before an injection.
• Cough or blow before or during the injection.
• Take deep breaths or encourage children to breathe deeply before the shot.
• Use a distraction such as a video or a game, or talk with the person during the injection. Sometimes, looking at the shot may make it hurt more.

1. Choose a fatty area, such as the abdomen, the back of the arm, or the thigh: If a person needs multiple injections at one time or an injection every day, rotate the sites to allow each area to heal between injections.
2. Wash the hands and then clean the area with an alcohol pad: Wait for the area to completely dry before the next step.
3. Take the cap off the needle: Draw the medication into the syringe according to the directions on the vial. This usually means turning the vial upside down and then pulling the plunger back to suck in the medication. Tap the syringe to remove air bubbles.
4. Pinch a fold of skin: Use the thumb and finger to pinch a fatty area about 2 inches thick.
5. While holding the needle like a dart, slide it into the skin at a 90-degree angle: Needles for subcutaneous injections are usually short and small and should go all the way into the skin.
6. Push the plunger all the way down quickly: Do not push forcefully.
7. Cover the needle: Dispose of the needle in a needle-safe container.

The best location for a subcutaneous injection depends on a person’s pain sensitivity and where they have some subcutaneous fat.

Common locations include:

• the back or side of the arm
• the fatty part of the stomach
• the front of the thighs
• the top of the buttocks, where there is more fat than muscle

Some subcutaneous injections come in the form of an auto-injector, which is a self-contained device that does not require drawing the medication up first. People can follow the instructions on the package if they are using an auto-injector.

People can use subcutaneous injections to give many types of medication for various medical conditions.

There are fewer blood vessels in the fatty layer of connective tissue just beneath the skin than in the muscle tissue. This means that medication injected subcutaneously undergoes absorption more slowly.

For this reason, subcutaneous injection is a suitable way to administer medications that the body must use slowly over time, such as insulin for treating diabetes.

Other medications that are administered this way include:

• blood thinners, such as heparin
• some fertility drugs
• some drugs for autoimmune diseases, such as Enbrel and Kineret for rheumatoid arthritis

Many drugs that people must take daily or inject at home are designed for subcutaneous injection.

The most common complication of subcutaneous injections is an injection-site reaction, which can involve pain or irritation near the injection site and may last for 1 to 2 days afterward.

Pain near the injection site can occur if a person inserts the needle at an unsuitable angle or if the needle moves slightly during the injection. Some medications can cause a bruise or irritation at the injection site.

Other possible complications, which occur much less frequently, include:

Infection

Any puncture in the skin can allow bacteria to enter and cause an infection. Properly cleaning the area and always using a clean needle can reduce the risk of infection.

People need to avoid reusing or sharing needles and should always dispose of used needles in an appropriate container.

Injection into a blood vessel

A person may have hit a blood vessel if there is blood in the syringe. Injecting medication into a blood vessel can change how the body absorbs the drug.

In rare cases, injecting into a blood vessel can cause serious complications. However, the likelihood of hitting a blood vessel in the subcutaneous fat is extremely low. Most likely, if there is blood, it is a result of slight bleeding after the injection.

A subcutaneous injection is a minor and very safe medical procedure when a person does it correctly.

Mastering the technique of injecting at home can take some practice. People can ask for help from a healthcare professional and should not hesitate to ask questions about the benefits of treatment or how best to minimize pain.