Subcutaneous administration

Subcutaneous administration is the insertion of medications beneath the skin either by injection or infusion.

"Subcut" redirects here. Not to be confused with Subcut (song).

A subcutaneous injection is administered as a bolus into the subcutis, the layer of skin directly below the dermis and epidermis, collectively referred to as the cutis. The instruments are usually a hypodermic needle and a syringe. Subcutaneous injections are highly effective in administering medications such as insulin, morphine, diacetylmorphine and goserelin. Subcutaneous administration may be abbreviated as SC, SQ, subcu, sub-Q, SubQ, or subcut. Subcut is the preferred abbreviation to reduce the risk of misunderstanding and potential errors.^[1]

Subcutaneous tissue has few blood vessels and so drugs injected into it are intended for slow, sustained rates of absorption, often with some amount of depot effect. Compared with other routes of administration, it is slower than intramuscular injections but still faster than intradermal injections. Subcutaneous infusion (as opposed to subcutaneous injection) is similar but involves a continuous drip from a bag and line, as opposed to injection with a syringe.

Contraindications[edit]

Contraindications to subcutaneous injections primarily depend on the specific medication being administered. Doses which would require more than 2 mL to be injected at once are not administered subcutaneously.^[11] Medications which may cause necrosis or otherwise be damaging or irritating to tissues should also not be administered subcutaneously.^[12] An injection should not be given at a specific site if there is inflammation or skin damage in the area.^[13]^: 144

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The outer area of the .

upper arm

The abdomen, avoiding a 2-inch circle around the navel.

The front of the , between 4 inches from the top of the thigh and 4 inches above the knee.

thigh

The upper back.

The upper area of the , just behind the hip bone.

buttock

Intramuscular injection

Intravenous injection

Intradermal injection

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