Subcutaneous injections are administered in the fat layer, underneath the skin.
Intramuscular injections are delivered into the muscle
.
Are intramuscular injections better than subcutaneous?
Intramuscular injections are absorbed faster than subcutaneous injections
. This is because muscle tissue has a greater blood supply than the tissue just under the skin. Muscle tissue can also hold a larger volume of medication than subcutaneous tissue.
What happens if subcutaneous injection is given intramuscularly?
Serious reactions to intramuscular injections are rare; in one series of 26 294 adults, of whom 46% had received at least one intramuscular injection, only 48 (0.4%) had a local adverse effect. However,
subcutaneous injections can cause abscesses and granulomas
.
What hurts more subcutaneous or intramuscular?
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.
What is the advantage of subcutaneous injection?
As subcutaneous tissue has few blood vessels, the injected drug
is diffused very slowly at a sustained rate of absorption
. Therefore, it is highly effective in administering vaccines, growth hormones, and insulin, which require continuous delivery at a low dose rate.
Do you pinch skin giving subcutaneous injection?
PHE (2013) recommends that subcutaneous vaccinations are given with the needle at a 45-degree angle to the skin and
the skin should be pinched together
(PHE, 2013).
Can estrogen be injected subcutaneously?
There are two methods for delivering testosterone or estrogen with needles:
subcutaneously
or intramuscularly. This can be done by the person taking the hormones, or with the help of a friend or family member.
Where do you inject subcutaneously?
- the upper outer area of the arm.
- the front and outer sides of the thighs.
- the abdomen, except for a 2 inch area around the navel.
- the upper outer area of the buttocks.
- the upper hip.
Can test be injected subcutaneously?
Findings reveal that weekly
subcutaneous
testosterone (cypionate/ester) injections work well clinically. Total and free testosterone measures were overall stable and not influenced by body mass index. Superiority of subcutaneous over intramuscular injections relies on improved convenience, safety, and cost.
Why are intramuscular injections so painful?
The pain you are experiencing is usually
soreness of the muscle
where the injection was given. This pain is also a sign that your immune system is making antibodies in response to the viruses in the vaccine.
Are intramuscular injections painful?
It’s normal to experience some discomfort after an intramuscular injection
. But certain symptoms may be a sign of a more serious complication. Call your doctor or healthcare provider right away if you experience: severe pain at the injection site.
How do you give an intramuscular injection without pain?
Hold the skin around
where you will give the injection: With your free hand, gently press on and pull the skin so that it is slightly tight. Insert the needle into the muscle: Hold the syringe barrel tightly and use your wrist to inject the needle through the skin and into the muscle at a 90 degree angle.
What are the disadvantages of subcutaneous injections?
The slower absorption
is a common disadvantage of subcutaneous administration because there is less blood flow to quickly absorb drug; however, this may be an advantage as well, in that lower doses of drugs may last for longer periods.
What are the disadvantages of intravenous injection?
IV route has several disadvantages like
discomfort, stress to patients, multiple hospitalizations trip, high cost, and high risk of hospital-acquired infections
[139,140].
What drugs can be given subcutaneously?
Examples of subcutaneous medications include
insulin, opioids, heparin, epinephrine, and allergy medication
(Perry et al., 2014). To administer an SC injection, a 25 to 30 gauge, 3/8 in. to 5/8 in. needle is used.
How do you give a painless subcutaneous injection?
A subcutaneous (SC) or intramuscular (IM) injection is almost
always painless if the skin is stretched firmly before inserting the needle
. If injecting the arm, for example, the third, fourth and fifth fingers should go medial to the arm while the thumb and index finger stretch the skin on the lateral surface (Fig.
