How to Give Yourself a Subcutaneous Shot (Single Medicine): Care Instructions

Giving yourself a subcutaneous injection (also called a sub-Q injection) means inserting medicine into the fatty areas just under your skin. The needle used for a sub-Q injection is very small and doesn't cause much pain. Many medicines are given in this way.

Your doctor has prescribed the amount and times you need to give the medicine.

The name of my medicine is: ______________________

Amount per injection: ____________________________

Times per day: _________________________________

• Put any pets in another room.
• Wash your hands for 1 to 2 minutes with liquid soap and clean, running water.
• Clean your area with soap and clean, running water. Dry with a paper towel.

Collect the following items:

• Your medicine. Keep in mind that some medicine vials must be taken out of the refrigerator at a specific amount of time before you inject them. Read the label and follow the instructions.
• A sterile disposable syringe. (Do not reuse your syringes.)
• Alcohol wipes or swabs
• Special container (sharps container) to throw out the used syringe. You can buy a sharps container at a pharmacy or medical supply store. You can also use an empty laundry detergent bottle or any other puncture-proof container and lid.

Then wash your hands again.

• You may find that the easiest and safest places to inject medicine are:
  • The back of your upper arms.
  • The upper thighs.
  • The belly (abdomen), but stay away from the belly button and waist area.
• If you are very thin, do not use your belly for your injection site, unless your doctor tells you to.
• Stay away from areas that are red, swollen, or bruised.
• Do not inject in the same site twice in a row. Choose a site that is at least 2 inches away from your last injection site.

Note: Skip this step if you are using a disposable injection pen. It is a syringe already filled (or prefilled) with a set amount of medicine. After you inject the medicine, you throw the pen away.

• Check the medicine in the vial. Look for changes in color, cloudiness, or something floating in it. Also check the expiration date.
  • Do not use the medicine if you think it looks different.
  • If you are using insulin, ask your doctor or pharmacist how it should look in the vial. Some insulin is normally cloudy. If your insulin is normally cloudy, gently roll it a few times before injecting.
  • Call your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if the medicine is safe to use.
• Remove the cap from the vial. Clean the rubber stopper on top of the vial with an alcohol wipe.
• Remove the syringe from its package. Do not use a syringe from an already opened package or a package with holes in it.
• Take the cap off the needle. Pull back the plunger, drawing air into the syringe. The amount of air should be the same as the amount of medicine your provider has prescribed for you.
• Push the needle into the rubber stopper of the vial. When the needle is through the stopper, push the plunger on the syringe so that the air goes into the vial.
• Keep the needle in the stopper and turn the vial upside down.
• Keep the tip of the needle in the liquid and pull back on the plunger. The medicine will flow into the syringe.
• Fill the syringe to your prescribed dose amount.
  • If you get too much, push some medicine back into the vial with the plunger.
  • If you did not get enough, keep pulling on the plunger.
• Check for air bubbles in the syringe.
  • If you see air bubbles in the syringe, gently tap the syringe while the needle is still in the stopper. The air bubbles will move to the top of the syringe.
  • Push the plunger slightly, and the air will go back into the vial.
• Check to make sure the syringe contains the prescribed amount of medicine. Then pull the needle out of the vial.

• Using an alcohol swab, clean the injection site. Make sure the cleaned area is about 2 inches in diameter.
• While the injection site dries, double-check that you have the right amount of medicine in your syringe.
• Place your thumb and forefinger on either side of the clean injection site. Pinch up about 2 inches of skin.
• Hold the syringe like a pencil. Insert the needle straight into your pinched-up skin. Insert the needle quickly. It will hurt less. Note: The best angle for inserting the needle will depend on your body type, the length of the needle, and the injection site. Your doctor will help you find which angle is best for you.
• Be sure to insert the needle with the bevel up, and insert all the way to the end of the needle. This will help you inject the medicine correctly.
• Release the skin, holding the syringe in place.
• Inject the medicine slowly.

• Remove the needle from your skin. Hold gauze or a cotton ball on the injection site for a few seconds. Do not rub the injection site.
• If you see blood or clear fluid, press on the injection site with the gauze or cotton ball for 5 to 8 minutes. Do not rub while pressing. Apply a bandage if you wish.
• Do not recap the needle.

• Put the needle and syringe in the sharps container. Never reuse the syringe. Make sure the needle points down. Never put your fingers into the container.
• When the container is full, dispose of it correctly according to your community's guidelines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist, health department, or local trash service how to dispose of sharps if you are not sure.
• Record the site, date, and time of each injection.

Follow up with your doctor, or as advised.

Contact your doctor right away if:

• You are unable to give your injection.
• You have bleeding at the injection site for more than 10 minutes.
• You injected medicine in the wrong area.
• You injected too much medicine.
• You have a rash at the injection site.
• You have redness, warmth, swelling, or drainage at the injection site.
• You have a fever of 100.4° F ( 38°C) or higher, or as directed by your doctor.
• You have signs of allergic reaction. These include trouble breathing, hives, and a rash.