Subcutaneous injection can be used to give many types of medications for various medical conditions. There are fewer blood vessels in the fatty layer of connective tissue just beneath the skin than the muscle tissue. Having fewer blood vessels means that medication injected subcutaneously is absorbed more slowly.

What are subcutaneous injections used for?

A subcutaneous injection is administered into the fatty tissue of the subcutaneous tissue, located below the dermis and epidermis. They are commonly used to administer medications, especially those which cannot be administered by mouth as they would not be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

What are the indications for subcutaneous injections?

Indications. Subcutaneous injections are to be used for small volumes of drugs that require slow absorption and long duration of action, such as heparin or insulin.