This information will help you learn how to give yourself a subcutaneous (SUB-kyoo-TAY-nee-us) injection (shot) using a prefilled syringe. A subcutaneous injection is an injection that’s given under your skin. A prefilled syringe is a syringe that comes with nutritional injections inside.
Please store your nutritional injections at room temperature and out of direct light.Don’t store your prefilled syringes in the freezer or leave them in direct sunlight..
Place your supplies on a clean, flat surface (such as a table or countertop). You’ll need:
Choose an injection site (place on your body to give the injection) where you can pinch a 1 to 2-inch (2.5 to 5-centimeter) fold of skin. It’s best to use one of the following areas (see Figure 1):
Don’t inject into an area that’s tender, red, bruised, hard, or that has scars or stretch marks.
Figure 1. Injection sites
Give the injection in a different area each time. It’s helpful to use a notebook or calendar to keep track. Injecting in the same spot each time will make scar tissue form. This can keep the nutritional injections from working like it’s supposed to. It will also make it hard to put the needle into your skin.
Once you choose an injection site, follow the instructions below.
1. Clean your hands well with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Fold back any clothing that’s covering the injection site.
3. Open the alcohol pad. Using firm pressure, clean the skin at the injection site. Start at the center of the site and move outward in a circular motion.
4. Let your skin air dry. Don’t fan or blow on the area.
GIVE YOURSELF THE INJECTION
1. Take the syringe out of its package.
2. With your dominant hand (the hand you write with), hold the syringe around the middle, like a pen or dart.
3. Carefully pull the needle cover straight off (see Figure 2). Once the needle cover is off, don’t set the syringe down.Don’t let anything, including your fingers, touch the needle.If anything touches the needle, put the syringe in the sharps container. Start over with a new one.
Figure 2. Remove the needle cover
4. Check the syringe for air bubbles. If there is an air bubble, hold the syringe so the needle is pointing up. Gently tap the syringe with your fingers until the air bubbles rise to the top, near the needle. Slowly push the plunger up to force the air bubbles out.
5. Make sure you’re still holding the syringe around the middle, like a pen or dart. Use your free hand to pinch a fold of skin at the injection site.
6. Push the whole needle straight down into your skin in one smooth, quick motion (see Figure 3). Don’t put your thumb on the plunger yet.
Figure 3. Put the needle into your skin
7. Stop pinching your skin. Use your thumb to slowly push the plunger all the way down until all the medicine is injected (see Figure 4). You can use whichever thumb is more comfortable.
Figure 4. Push the plunger all the way down
8. When the syringe is empty, pull it straight out of your skin.
9. Place the syringe into the sharps container. Don’t use a prefilled syringe more than once.
Call your healthcare provider if:
