Advantage And Disadvantage Of Subcutaneous (SC) Injection

The subcutaneous route is one of the most flexible routes of drug administration, which can be used for short-term as well as long-term treatments. In subcutaneous injection, a small needle is used to inject medicine into the tissue layer between the skin and the muscle. It involves injecting a drug into the loose connective tissue between the dermis of the skin and the muscle layer.

Subcutaneous (SC)

A subcutaneous route is used when the drug's molecular size is too large to be effectively absorbed in the intestinal tract or when better bioavailability or a faster absorption rate is needed than the oral route. It is easy to administer and requires minimal skills, so patients can often self-administer the medication themselves. Common medications administered subcutaneously include insulin, heparin, and monoclonal antibodies.

Read Also: Advantage And Disadvantage Of Intradermal Injection

The subcutaneous route of medication is contraindicated in an actively infectious or inflamed site. Doses that require to be injected more than 1.5 mL at once should be avoided. Subcutaneous injection volumes larger than 2 mL are associated with adverse effects, including pain and leakage at the injection site.

A subcutaneous route requires minimal skills and training, and patients can often quickly learn to inject medications to themselves. It is recommended that instead of using the same site, patients rotate the sites of injection to avoid complications such as lipohypertrophy that can cause incomplete medication absorption. The injection is usually at an angle if using a needle/syringe or at a perpendicular angle if using an injector pen.

Advantages Of Subcutaneous (SC) Injection

1. Self-administration is possible (e.g. insulin)

2. Depot preparations can be inserted into the subcutaneous tissue, e.g. norplant for contraception

3. It is relatively safer than intravenous and intramuscular routes

4. Absorption is slower thus, it is a good route if a prolonged effect is to be achieved

Read Also: Overview Of Subcutaneous (SC) Injection

Disadvantages Of Subcutaneous (SC) Injection

1. It is suitable only for non irritant drugs

2. Drug absorption is slow; hence it is not suitable for emergency

3. Only small volume of drugs can be administered