Learn How to Inject: Subcutaneous Injections with a Pre-Filled Syringe

Its easy for patients and caregivers to learn how to perform a subcutaneous, or under-the-skin injection with a pre-filled syringe.

This type of injection is also called a subq injection, pronounced “sub Q” (“sub cue”).

Dr. Thompson, a rheumatologist, will demonstrate an injection in the following video using a syringe that has been pre-filled with medicine. This lesson is applicable a variety of medications used in rheumatology.

If your medication comes in a syringe that you need to fill on your own, you might be interested in:

Learn how to inject subcutaneous injections

Subcutaneous Injections

A subcutaneous injection involves poking a small needle just under the skin to deliver medicine into the “fatty tissue” below.

This type of injection does not deliver medicine straight into the blood. It is absorbed by the small blood vessels under the skin. This is similar to how medication is absorbed when you take a pill or tablet: small blood vessels in the stomach or bowel absorb the medication.

Parts of a syringe

Each syringe might look a little different but they are all the basically the same. They have 4 basic parts:

  1. A needle cap (which is removed)
  2. A needle
  3. A barrel which contains the medicine
  4. And a plunger.

Video Lesson

Step-by-Step: How to Inject

There are four basic steps to performing a subcutaneous injection with a pre-filled syringe: