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Intramuscular vs Subcutaneous Injections - Which is Better? What is an Intramuscular Injection?

Intramuscular injection is defined as the injection of a substance/medication which is delivered deep into the muscles. This method of drug administration allows the substance to be absorbed into the bloodstream quickly1. Vaccines are an example of a substance that are given to patients via intramuscular injection.

What is a Subcutaneous Injection? Subcutaneous injection is defined as the injection of a substance/medication into the tissue layer between the skin and muscle. This type of injection uses a short needle and the substance/medication is absorbed more slowly in the bloodstream2.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Intramuscular Injection Advantages Intramuscular injections may be a better route for the administration of drugs compared to intravenous injections as some drugs may irritate veins and suitable veins may be difficult to locate in some patients3 Intramuscular injections can also be substituted for oral routes of drug administration as drugs taken orally can be destroyed by the digestive system when swallowed, whereas an intramuscular injection is delivered straight into the muscle Additionally, the dosage of the drug injected can be easily controlled and simple to use as patients can administer intramuscular injections on their own Lastly, Intramuscular injections are absorbed faster than subcutaneous injections as muscle tissue has a greater blood supply than the tissue just under the skin

Disadvantages Intramuscular injections can be painful! Side effects include severe pain at the injection site, tingling or numbness, redness, swelling, prolonged bleeding and allergic reactions If the administration of the injection is incorrectly performed, nerve damage can occur4 Intramuscular injections can also be ineffective if the site of administration is not conductive to the absorption of the drug. Administering intramuscular injections at the wrong site can lead to wastage of the medication/drug If the dose given is too large, there may be side effects, but if the dose given is too low, there may be no effect or pain relief

Advantages and Disadvantages of Subcutaneous Injection Advantages

Disadvantages

This type of injection can be self-administered by the patient so it is relatively simple to use and convenient. It is also less expensive and painful than intramuscular injections

Only small volumes of drug can be administered (...