What is the angle for administering a subcutaneous injection?

When administering a subcutaneous injection, the correct angle is typically around 45 degrees. This angle allows for the proper placement of the needle into the layer of fat beneath the skin, ensuring that the medication is deposited where it can be adequately absorbed.

Using the 45-degree angle minimizes the risk of injecting the medication directly into the muscle, which is important for the efficacy of certain medications that are designed to be delivered into the subcutaneous tissue rather than intramuscularly. It also helps to reduce discomfort for the patient during the injection process.

A 30-degree angle may not penetrate sufficiently to reach the subcutaneous tissue, while a 60-degree or 90-degree angle would increase the likelihood of deep tissue penetration, which is not ideal for subcutaneous injections as it could lead to complications or improper absorption.