At what angle should subcutaneous injections typically be administered?

Subcutaneous injections are typically administered at a 45-degree angle. This angle allows for the effective deposition of the medication into the subcutaneous tissue, which lies just beneath the skin's surface. A 45-degree angle helps to minimize the risk of injecting the medication into muscle tissue, ensuring that it properly absorbs at a controlled rate, which is essential for various medications and therapies that rely on subcutaneous administration.

In different situations, a 90-degree angle may be used for certain injections, particularly when there is more fatty tissue to accommodate this approach, but the standard and more universally recommended angle is 45 degrees. The other angles mentioned, such as 30 degrees or 180 degrees, are not typical for subcutaneous injections; specifically, 180 degrees would not be relevant in this context, as it implies a position completely inverted from the skin. This specificity assists in providing safe and effective medication administration.