What Are the Differences Between Intravenous (IV), Intramuscular Injectable (IM), and Subcutaneous Injectable (SQ) Infusions?

Intravenous (IV), intramuscular injectable (IM), and subcutaneous injectable (SQ) infusions? We just said a mouthful of scientific words that can be very confusing if you are unfamiliar with them. Let’s start with their similarities. IV, IM, and SQ infusions are all types of infusion therapy used to deliver medications into your body. They are different from oral medications, and there are specific reasons why doctors will recommend these types of medications. Let’s take a closer look at how each infusion is delivered and other important details.

Intravenous Therapy

Intravenous therapy is commonly used in healthcare to deliver fluids, blood, medication, or nutrition directly into the bloodstream. A bag of fluid connects to a small plastic tube that is connected to a vein via a needle. The whole set-up is commonly called an “IV” (intravenous). Standard IV fluid often contains water, glucose, and electrolytes. Medication can be injected into the IV all at once or slowly using a slow-release pump, also called a drip. The slow release of medication into the bloodstream using an IV is called intravenous infusion therapy.

What Is Intravenous Therapy Used For?

This type of infusion therapy is often used to treat:

• Severe dehydration
• Chronic pain
• Blood loss
• Malnutrition due to the inability to eat or drink
• Vitamin deficiency
• Chemotherapy or immunotherapy for cancer
• Administering anesthesia
• Other health conditions that benefit from intravenous therapy

Some of the severe health conditions that can benefit from IV therapy include arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, autoimmune disorders, cancer, infections, and others.

What Are the Possible Side Effects of IV Therapy?

Like with oral medications, IV therapy also has the potential to cause side effects. The most common side effects include:

• Redness, swelling, or injury at the injection site
• Muscle pain
• Burning or stinging
• Allergic reaction

Additional side effects for this type of infusion therapy will depend on the medication that is infused into the body. Your doctor and the infusion therapy nurse will be able to give you more specific information about the potential side effects of your treatment.

Intramuscular Injectable (IM) Infusions

Intramuscular types of infusion therapy deliver medicine directly into muscle tissue for fast absorption by the bloodstream and effective results. An intramuscular injection delivers all the medicine at one time with a needle. This is how most vaccines are given to patients. Intramuscular infusions use a medicine bag and a pump to slowly deliver the medicine over a longer period of time. Intramuscular infusions are used when oral medications are not properly absorbed by the digestive system, or when the medicine is irritating to veins to be given by an IV infusion. They are also recommended when faster absorption is needed over subcutaneous infusions.

What Are Intramuscular Infusions Used For?

The type of infusion therapy that a doctor recommends will depend on the type of medicine that is needed for a specific health condition. It may also be recommended if the patient has trouble taking oral medications or has veins that make intravenous therapy difficult. People with conditions like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis often receive treatment by intramuscular infusion. Other common uses are to receive antibiotics, vaccines, hormone therapy, and antibodies (immunoglobulins).

What Are the Possible Side Effects of Intramuscular Infusions?

All types of infusion therapy have possible side effects. The most common side effects that can happen with intramuscular infusions are:

• Warmth, pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
• Numbness or tingling in the muscle
• Drainage or bleeding at the injection area

Rarely, some patients may experience an allergic reaction.

Subcutaneous Injectable (SQ) Infusions

Subcutaneous administration of medications means that the medication is delivered beneath the skin, rather than dripped directly into the bloodstream like in IV infusion therapy. Subcutaneous infusions are delivered under the skin into the fatty layer known as the ‘cutis’, which is below the dermis and epidermis. This type of infusion therapy can be done with a needle (which is called a subcutaneous injectable) or with a continuous slow drip from a medicine bag (which is called a subcutaneous infusion). There is no IV fluid bag as with other common types of infusion therapy.

What Are Subcutaneous Infusions Used For?

Subcutaneous infusions are absorbed into the body slower than other types of infusion therapy, but faster than oral medications. Patients may use SQ infusion therapy as treatment for different health conditions. It can be used to administer insulin for diabetes, blood thinners, fertility drugs, medications for arthritis and autoimmune disorders, allergy medications, opioids, and more.

What Are the Possible Side Effects of SQ Infusions?

As with the other types of infusion therapy, there is a possibility of side effects from SQ infusions. Some of the most common side effects include:

• Redness
• Itching
• Swelling at the injection site
• Nausea
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Sensation of feeling hot

These side effects are usually mild and will resolve in a day or so.

Where To Get Infusion Therapy

Though all types of infusion therapy have some potential side effects, your provider weighs the risks versus the benefits and recommends the infusion therapy that is best suited for you. Infusion therapies offer fast and effective relief for minor to chronic health conditions.

While you can get infusion therapy in a hospital, it is often more cost-effective to receive infusions at an infusion center, like AmeriPharma Infusion Center™. We offer all types of infusion therapy in a relaxing, resort-like atmosphere. Our patients enjoy amenities like complimentary healthy snacks and beverages, free Wi-Fi, multiple entertainment options, and a dedicated infusion nurse. Your infusion nurse will monitor your health and comfort during therapy and is able to answer any questions you may have about the procedure and your treatment. If your doctor has recommended infusion therapy, contact AmeriPharma Infusion Center™ for a free consultation.