Field note · technique
SubQ injection basics
Almost everything here is run subcutaneously — into the fat layer just under the skin, with a short insulin needle. Done cleanly it’s quick and nearly painless. Here’s the plain version.
General harm-reduction information for research compounds — not medical advice. Know your dose before you draw it; use the calculator on each peptide page.
What you’ll need
- Insulin syringes — a 29–31 gauge, 5/16″–1/2″ needle is typical for SubQ
- Alcohol swabs
- Your reconstituted vial (see the reconstitution calculator on the peptide’s page)
- A sharps container — a hard sealable container for used needles
SubQ or IM?
SubQ (into fat) is the default for essentially every peptide on this site — it’s shallow, low-volume, and easy. IM (into muscle) is deeper, used for specific compounds or larger volumes, and isn’t needed here. When a page just says “SubQ or IM,” SubQ is the simpler choice.
Where to inject — and rotate
Common SubQ sites: the abdomen (avoid a ~2-inch circle around the navel), the love handles, the outer thigh, and the back of the upper arm. Rotate every time — same spot over and over leads to lumps, irritation, and worse absorption. A simple left/right, day-to-day rotation is enough.
Step by step
- Wash your hands.
- Swab the vial stopper; let it dry. Draw your dose to the right unit mark.
- Tap out and push back any large air bubbles.
- Swab the injection site; let it dry (wet alcohol is what stings).
- Pinch a fold of skin. Insert the needle at 45–90° in one smooth motion.
- Inject slowly and steadily, then withdraw at the same angle.
- Brief light pressure with a clean swab — don’t rub hard.
- Cap nothing by hand — drop the whole syringe straight into the sharps container.
Keep it clean
One needle, one use — they’re cheap and they go blunt fast. Never touch the needle, never reuse or share, and don’t inject through clothing. Aseptic technique is the whole game with anything you put under your skin.
Normal vs. not
Normal: a tiny pinprick, a brief sting, a small bruise, or a little redness that fades within a day. Stop and see a clinician if you get spreading redness or warmth, swelling with pus, a fever, or pain that grows instead of fading — those point to infection, not a normal reaction.
Honest cautions
- This is general technique, not medical advice or a recommendation to inject anything.
- If you’re on blood thinners or have a bleeding or immune condition, talk to a professional first.
- Purity matters — insist on a certificate of analysis before running anything.