If you live with a chronic condition — like arthritis, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, or HIV — your treatment plan might include a medication that you inject yourself or receive as an injection from your healthcare provider.
While the idea of giving yourself a shot might sound intimidating at first, millions of people do it safely every day. Understanding how injections work and what to expect can reduce stress and increase confidence.
Why Some Medications are Injectable
Medications can be taken in several ways — by mouth, through IV (intravenously), by injection under the skin (subcutaneous) or injection under the muscle (intramuscular). The method your doctor recommends depends on how the medication works in your body and its availability.
Some treatments — especially biologic or protein-based drugs — can’t be taken by mouth because your digestive system would break them down before they could work. Instead, these medicines are designed to be absorbed directly into your bloodstream or tissues through injection.
Injectable medications are used to treat a wide range of conditions, including:
- Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus, and others
- Metabolic and endocrine disorders: type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis
- Infectious diseases: HIV/AIDS
- Various types of cancer
While these conditions are very different, what they have in common is the need for specialized and powerful treatment — and injections can often deliver medication efficiently where it’s needed most.
Subcutaneous vs. Other Types of Injections
When people think of injections, they might imagine a flu shot in the arm. That’s called an intramuscular (IM) injection — delivered deep into a muscle. Some hospital treatments are given intravenously (IV) through a vein, which allows for continuous or rapid delivery of medication.
A subcutaneous (SC) injection — the kind most people give themselves at home — is different. The needle goes into the fatty tissue just under your skin, not into the muscle. These injections are typically less painful and use a smaller, shorter needle. Common injection sites include the abdomen (belly), thigh, or the back of the upper arm.
Many biologic medications for inflammatory conditions, as well as insulin and some cancer or HIV medications, are given this way. They’re designed to release medicine gradually, providing steady effects between doses.
Common Delivery Devices
Depending on your medication, you might use one of several types of devices:
- Pre-filled syringes: Ready to use, you simply remove the cap, pinch your skin, and inject.
- Auto-injector pens: These look a bit like thick markers and make the process simple — you press the pen against your skin and push a button. The device automatically delivers the right dose.
- Pre-filled cartridges: The cartridge is placed in a reusable autoinjector, making self-injection easier.
- Vials and syringes: Some medications still come in vials that you draw from with a syringe before injecting. This method allows for flexibility in dosing.
- On-body injectors: These wearable devices attach to your skin and deliver the medication over several minutes after you activate them.
Your healthcare team or pharmacist will show you exactly how to use your prescribed device, dispose of supplies safely, and store the medication properly.
Tips for Taking Injectable Medications
It’s common to feel nervous about your first injection. Here are a few tips to make it easier:
- Learn by watching: Whether you’ll be giving yourself the injection or receiving it from your healthcare provider, ask them to walk you through the steps. If you are required to inject yourself, your healthcare team can demonstrate how to inject and supervise you for the first time. Many drug manufacturers also have short videos and nurse hotlines for extra guidance on their websites.
- Ask your healthcare provider what to expect: Ask about what to expect during and after the injection — for example, where the shot will be given, how long it takes, and whether you should rest briefly afterward. If you notice pain, swelling, or redness that doesn’t go away, let your provider know.
- Practice on an orange or training device: This can help you get comfortable with the motion before trying it on yourself. Be sure not to use your actual medication when practicing; use a trainer or demo device provided by your healthcare team or the manufacturer.
- Rotate injection sites: Changing where you inject each dose helps prevent skin irritation or hard spots from forming. Repeatedly using the same spot can cause small amounts of scar tissue to build up under the skin. This can make the area lumpy, harder to inject into, and affect how well the medication is absorbed. That’s why rotating injection sites from dose to dose is important
- Let medication warm up: If your medicine is kept in the fridge, allow it to sit at room temperature for 15–30 minutes before use (check the instructions). Injecting cold medication can sting.
- Track your doses: Use a phone reminder or calendar to stay on schedule.
- Use distraction techniques: If you feel nervous or uneasy when it’s time for your injection, try exploring different distraction techniques, such as breathing exercises, watching videos, listening to music or a podcast, or squeezing a stress ball or fidget toy.
Most people find that once they get into a routine, injections become just another part of their self-care — like brushing their teeth or taking a daily walk.
Benefits of Injectable Medications
Injectable treatments can offer several advantages, including:
- More consistent absorption: Since injections bypass digestion, they may deliver medication more predictably than pills.
- Less frequent dosing: Some medications for chronic conditions — such as HIV, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and certain lung diseases — are available as injections or treatments that can be taken weekly, biweekly, or monthly.
- At-home convenience: Once you’re comfortable, you can take your medication at home without needing frequent visits to the clinic.
- Targeted treatment: Some injections are designed to act directly on specific cells or pathways involved in inflammation or disease activity.
Managing Side Effects and Safety
Mild redness or soreness at the injection site is common and usually goes away within a day or two. Using an ice pack afterward can help bring down the swelling, calm irritation and reduce pain. Speak to your doctor if you notice significant swelling, rash, or fever — these could be signs of infection or allergic reaction.
Always follow your healthcare provider’s directions for storage, dosing, and disposal. Used needles and pens should go into a sharps container (a puncture-resistant container sued to safely dispose of used needles) — never into household trash. Your pharmacy or local health department can tell you where to drop them off.
Living Well with Injectable Treatment
Taking an injectable medication is a big step toward managing your health, and it can lead to real improvements in quality of life. Whether your goal is reducing inflammation, controlling blood sugar, preventing fractures, or managing viral load, these treatments are powerful tools that help your body stay balanced and protected.
If you ever feel uncertain or overwhelmed, reach out — your care team, pharmacist, and patient community (like CreakyJoints) are here to help. You’re not alone on this journey. With practice, knowledge, and support, you can make injections a smooth and confident part of your treatment plan.
Tell Us: What’s Your Experience Taking Injectable Medications?
Do you take medication by injection for your condition — like arthritis, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, or HIV? We want to hear from you!
How do you feel about giving yourself injections? What’s been helpful (or hard) about your experience?
Click here to learn more about how you can share your thoughts and help researchers and clinicians understand your experience.
Your feedback may help us create better resources and support for everyone navigating injectable treatments.
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