Where is the best place to give a Lovenox shot?

A subcutaneous (say “sub-kyoo-TAY-nee-us”) shot is an injection of medicine under the skin, but not in a muscle. Some medicines, such as insulin or the blood-thinner enoxaparin (Lovenox), are injected only under the skin. This type of shot is usually given in the belly or the thigh.

Why do you inject air with Lovenox?

Prepare exact dose. If you do not need to discard any medicine from the syringe, do not expel the little air bubble before injecting the medicine. It helps push the medicine into the body so it will not leak out the injection site.

What angle do you give a Lovenox injection?

Holding a skin fold between your nondominant thumb and forefinger, insert the entire needle at a 90-degree angle or at a 45-degree angle if she’s thin. Inject the medication slowly by deep subcutaneous injection while holding the skin fold.

How do you administer enoxaparin injections?

Lie down and pinch a fold of skin between your finger and thumb. Push the entire needle into the skin and then press down on the syringe plunger to inject the drug. Hold onto the skin the entire time you give the shot. Do not rub the site after you give the shot.

Do you pinch skin for Lovenox injection?

It’s important to keep pinching that fold of skin until the injection is done—that way the medication doesn’t enter any muscle, which could be painful. Once the syringe is empty, pull the needle straight out and then let go of your skin. Don’t try to put the needle cap back on the syringe after the injection.

Where should the air bubble be in Lovenox?

If there is an air bubble, hold the syringe so the needle is pointing up. Gently tap the syringe with your fingers until the air bubbles rise to the top, near the needle. Slowly push the plunger up to force the air bubbles out. Don’t do this if you’re injecting Lovenox.

How do you administer anticoagulant injections?

Hold the syringe like you would hold a dart (in between with your index and middle finger and thumb). Using your non-dominant hand (the hand you don’t write with), pinch a 1 to 2 inch (2 ½ to 5 centimeters) fold of skin near the injection site between your thumb and first finger. Keep the syringe in your other hand.

What happens if you inject insulin too close to belly button?

When injecting into the abdomen, you should avoid the belly button because the belly button is tougher and makes insulin absorption less consistent.

How do you give a painless im injection?

A subcutaneous (SC) or intramuscular (IM) injection is almost always painless if the skin is stretched firmly before inserting the needle. If injecting the arm, for example, the third, fourth and fifth fingers should go medial to the arm while the thumb and index finger stretch the skin on the lateral surface (Fig.

What is the needle size for IM injections?

Intramuscular injections are administered at a 90-degree angle to the skin, preferably into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh or the deltoid muscle of the upper arm, depending on the age of the patient (Table 6-2). The needle gauge for intramuscular injection is 22-25 gauge.

Is Lovenox an anticoagulant?

Lovenox (enoxaparin) is an anticoagulant that helps prevent the formation of blood clots. Lovenox is used to treat or prevent a type of blood clot called deep vein thrombosis ( DVT ), which can lead to blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism). A DVT can occur after certain types of surgery,…

Why is Lovenox given in the abdomen?

Lovenox is given in the abdomen fatty tissue because it needs to be absorbed slowly over some time. Just like insulin being injected into fatty tissue. Fat tissue is less vascularity, so it won’t go direct into blood vessels. Remember when giving Lovenox you are to leave the bubble in the syringe (preloaded syringes)…

Can you give Lovenox in arm?

Lovenox is usually given in the fatty layer of the abdomen but can also be given in the thigh or fatty layer of the upper arm but preferrably the abdomen or thigh.

How is Lovenox administered?

Lovenox is usually given every day until your bleeding condition improves. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Lovenox is injected under the skin, or as an infusion into a vein.