SubQ
Medical abbreviation · Medication Route
| Stands for | Subcutaneous |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
SubQ stands for Subcutaneous, a medication route abbreviation.
Common spelling of the subcutaneous route seen on consumer drug labels, patient instructions and charts. Its handwritten cousin "sub q" is on the ISMP error-prone list because the "q" was read as "every".
Example: Patient taught to inject Ozempic SubQ once weekly in the abdomen or thigh.
Usage notes
ISMP's documented example involved "sub q 2 hours before surgery", interpreted as "every 2 hours before surgery". Typed, capitalized "SubQ" is less ambiguous than handwritten "sub q", but "subcut" remains the recommended form in orders. Also written Sub-Q, subQ or sub-q.
Related abbreviations
More medication route abbreviations
- AD – Auris dextra (right ear)
- AS – Auris sinistra (left ear)
- AU – Auris utraque (each ear, both ears)
- CIVI – Continuous intravenous infusion
- ET – Endotracheal
- GT – Gastrostomy tube
- IA – Intra-articular
- ICV – Intracerebroventricular
- ID – Intradermal
- IJ – Injection
- IL – Intralesional
- IM – Intramuscular
See all 41 medication route abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.