What Does SQ Mean in Medical Terms?

SQ stands for subcutaneous. Under the skin, describing an injection route.

subcutaneous

Under the skin, describing an injection route.

⚠ Caution — error-prone abbreviation. SQ is on recognised error-prone abbreviation lists (ISMP pattern) because it can be misread or confused with similar terms. Many hospitals restrict or ban it in handwritten orders. Write the full form instead, and always verify against your institution’s approved list.

Where you will see SQ

You will most often see SQ in medication orders and prescriptions, nursing notes, care plans and handovers.

Example

A medication order might be written with “SQ” as shorthand for subcutaneous.

Related abbreviations

1:1 — one-to-one observation
2g Na diet — two-gram sodium diet
3% saline — three percent saline (hypertonic)
4-point restraints — four-point restraints
5-FU — fluorouracil
6-MP — mercaptopurine
6-TG — thioguanine
7+3 — seven plus three induction

Browse the full Medical Abbreviations guide — 5,715 entries, searchable A–Z and by specialty.

Educational reference only. This guide is for learning and quick reference. Abbreviations vary between hospitals, countries and specialties, and some are discouraged because they can be misread. Always write and interpret orders using your own institution’s approved abbreviation list, and check anything unclear with the prescriber or your local policy.

What Does SQ Mean in Medical Terms?

subcutaneous

Where you will see SQ

Example

Related abbreviations

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