Safer Injection Guide
Using and sharing injection equipment can be fatal. Using and sharing injection equipment is a high-risk activity and is never safe to do in a non-medical context. This guide is provided for educational and harm reduction purposes only and we highly discourage users from engaging in this activity. Injection is the process of dissolving a compound in a liquid and drawing the resulting solution into a needle-tipped syringe for self-administration. Substances are typically either injected directly into the bloodstream via the veins (a practice known as intravenous or I.V. injection) or into the muscle tissue (known as intramuscular or I.M. injection). More rarely, substances are injected in the flesh right under one's outer layer of skin and into the dermis itself: this is known as intradermal injection or "skin popping". Injecting into the subcutaneous tissue that surrounds the veins and arteries and lies under the skin is called "subcutaneous injection" or S.C. injection. Various classes of substances, like opiates, stimulants, dissociatives, benzodiazepines and psychedelics can be injected. Injecting substances removes any bodily filtering mechanism and I.V. injection results in 100% bioavailability of a substance.[1] If the substance being injected is impure, there is a massive increase in harm potential of said substance. Even medical quality substances meant for injection carry inherent risks of infection and death. Risks of infection - The simple act of penetrating the skin with anything is a way to introduce bacterium and viruses directly into the body. One should be as sterile as humanly possible when injecting, making sure to use alcohol swabs to wipe the injection area before and after injection. There is also the risk of infection if the substance being injecte Continue reading >>
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Injecting Insulin…
But Didn’t Know to Ask Just take your shot. What could be easier, right? Well, you’d be surprised how many errors are made by “veteran” insulin users. It turns out there’s nothing basic about the basics of insulin injections. However, you can improve your technique. This article takes a look at the nitty-gritty details behind successful insulin delivery, why they matter, and how to avoid common pitfalls. The gear Realistically, there are two delivery systems when it comes to injecting insulin: syringes and pens. Yes, there are pumps, but that’s a whole other subject. And yes, there are jet injectors, but they are not widely used. Syringes. The first-ever human insulin shot was delivered by syringe in 1922, and here in the United States, more than half of all insulin is still delivered via syringe. Syringes used to be made of glass, had to be sterilized between uses, and had long, thick, steel surgical needles that could be resharpened on a kitchen whetstone. (No kidding.) But syringes have come a long way since then. Syringes are now disposable, the barrels are made of plastic, and the needles are thin, high-tech, multi-beveled, and coated with lubricants to make them enter the skin smoothly. (Bevels are the slanted surfaces on a needle that create a sharp point.) In the old days, the needle and the syringe were separate components. Nowadays most insulin syringes come with the needle attached. People who use syringes almost always purchase insulin in vials. Vials are glass bottles that generally hold 1,000 units of insulin. Pens. Insulin pens date from the mid-1980s, and while syringes still predominate in the United States, much of the rest of the world has traded in syringes for insulin pens. Pens currently come in two varieties: disposable, prefilled pens Continue reading >>
Intramuscular Risk At Insulin Injection Sites--measurement Of The Distance From Skin To Muscle And Rationale For Shorter-length Needles For Subcutaneous Insulin Therapy.
Abstract BACKGROUND: Intramuscular (IM) injection can increase insulin absorption, causing hypoglycemia. Available needle lengths today are 4-12.7 mm for pens and 6-12.7 mm for syringes. We describe the distance (D) from skin surface to muscle fascia at injection sites for subcutaneous (SC) insulin therapy and recommend needle lengths to reduce IM injection risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At two locations in the United States, skin and SC fat thicknesses were measured by ultrasound at the abdomen, arm, thigh, and buttock in diverse adults (body mass index [BMI] range, approximately 19-65 kg/m²) with diabetes (n=341 with one or more paired skin and SC measurement, permitting calculation of D). The natural log of D by body site, BMI, and gender were analyzed using a mixed model to estimate IM risk. RESULTS: D varied significantly by body site, BMI, and gender (each P<0.001), increasing with higher BMI and in women. Median D ranged from 10.9 mm (95% confidence interval, 10.3, 11.6) at the thigh to 16.9 mm (15.9, 18.1) at the buttock. Minimum D was <3 mm at the thigh and <5 mm elsewhere. When inserted 90° without pinch-up, the most commonly used needle worldwide (8 mm) has estimated IM risks of 25% and 9.7%, respectively, in the thigh and abdomen, versus 1.6% and 0.1%, respectively, with a 4 mm needle. A 45° insertion reduces, but does not eliminate, IM risk with longer needles. CONCLUSIONS: Gender, BMI, and body site affect D; when combined with needle length and insertion angle, these factors permit detailed estimates of IM insulin injection risk. Such risk varies across sites, appears greatest at the thigh, is unnecessarily increased with 8 mm and 12.7 mm needles, and is greatly reduced with shorter-length needles and good injection technique. Continue reading >>
Intramuscular Injections: Injecting At Home
What are intramuscular (IM) injections? An IM injection is a medicine that is injected into the muscle. This is as opposed to a medicine that is given into the skin (intradermal), just below the skin (subcutaneous), or into a vein (intravenous). Getting your child to take needles Children take their cues from their parents. Any fear or dislike you have of needles may make your child afraid too. Some parents find that reminding themselves that the injection allows their child to survive and stay healthy makes injection time easier. For example, if parents say, "I need to give your injection so you will have lots of energy to play and to grow," the child begins to understand. Follow up each needle with a big hug and kiss, and get on with the day's activities. Who should give the injection? In many families, one person takes on most of the responsibilities for injections. However, there may be problems when that person is not there. It is important for all regular caregivers to share the responsibility of giving the injection. Your child should feel safe and confident with any of them. Single-parent families should get the help of a friend or relative. Some families work out a schedule. One parent might take care of the morning injections and the other parent looks after evening injections. Sharing the burden is also important to cope with the daily demands of your child's condition and to prevent parent burnout. Injection sites and needle sizes The injection site depends on your child's age. The size of the needle also influences the location of the injection site. The size of the needle depends on the weight of your child and the type of drug they are taking. The diameter of the needles also varies depending on your child's age. This size is described in units called ‘ Continue reading >>
How To Inject Anabolic Steroids
Injection Procedures Step by Step… It’s pretty amazing the amount of questions you hear about how to inject steroids. Some of the most unbelievable stories you would ever hear. This is why I felt it was important to have this chapter in the book. People injecting steroids like its heroin, right into the vein! Or even more unbelievable, I’ve heard stories of guys injecting HOG right into their scrotum because they want to stimulate their balls to produce more testosterone NOW! Trust me, this wont do anything but put you in the hospital. For the most part anabolic steroids are injected using the IM (intramuscular) method. Typically, a large muscle, such as the gluteus muscle, is used so that pain is minimal and circulation of that steroid is more widespread. Much controversy exists about the site of injection, and whether it’s important or unimportant. In my estimation, it’s less about whether one site is better than the other for delivery, and more about whether site injections are at all effective in creating specificity of growth in that area. I’ll go into that more later. Needle Size The gauge of a needle is its size in diameter (around). Depending upon what you’re taking, you’ll either choose a smaller or larger needle to get the job done. It’s impossible to use just one size needle for everything because oil and water-based injections require different sizes. So, unless you always take Winstrol Depot and Testosterone Suspension, you’re probably going to need a larger needle for your oil-based injections, like Deca and Primobolan Depot. But here’s the trick: The higher the number, the smaller the needle. A 22 gauge needle is smaller than a 17 gauge needle. Might I say, I don’t know if anyone uses a 17 gauge needle because it’s huge, but it Continue reading >>
How To Determine Needle Size
There are several factors which need to be considered in choosing the size of a needle to use for an injection or “shot”. They include such issues as: • the type and viscosity of the medication • the size and age of the patient • the mobility status of the patient • the desired absorption rate for the medication In general for IM (intramuscular) injections you would use a 21 to 23 gauge needle 1 to 1.5 inches long for an adult. In a child you use a 1 inch long, 25 to 27 gauge needle. In obese patients, 1.5 to 2 inch needles may be necessary.** For SQ (subcutaneous) injections you would typically use a 25 to 27 gauge needle 3/8 to 5/8 inches long for adults and children alike. Some newer medications such as Byetta for diabetes recommends using 30 or 31 gauge 1/3 inch needles which are ultra fine. SQ medications are deposited into the loose connective tissue just below the dermis. This is not richly supplied with blood vessels so the absorption rate is slow. There are many pain receptors in this tissue so only non- irritating, water-soluble medications in small doses should be given by the SQ route. Intramuscular tissue is richly supplied with blood vessels so the medication is more rapidly absorbed by this route. There are few pain receptors so viscous and irritating drugs can be injected into the muscle tissue with less discomfort. In choosing a site consider deep muscle tissue for the most irritating or viscous medications to reduce the possibility of tissue damage. Using a Z-track method may be recommended as well. Care must be taken to avoid blood vessels, and you must always aspirate with an IM injection to ensure that you have not hit a vessel. If you aspirate blood, remove the needle and prepare a new syringe. Never inject the blood back into the tissu Continue reading >>
7 Tips To Stop Injection Site Bruising
Integrated Diabetes Services (IDS) provides detailed advice and coaching on diabetes management from certified diabetes educators and dieticians. In 2015, Insulin Nation will be featuring a regular Q&A column from IDS that answers questions submitted from the Type 1 diabetes community. Q: Is it common to get bruises at the site of injection? What can you do about that? A: There are many reasons that an injection site might develop a bruise. Try some of these techniques to decrease the chances of bruising: Ice the injection site for about 30 to 60 seconds prior to giving the injection.The cold helps to shrink away the capillary blood vessels which may get punctured during a shot. If the bruising happens specifically in your abdomen, make sure you are not injecting too close to your belly button. sponsor Shorter needles tend to cause more bruising than longer needles. If you are on blood thinners like warfarin, aspirin, or Plavix, you may be more at risk for bruising. Discuss this with your healthcare provider. Make sure you are injecting at a 90 degree angle to your skin, and not on a slant. Always use a new needle or pen cap for insulin pens. Reusing needles causes more trauma to the tissue. Switch injection sites. Repeated injection into the same area can cause bruising, as well as the development of scar tissue. Have a Question? Insulin-Quiring Minds is a free service of the clinical team at Integrated Diabetes Services LLC. Submit your questions to [email protected] All questions will be answered, and yours may be chosen to appear in Insulin Nation. About Integrated Diabetes Services Integrated Diabetes Services provides one-on-one education and glucose regulation for people who use insulin. Diabetes “coaching” services are available in-person and Continue reading >>
10 Tips For A Fear Of Needles With Diabetes (+1 Bonus!)
back to Overview Tips & Tricks Type 1 It is what it is, right? When living with type 1 diabetes there's no getting around the jab of a needle. Whether it's from an insulin pen, a syringe or a pump infusion set, you have to do it. Ilka asked our team for tips on dealing with a fear of shots and needles, and here's what she found... For some, needles are no big deal. For others, each injection is a challenge to overcome – even after many years. The reasons are usually different, and no matter how necessary it is (we all know it, logically) who can criticize? Is there anything normal about stabbing yourself with a sharp metal object? I think not! We have a lot of diabetes experience here at mySugr, collectively more than 150 years under our belts. And who better to ask for tips and tricks for overcoming a fear of needles/needle phobia than a bunch of people living well with diabetes? 1. Injectors Clara: I didn’t do my own injections right away. The day where everything changed was when I watched another girl my age in the hospital do her own injection. I thought, “if she can do it, so can I!” But some time later I developed an “injection-crisis” again and used an injection device, which hides the needle completely, to help me get through it. 2. Build Confidence Marlis: I’ve been helping children with diabetes for a long time, and fear of needles is very common. It can really help if mom or dad offers to let the child inject them, or even put in a pump infusion set. When those little ones see that you trust them to poke you and that it doesn’t hurt when they put the needle in it builds a lot of confidence and trust. Another step is to watch mom or dad do an injection and see that it’s fine. I have often let the kids inject me and they were so incredibly pr Continue reading >>
How To Inject Steroids
When including injectable compounds in your stack it is important to follow safe procedures to minimise the risk of any hazards, and ensure you are effetely administering the drug. The content that follows is for informational purposes only. You should not use the information contained on this site for diagnosing a health problem, prescribing a medication or administering any substance(s). By continuing to read and view the site you acknowledge that the content is for information purposes only, and does not represent nor replace the advice of your own physician or other medical professionals. Jump to injection instructions SubQ injections Intramuscular (IM) injections Preparation First things first. Sterility. Only use new pins and do not share, do not let the pins make contact with anything that may be hazardous by keeping the plastic covering on when not being used, use substances which you are sure are legit, reputable, and are sterile, wash hands thoroughly before any procedures, inject in a clean sterile environment, and make sure the injection site is cleaned with antibacterial agents before and after administration. It’s easy to just skip this paragraph or become lazy over time, thinking that you will be fine. If you want to reduce your risk of infections (which can be very painful and put you out of training for a while), then always think about sterility before and after administration. Be smart. So, let’s make sure you have everything before starting. This will depend on what injection you are doing, what administration needle and barrel, and with what substance you are using. You will need your correct sized barrel, correct needle for drawing the substance up into the barrel, and then your desired size needle for injecting. Also needed are your compound(s Continue reading >>
Steroid Injection Guide
by Mike Arnold I. Injection Types. II. Injection Methods. III. Injection Techniques. IV. Aspiration: what is it and why is it important? V. Why are there so many kinds of syringes? VI. What kind of syringe should I use? Part #1: Standard syringe specifications. Part #2: Gauge numbers. Part #3: Needle length. Part #4: cc’s & ml’s. VII. Where do I Inject? VIII. How many cc’s can I inject into each muscle at one time? IX. Rotating injection sites. X. Sterilization. XI. Loading a syringe. XII. Disposal of used syringes. XIII. The injection. XIV. Subcutaneous AAS injections. XV. How often do I inject? XVI. Q & A Section. I. Injection Types • AAS (androgenic-anabolic steroids) • Peptides (GH, Insulin, IGF-1, etc) There are two predominant classes of injectable drugs used for performance enhancement, which are steroids (AAS) and peptides. Steroids are anabolic &androgenic compounds which have been synthesized by making modifications to the testosterone molecule, including testosterone itself. Examples include drugs such as testosterone, Deca, Dianabol, and Winstrol. Peptides include a vast array of different substances, responsible for inducing numerous different effects in the body. Not all peptides used in sports performance are employed for muscle-building or strength increasing purposes. Some examples of peptides include: GH, IGF-1, Insulin, Melanotan, etc. In this reference guide, due to the large amount of information required to cover the injection practices of both AAS & the various peptides, we will be focusing solely on AAS in this volume. The injections practices of peptides will be covered in their own reference guide. II. Injection Methods • Intramuscular injection: An injection into muscle tissue. • Subcutaneous injection: An injection into the regi Continue reading >>
Insulin Injection Sites: Where And How To Inject
Insulin is a hormone that helps cells use glucose (sugar) for energy. It works as a “key,” allowing the sugar to go from the blood and into the cell. In type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t make insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t use insulin correctly, which can lead to the pancreas not being able to produce enough — or any, depending on the progression of the disease —insulin to meet your body’s needs. Diabetes is normally managed with diet and exercise, with medications, including insulin, added as needed. If you have type 1 diabetes, insulin is required for life. This may seem difficult at first, but you can learn to successfully administer insulin with the support of your healthcare team, determination, and a little practice. There are different ways to take insulin, including syringes, insulin pens, insulin pumps, and jet injectors. Your doctor will help you decide which technique is best for you. Syringes remain a common method of insulin delivery. They’re the least expensive option, and most insurance companies cover them. Syringes Syringes vary by the amount of insulin they hold and the size of the needle. They’re made of plastic and should be discarded after one use. Traditionally, needles used in insulin therapy were 12.7 millimeters (mm) in length. Recent research shows that smaller 8 mm, 6 mm, and 4 mm needles are just as effective, regardless of body mass. This means insulin injection is less painful than it was in the past. Insulin is injected subcutaneously, which means into the fat layer under the skin. In this type of injection, a short needle is used to inject insulin into the fatty layer between the skin and the muscle. Insulin should be injected into the fatty tissue just below your skin. If you inject the insulin deeper int Continue reading >>
How To Give A Cat An Injection
Expert Reviewed Three Methods:Preparing Your Cat for an InjectionAdministering a Subcutaneous InjectionAdministering an Intramuscular InjectionCommunity Q&A Anyone who has taken their cat to the vet may have been given certain medications to administer at home. But the thought of injecting medication may make some cat owners squeamish. Some medications come in pill form, but other medications, such as insulin, must be administered via injection.[1] The technical term for this category of medicine is subcutaneous medication, meaning it is administered under (sub-) the skin (cutaneous).[2] Some subcutaneous medications are simply administered under the skin, while other types of subcutaneous medications must be administered into a muscle (called an intramuscular injection), and the required location of the injection will determine how you administer the medication. Knowing how to safely administer subcutaneous medicine to your cat can help reduce your stress levels and keep your cat happy and healthy. 1 Make sure your cat is hydrated. If you're administering subcutaneous injections to your cat, it is imperative that your cat remain hydrated prior to and following the injection. If your cat is severely dehydrated, the medication you administer may not be fully absorbed.[3] This should not be a problem for most healthy cats, but if you suspect your cat may be dehydrated you should talk to your veterinarian about keeping her well-hydrated. 2 Decide where to perform the injection. You may wish to hold the cat in your lap to comfort her during the injection, but this increases the chances that your cat may scratch or injure you, and it may cause her to associate being in your lap with receiving injections. If you do decide to hold the cat in your lap, it's best to put a thick Continue reading >>
How To Give B12 Im Injections
Vitamin B-12, also known as cyanocobalamin, is used medically to treat vitamin B-12 deficiency. It's also used as a supplement to increase energy levels and improve concentration. Vitamin B-12 may be administered by mouth, in the nose or by injection. You can inject it into a muscle, called an intramuscular shot, or under the skin, called a subcutaneous shot. Injectable B-12 requires a prescription from a doctor, but you may self-administer the shot at home. Video of the Day Thoroughly wash your hands before handling your supplies. Clean hands will limit contamination of the product and of the injection site. If you are giving a injection to someone else, wear latex gloves. Gather your B-12 medication vial, a 1 ml syringe and a 22- to 25-gauge needle that's 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. The larger-gauge needle is finer than the 22 and will provide the most comfort during the injection. Also, the needle needs to be long enough to reach the muscle of the person you're injecting. Attach the needle to the syringe. Make sure the needle locks onto the syringe by first inserting then turning it until it securely locks in place. Prepare the injection. Uncap the B-12 vial and wipe the top of it with an alcohol swab. Then draw an amount of air equal to the volume of your injection into the syringe. For example, if your dose is 1 ml, pull back the plunger on your syringe to the 1 ml mark. Pick up the vial and insert the needle of the syringe into the vial at a 90-degree angle. This will prevent coring--the introduction of pieces of the vial's rubber stopper into the vial. Inject the air into the vial and, after inverting the vial, draw the appropriate volume of B-12 solution into the syringe by pulling back the plunger. Withdraw the syringe and needle from the vial. Choose your injectio Continue reading >>
Dr Fairchild's Nutrigenomic Integrative Medicine Page
Information on this site is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for proper medical care or the opinion of your doctor. For more articles: Please see my blog How to Give an Injection at Home Home injection saves you the time and expense of going to the doctor's office to get a shot. This is especially useful for B12 or magnesium. Depth: For typical home injection, there are two different depths: subcutaneous (SubQ) and intramuscular (IM). Subcutaneous injection is delivered to the fat under the skin. Intramuscular injection is delivered to a large muscle, and is deeper than a subcutaneous shot. Sites: B12 shots are best delivered to fat (subcutaneous), as there is less blood flow, and so the B12 is released slower and gives more sustained effects, although they can also be given IM in the upper arm. Magnesium is best given into muscle for faster release into the bloodstream. For subcutaneous shots, the fat of the abdomen is commonly used for self-injection, but the fat in the hip area can be used as well. Intramuscular shots can be given into the hip at the side, or in the upper arm. Any shot with a volume over 1 ml (1 cc) is best given in the hip area (see diagram), as the larger muscle can handle a larger volume. Needle choice: For SubQ, a needle length of 5/8 inches or shorter is acceptible. For IM, the typical length is 1 1/4 inches, although a 1 inch needle can work. Gauge is the thickness of the needle, and the larger numbers translate into a smaller needle. Insulin needles, which are very small, are usually 27 to 31 ga. For home injection, a 25 or 27 gauge needle will work, and the 27 ga seems to hurt less going in. Preparing the shot: Unless your injection comes in a pre-filled syringe, you will need to prep the shot by filling Continue reading >>
Nontraditional Considerations With Insulin Needle Length Selection
Go to: Ensuring the correct delivery of insulin is essential in the treatment of diabetes. Both proper injection technique and needle length are important considerations for adequate insulin delivery. There have been several studies demonstrating that BMI does not affect efficacy or insulin leakage with shorter pen needles (e.g., 4 or 5 mm vs. 12.7 mm). Additionally, the International Scientific Advisory Board for the Third Injection Technique Workshop released recommendations in 2010 on best practices for injection technique for patients with diabetes, which, with regard to needle length, concluded that 4-mm pen needles were efficacious in all patients regardless of BMI. However, regardless of patients’ BMI, insulin injection technique should always be assessed and physically disabling comorbid conditions taken into consideration when choosing a needle length that will be manageable for patients. The purpose of this article is to raise awareness of unique patient circumstances that may warrant the use of the longer 12.7-mm needle. It has been a long-held belief that obese patients with diabetes need longer needle lengths to penetrate “thicker” layers of subcutaneous tissue and effectively inject insulin. However, many studies have recently been published disputing what now appears to be an outdated school of thought or misconception (1–11). Studies have been conducted evaluating skin thickness, subcutaneous fat thickness, risk of intramuscular injections, insulin leakage, site bruising, pain, lipohypertrophy, and glycemic control. These studies confirm that shorter needle lengths are just as efficacious and safer for patients. Additionally, the International Scientific Advisory Board for the Third Injection Technique Workshop states that there is no medical rea Continue reading >>
