Pep Pen aka insulin pen peptide pen information

[ZakAP]

Not correct, sorry, missed a zero, 1/10th is 100mg, 1/100th is 10 mg. Cheap scales do work, but volumetric is better. It's also better to type when fully awake

In my world missing a 0 can kill someone - probably why I check even easy math like 3x. I totally get typing stuff when not fully awake (or caffeinated!)

 

[nonyabizznez]

In my world missing a 0 can kill someone - probably why I check even easy math like 3x. I totally get typing stuff when not fully awake (or caffeinated!)

Thanks for the clarity

I wasn't confused but like how you used a simple equation to point out the error. I bet some of the reconstitution threads get your BP up (like mine)... "How many 10mg doses are in a 3ml vial?"

 

[ZakAP]

Thanks for the clarity

I wasn't confused but like how you used a simple equation to point out the error. I bet some of the reconstitution threads get your BP up (like mine)... "How many 10mg doses are in a 3ml vial?"

100%. They make me cringe so hard. I get not being a math expert but some of those lack even basic common sense.

 

[Peevee]

Just an update, I checked the calibration on one of my pens today. I have several, both V1 and V2 models, and tested with a V1.

I loaded a spent cartridge with tap water, installed a used needle (nice not to have to worry about sterility), removed the air from the cart and primed it. I popped the top off of an empty 3ml vial and injected/squirted 10u, 40u, 50u dosages. I then sucked up each dosage of the water with a .5cc insulin syringe. All three measurements were spot on.

If anyone has a more accurate way to test pen dosage please offer upgrades on my process. I will probably test my other pens the next time they are empty.

Thanks for doing this and sharing the results

 

[Peevee]

I’m new to these pens. I finally got 8mm needles after getting the wrong ones several times.

How do you keep from leaking medications out after injecting? I’m assuming I should leave the needle inserted longer than I did after injecting but thought I’d ask

I’m using v2 but I have savvios on order

 

[stickfigure]

Are you concerned with leaking from the needle or injection site? For injection site one technique is to pull skin to a side before inserting the needle, and releasing after the needle is removed from injection site. The movement of skin 'seals' the site. For the needle itself, I find that more premium needles with thinner walls and consequently larger bore like BD and EasyTouch leak more than generic ones. Peptides we use are cheap enough to not worry about 0.01ml leaking from the needle or a dozen units lost in dead space of the cartridge.
Btw, having a small bubble in a cartridge actually helps use more peptide and as long as you hold the pen horizontally or with needle at the lowest point, you are not at serious risk if injecting air. Even if you inject it, you'll most likely be fine - you have to inject hundreds of units into major blood vessels to cause serious harm

 

[Peevee]

Are you concerned with leaking from the needle or injection site? For injection site one technique is to pull skin to a side before inserting the needle, and releasing after the needle is removed from injection site. The movement of skin 'seals' the site. For the needle itself, I find that more premium needles with thinner walls and consequently larger bore like BD and EasyTouch leak more than generic ones. Peptides we use are cheap enough to not worry about 0.01ml leaking from the needle or a dozen units lost in dead space of the cartridge.
Btw, having a small bubble in a cartridge actually helps use more peptide and as long as you hold the pen horizontally or with needle at the lowest point, you are not at serious risk if injecting air. Even if you inject it, you'll most likely be fine - you have to inject hundreds of units into major blood vessels to cause serious harm

I honestly can’t tell where it is coming from, probably a bit of both. I’ll try your suggestion thanks.

 

[GimmeABreak]

I honestly can’t tell where it is coming from, probably a bit of both. I’ll try your suggestion thanks.

Make sure there are no air bubbles in the cart. It's common to see a drop or so come out of the needle after injecting but more than that it's either air or you are not waiting 10-15 seconds after you stop pushing the plunger to withdraw the needle. Even a small air bubble will cause issues.

 

[ZakAP]

Are you concerned with leaking from the needle or injection site? For injection site one technique is to pull skin to a side before inserting the needle, and releasing after the needle is removed from injection site. The movement of skin 'seals' the site. For the needle itself, I find that more premium needles with thinner walls and consequently larger bore like BD and EasyTouch leak more than generic ones. Peptides we use are cheap enough to not worry about 0.01ml leaking from the needle or a dozen units lost in dead space of the cartridge.
Btw, having a small bubble in a cartridge actually helps use more peptide and as long as you hold the pen horizontally or with needle at the lowest point, you are not at serious risk if injecting air. Even if you inject it, you'll most likely be fine - you have to inject hundreds of units into major blood vessels to cause serious harm

Z-track? Dang. I have not heard that used since nursing school. We only ever did that for IM injections. Edit - not even "did" - were just taught that. Edit again - I do not think it would be beneficial to use this method for subcut injections. You would have to be so careful that you were not displacing the skin/subcutaneous fat. I think there is a reason this is not standard practice.

 

[ZakAP]

I’m new to these pens. I finally got 8mm needles after getting the wrong ones several times.

How do you keep from leaking medications out after injecting? I’m assuming I should leave the needle inserted longer than I did after injecting but thought I’d ask

I’m using v2 but I have savvios on order

Leave it in for several seconds (yes as Gimme said above) after you administer the full dose. It sometimes takes the pen a sec to keep up - it can lag a bit.

 

[Peevee]

Side question. I ordered some cartridges from aliexpress linked in the first post but they don’t say they’re sterile and I didn’t notice until after I purchased. Any reason I can’t steam sterilize them in my pressure cooker? A sort of poor man’s autoclave

Obviously I’ll check the indicator in the package to see if they are sterile, if it has one.

 

[GimmeABreak]

Side question. I ordered some cartridges from aliexpress linked in the first post but they don’t say they’re sterile and I didn’t notice until after I purchased. Any reason I can’t steam sterilize them in my pressure cooker? A sort of poor man’s autoclave

Obviously I’ll check the indicator in the package to see if they are sterile, if it has one.

Sterilizing carts (the right way) is a process. I have never done it but there are threads here and on other sites that explain how to do it correctly. With sterile carts costing like $1 each, I'll let the people with proper autoclaves do it for me.

 

[Peevee]

Sterilizing carts (the right way) is a process. I have never done it but there are threads here and on other sites that explain how to do it correctly. With sterile carts costing like $1 each, I'll let the people with proper autoclaves do it for me.

Eh. Fuck it. I’ll steam it in a pressure cooker for 15 mins and hope for the best then. I have 60 of them coming

 

[Superfluous]

My amateur opinion (based on years of working in a kitchen - then also becoming an amateur alcohol brewer and constantly needing to sterilise equipment to stop bacterial infections in fermentation process) is that zapping them in something like a pressure cooker, or even a microwave boil (if they can handle it) will kill almost all bacteria. Then your bac water should stop extra bacterial growth once they are filled (just like fermented alcohol stops a brew going bad) - it's how the equipment is stored in between sterilisation and filling that would be the gap where potential infection can happen.

I think my main worry would be what other crap outside of bacteria I'm injecting myself with (chemical residue from the manufacturing process etc)