TRT - Luer Lock Waste

[msyntakz]

I'm looking to see the experience of veteran TRT users, so that's why I posted here and not supplies/accessories section.

I was started on 120mg/week, given a 6mL vial at a concentration of 200mg/mL. So, this should equate to 10 weeks. I measured the remaining oil, and I have enough for a couple of doses, which will end me on 8 weeks. This will result in downtime without injections while I await my new vial. Likely a week down. Ugh.

The provider gave me barrels, 21g and 25g Luer Locks. Their intent is to draw with 21, swap to 25 and inject. So, 2 needles per injection. However, I use the 21 to draw, then backfill an insulin syringe, put the 21 back in the vial and disconnect the barrel. I literally watch the oil drain from the tip of the luer lock back to the vial.

Normally, the Luer Lock bodies hold 0.05mL of liquid, but I am draining it, and also pushing air through at the end to get the little remaining bits in the needle. I'm already using half the Luer Locks they are expecting AND draining them, but I'm still two weeks shy of test cyp.

There's the possibility of user error, but I religiously draw 15 units (30mg), and inject 4 times weekly. 15 units is hard to mess up, especially doing it so often. Does anyone else notice this kind of consistent loss from supplies/needle swaps over the course of a vial? I am meticulous and conscious of waste, yet here we are. What's your experience?

 

[woundcarping]

My experience reading that confirms my earlier thoughts. There’s no reason to have the vial volume so close to your number of doses’ volume. Lilly sends out .6-.65ml regularly with their .5ml dose single use vials.

I’d be a vocally displeased customer.

 

[sfkid]

I'm looking to see the experience of veteran TRT users, so that's why I posted here and not supplies/accessories section.

I was started on 120mg/week, given a 6mL vial at a concentration of 200mg/mL. So, this should equate to 10 weeks. I measured the remaining oil, and I have enough for a couple of doses, which will end me on 8 weeks. This will result in downtime without injections while I await my new vial. Likely a week down. Ugh.

The provider gave me barrels, 21g and 25g Luer Locks. Their intent is to draw with 21, swap to 25 and inject. So, 2 needles per injection. However, I use the 21 to draw, then backfill an insulin syringe, put the 21 back in the vial and disconnect the barrel. I literally watch the oil drain from the tip of the luer lock back to the vial.

Normally, the Luer Lock bodies hold 0.05mL of liquid, but I am draining it, and also pushing air through at the end to get the little remaining bits in the needle. I'm already using half the Luer Locks they are expecting AND draining them, but I'm still two weeks shy of test cyp.

There's the possibility of user error, but I religiously draw 15 units (30mg), and inject 4 times weekly. 15 units is hard to mess up, especially doing it so often. Does anyone else notice this kind of consistent loss from supplies/needle swaps over the course of a vial? I am meticulous and conscious of waste, yet here we are. What's your experience?

Time to buy a few hundred MG via UGL. Nothing beats having your own stash.

 

[tendency]

I'm looking to see the experience of veteran TRT users, so that's why I posted here and not supplies/accessories section.

I was started on 120mg/week, given a 6mL vial at a concentration of 200mg/mL. So, this should equate to 10 weeks. I measured the remaining oil, and I have enough for a couple of doses, which will end me on 8 weeks. This will result in downtime without injections while I await my new vial. Likely a week down. Ugh.

The provider gave me barrels, 21g and 25g Luer Locks. Their intent is to draw with 21, swap to 25 and inject. So, 2 needles per injection. However, I use the 21 to draw, then backfill an insulin syringe, put the 21 back in the vial and disconnect the barrel. I literally watch the oil drain from the tip of the luer lock back to the vial.

Normally, the Luer Lock bodies hold 0.05mL of liquid, but I am draining it, and also pushing air through at the end to get the little remaining bits in the needle. I'm already using half the Luer Locks they are expecting AND draining them, but I'm still two weeks shy of test cyp.

There's the possibility of user error, but I religiously draw 15 units (30mg), and inject 4 times weekly. 15 units is hard to mess up, especially doing it so often. Does anyone else notice this kind of consistent loss from supplies/needle swaps over the course of a vial? I am meticulous and conscious of waste, yet here we are. What's your experience?

Yes, there is needle/syringe 'slop', or wastage. Simply explain the math to your provider and they should be accommodating. I did similar and my provider prescribes me an extra 1ml/month to cover this.

 

[msyntakz]

Time to buy a few hundred MG via UGL. Nothing beats having your own stash.

Yeah I like having the Rx, and will need it when I have to travel but yeah Ugl is really attractive right now.

 

[sfkid]

Yeah I like having the Rx, and will need it when I have to travel but yeah Ugl is really attractive right now.

I did trt for 2 years. You'll soon realize that you know more , way more , than your doc. The docs just don't care or don't have time.
Most people I known eventually go UGL.
Gear is cheap.
Labs are cheap.
AI to analyse and keep trends.
You are the master of your healthcare journey .

 

[Vash]

I’ve switched over to 27g insulin syringes. Limits the amount of waste and they’re cheap.

 

[chewonmysac]

I do SubQ 29G 1/2" Top Glute. EOD 58mg ends up being 203mg a week. It has only been 5 weeks. Getting 8-week bloodwork soon. So far, I feel fantastic. I am with TRT Nation for now. UGL is definitely on the horizon, but at a whole different frequency for digesting data.

 

[5byfive]

I've heard from a couple people that they are just getting enought to cover. Just to make you jealous, I'm prescribed 100mg a week and I got a 1000mg bottle each month. Literally have more than i know what to do with.

I use test-e which is pretty thick and just use a regualr 27G for drawing and pinning. Switching needles is a PIA and waste. Takes a little longer to draw but its not a big deal. Just order some EZ-Touches from Amazon.

 

[msyntakz]

I've heard from a couple people that they are just getting enought to cover. Just to make you jealous, I'm prescribed 100mg a week and I got a 1000mg bottle each month. Literally have more than i know what to do with.

I use test-e which is pretty thick and just use a regualr 27G for drawing and pinning. Switching needles is a PIA and waste. Takes a little longer to draw but its not a big deal. Just order some EZ-Touches from Amazon.

I have about 200 of them. 30g, that’s what I use for pinning. Just got impatient drawing with insulin syringes. Probably my own worst enemy haha

 

[sfkid]

I've heard from a couple people that they are just getting enought to cover. Just to make you jealous, I'm prescribed 100mg a week and I got a 1000mg bottle each month. Literally have more than i know what to do with.

@msyntakz I just found your UGL supplier ☝️

 

[woundcarping]

I have about 200 of them. 30g, that’s what I use for pinning. Just got impatient drawing with insulin syringes. Probably my own worst enemy haha

I use 29g to draw and pin. With a warm vial it works just fine for me.

I’d be a vocal unhappy customer if I had to explain vestigial losses to my provider.

As it stands with TRT Nation I’ll still be on my second vial when my fourth vial gets ordered next Thursday.

 

[Marct209]

Is this in person or online clinic? When I was using a local clinic I would just go in there and say I was short and they would give me an injection right there. One time they had issues with Hallandale and I got like 3 weeks free because I had to go in there so stay on protocol. I’ve since switched to UGL’s. Nothing like getting 20 weeks of your prescription for $45 🤣

 

[msyntakz]

Is this in person or online clinic? When I was using a local clinic I would just go in there and say I was short and they would give me an injection right there. One time they had issues with Hallandale and I got like 3 weeks free because I had to go in there so stay on protocol. I’ve since switched to UGL’s. Nothing like getting 20 weeks of your prescription for $45 🤣

Online clinic. The intro was good and smooth, but as woundcarping mentioned, having to explain the loss from the process to get it covered is a bit ridiculous. So, no going in person for me. I'll be waiting it out.

 

[miameow]

There's very little waste with insulin syringes. I use a 29-30g to draw/pin and they work fine. It's only a problem if your T is less than 200mg/mL and you need to pin more than 1mL in one go.

 

[Gt3294a]

I'm looking to see the experience of veteran TRT users, so that's why I posted here and not supplies/accessories section.

I was started on 120mg/week, given a 6mL vial at a concentration of 200mg/mL. So, this should equate to 10 weeks. I measured the remaining oil, and I have enough for a couple of doses, which will end me on 8 weeks. This will result in downtime without injections while I await my new vial. Likely a week down. Ugh.

The provider gave me barrels, 21g and 25g Luer Locks. Their intent is to draw with 21, swap to 25 and inject. So, 2 needles per injection. However, I use the 21 to draw, then backfill an insulin syringe, put the 21 back in the vial and disconnect the barrel. I literally watch the oil drain from the tip of the luer lock back to the vial.

Normally, the Luer Lock bodies hold 0.05mL of liquid, but I am draining it, and also pushing air through at the end to get the little remaining bits in the needle. I'm already using half the Luer Locks they are expecting AND draining them, but I'm still two weeks shy of test cyp.

There's the possibility of user error, but I religiously draw 15 units (30mg), and inject 4 times weekly. 15 units is hard to mess up, especially doing it so often. Does anyone else notice this kind of consistent loss from supplies/needle swaps over the course of a vial? I am meticulous and conscious of waste, yet here we are. What's your experience?

As you said re: travel, I have a prescription vial I bring when traveling (which makes one feel better when putting a vial of peptide and BAC water in the kit too for the same trip - on a trip now). But if you are noticing something like that level of loss, it just says why constrain your supply to that level. I only use my prescription vial on trips. The rest is so cheap I regularly shoot out in extra draw to get the right dose and could care less. I mean, if there is a nuclear fall out and I have to think about the next 7 years, I might start to notice that stuff.

 

[nkresho]

Echoing pretty much everybody else here has said.

No need for the luer locks IMHO. My clinic gave (sold) me the same (27s and 21s) and i haven't touched them. Grab a few boxes of 29ga easytouch (i use the .5cc 1/2" for quads) or whatever brand you like insulin syringes and draw/pin with the same one. Go longer that 1/2" if you pin glutes. Even if it's slightly dulled drawing it'd be a helluva lot less pain than a 25 ga.

Seems like they sort of shorted you too. I'm also on 120mg a week and i got two vials of compounded cyp in MCT. 200mg/mL as well. My vials each have 5mg though. Prescription says 0.3mL twice weekly so 10ml should be 16.6 weeks. Clinician wanted to touch base with new labs at the 3-4 month point, so plenty of room in my case. I'll likely reach out to them to get labs at the 3month mark to play it safe.

Just math checking against yours, and that's squared away as well. I do every other day, at 17.5 units on a 50 unit insulin pin.

Any chance you're "overestimating" when you draw? Like for me i am drawing 17.5 each time, there's no 0.5 marking so eyeing it.

Like this?



As suggested here as well, i'd grab a few vials of UGL from a sponsor on one of the bigger AAS forums to keep on hand regardless.

 

[msyntakz]

Echoing pretty much everybody else here has said.

No need for the luer locks IMHO. My clinic gave (sold) me the same (27s and 21s) and i haven't touched them. Grab a few boxes of 29ga easytouch (i use the .5cc 1/2" for quads) or whatever brand you like insulin syringes and draw/pin with the same one. Go longer that 1/2" if you pin glutes. Even if it's slightly dulled drawing it'd be a helluva lot less pain than a 25 ga.

Seems like they sort of shorted you too. I'm also on 120mg a week and i got two vials of compounded cyp in MCT. 200mg/mL as well. My vials each have 5mg though. Prescription says 0.3mL twice weekly so 10ml should be 16.6 weeks. Clinician wanted to touch base with new labs at the 3-4 month point, so plenty of room in my case. I'll likely reach out to them to get labs at the 3month mark to play it safe.

Just math checking against yours, and that's squared away as well. I do every other day, at 17.5 units on a 50 unit insulin pin.

Any chance you're "overestimating" when you draw? Like for me i am drawing 17.5 each time, there's no 0.5 marking so eyeing it.

Like this?

View attachment 28834

As suggested here as well, i'd grab a few vials of UGL from a sponsor on one of the bigger AAS forums to keep on hand regardless.

TLDR: human error is always a possibility, but...

When I draw with the 21g, I backfill to an Easy Touch with a flat plunger, and it's almost always exactly on the 0.15mL mark. Every once in a while, I'll see 0.16 and send it, but usually it's perfect. I am insufferably obsessive about getting things right. I double-check my math on both calculators and AI at least once a week for redundancy, even though nothing changes. I just refuse to go on autopilot and trust my memory.

UGL is definitely in my research path right now. I am over feeling out of control on supply. Also, as mentioned previously, having a supply in stock is great for shortages or unknowns.

 

[woundcarping]

Also, as mentioned previously, having a supply in stock is great for shortages or unknowns.

Even better when you’re prescribed and supplied in excess.

Granted I feel much better/less anxiety now vs when I started because I’ve got a Rx 2000mg vial of surplus.

 

[nkresho]

Yup, i have the vial i'm presently using with some doses left and still untouched second vial. I'd get pretty uncomfortable if i was just sitting on one vial.

This thread has prompted me to place an order actually. Gonna stock up so there's no question.

Plus gotta ride the blast train some time, right? I need to get my end of July labs first, but that's certainly going on the calendar in the near future.