Comments on: Needle question

By: Patricia Petty

Patricia Petty — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 04:58:08 +0000

I’m okay now…Just help me to a chair…….

Lol…

You’ll get lots of answers, but I personally use one pen needle for the
entire cartridge, unless it bends. I’ve done that for years with my
insulin pens also.

(Someone pick Demetria-Beth up off the floor please).

Jo wrote:
> Having started Byetta a few weeks ago, I got some needles with the
package.

> However, I realized last night, that I was out! My pharmacy (that I love)

> is in a Clinic and not open on Sunday, so I want to know the best thing to

> do. Do I use an already used needle and do my two doses today and one
> tomorrow? Or do I skip the next two Byetta doses? This is sort of a moot

> question since I have already used a "used" needle for this mornings dose,

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

By: Dwain Palmer

Dwain Palmer — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 01:23:03 +0000

Long-time experience with 4 different pens, including Byetta have shown
that not to happen. At least with me. But then, I keep the pens at
controlled temps-always in the refrigerator except for usage, and
returned immediately. I do believe that there could possibly be a
problem if they were allowed to warm up, and then put in the
refrigerator. Contraction-expansion, etc.

YMMV!

By: Dwain Palmer

Dwain Palmer — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 21:05:07 +0000

I don’t remove the pen needle from the pen until ready to change it.
That way only one end gets to open air. They absolutely do not leak all
over the place as the sales people would have you believe. They also
don’t get air in them.

I’ve done the same with Lantus, Humalog and other pens in the past. And,
I refil my cartridges so I know what it takes to get new substance into
a cartridge.

Currently I’m doing 10mcg with the pen in the morning, and 5-7.5mcg
evening depending on how numbers are running. That shot is currently
done via syringe, but I’m close to refilling one of my pen cartridges
with Byetta and using a pen that allows you to select units, from .5u
up. Many times I inject though the shirt as well. Never had a hint of
infection.

YMMV.

By: Kraig Caren

Kraig Caren — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 18:00:32 +0000

You should remove it from the pen or you may have some leakage.

By: Danial Johnston

Danial Johnston — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 15:11:03 +0000

Thanks, Dave, for this information.

Do you leave it on the pen, or do you remove it and replace it each time? I
have used my insulin syringes for weeks at a time for several years with no
bad results. So I am more than willing to at the very least get a day or
more’s worth of service out of these needles.

> You’ll get lots of answers, but I personally use one pen needle for the

By: Kraig Caren

Kraig Caren — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 05:06:44 +0000

*I would not skip your doses unless you have contaminated your needles. If
you use good hygiene and cap the needles immediately after use, you should
not have a problem. My doctor said most of her patients use each needle for
three days unless they think they have contimated it in some way or it bends
or breaks (which can even happen with a new needle). If you think you have
contaminated your needle, you can pick up a small box at the drugstore -
just get to as close of size as you can.
*

By: Dwain Palmer

Dwain Palmer — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 23:35:26 +0000

You’ll get lots of answers, but I personally use one pen needle for the
entire cartridge, unless it bends. I’ve done that for years with my
insulin pens also.

(Someone pick Demetria-Beth up off the floor please).