Needle question
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,
but I wonder if any of you reuse needles despite the Byetta warning.
I reuse syringes for Lantus and Novolog for quite a long time with no bad
effects.
April 25th, 2006 at 2:35 am
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).
April 25th, 2006 at 8:06 am
*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.
*
April 25th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
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
April 25th, 2006 at 9:00 pm
You should remove it from the pen or you may have some leakage.
April 26th, 2006 at 12:05 am
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.
April 26th, 2006 at 4:23 am
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!
April 26th, 2006 at 7:58 am
<takes deep breaths> I’m okay now…Just help me to a chair…….
Lol…
db
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,
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