
Instructions and Protocol for Injection
Read over
these instructions fully and carefully before you undergo your
first injection. This information was gathered so that you can
self-administer your injectable HRT therapy effectively and
safely.
Prepping
for self-injection administration:
1. Wash
hands extremely thoroughly with warm water and soap.
2. Choose a
clean, hard, and well lit surface that has a mirror, if possible
(the countertop of the bathroom is an excellent location)
3. Make
sure that you have gathered all of the supplies that you will need
and that there is no sign of damage or tampering on and of the
wrapping or packaging of your medication and your devices. Recheck
the dates of expiration on each medication.
Notice:
When taking Testosterone injections Intramuscularly for low
testosterone, you will be using two needles. The first needle will
be used to draw in the medicine. This needle will be referred to as
the drawing needle. The second
needle will be use to administer the solution. This needle will be
referred to as the administration needle.
Taking
up the solution with the syringe:
1. Use
sanitizing alcohol swabs to disinfect the vial tops. Sanitize in a
single direction and only use one swab per vial.
2. Take the
syringe along with the needle out of packaging and fill up the
syringe with the same amount of air that you will later fill with
your dose of medicine. Do this by pulling back on the plunger until
the mark you desire is reached (for example, If you plan on taking
up 2 milliliters of the solution, you would draw the plunger back
to the 2 marked on the syringe
3. Press
the needle directly through the stopper of rubber so that it enters
the vial. If you happen to make bodily contact with the stopper,
use another new alcohol swab to disinfect it again before drawing
out the medication.
4. Flip the
vial of medication with its base facing upwards. Keep the tip of
the needle within the liquid.
5. Press
down on the plunger, ejecting the air in the needle into the vial
of medication. This action will aid in maintaining a balance of
external/internal pressure when working with a vial made of glass.
It also helps to make later withdrawals of medication much
easier.
6. Hold the
syringe and vial in one of your hands and then draw the proper dose
of medication up into the syringe slowly and carefully. The first
diagram provides a demonstration of the proper technique to use
when holding the vial.
7. As you
hold the vial with its base facing upwards, and while continuing to
slowly draw medication into the vial, tap gently upon the side of
the syringe. Air bubbles will float to the top of the syringe
barrel. Press the plunger extremely gently so that ONLY THE BUBBLES
OF AIR are ejected from the needle.
8. Pull the
syringe and needle from the vial.
9. Recap
your needle. Place the cap of the needle upon your hard, flat,
sterile surface and guide your needle into its cap with care. This
action makes it much less likely that you will accidentally poke
yourself with the needle.
10. When
taking an Intramusular injection or a Testosterone injection pull
out the drawing needle and dispose of it in a Sharps container
approved by OSHA. FDA Regulations legally require you to dispose of
sharps and needles in an approved biological medical waste
receptacle. If you do not have one of these containers you should
give us a call immediately and acquire one. ALWAYS DISPOSE OF YOUR
NEEDLES WITH PROPER CARE.
Solution
Injection:
Keep
medical materials and syringes clean. Do not let any object touch
the and of the needle or syringe. If you touch the syringe or
needle tip accidently, or contaminate the needle or syringe in any
manner, it must be thrown away, and the process must begin again.
This ensures that you will not acquire an infection.
1. For
Intramuscular or Testosterone injection, take the new
administration needle from its package and check for any possible
defections. Do not take off the plastic cap until it is time for
injection.
2. Twist
the administration needle firmly onto the syringe. Keep it in
Firmly twist administration needle on to syringe and maintain it on
the hard, flat, clean surface in front of you until it is time to
begin administration.
3. In the
case of the SUBQ form of injection, the small syringe of insulin
comes preloaded with an attached syringe that it is not possible to
remove. This is the vehicle of administration.
4. Use a
fresh swab of alcohol to disinfect the skin around your planned
injection site. Let it dry in the air. Discard the wipe. (Notice:
Never inject into a site where there are firm knots, bumps, lumps,
or pain. Never use an area where the skin is depressed, discolored,
scabbed, or broken. If you are not sure if an area is safe, call
your physician or another health professional.
5. Take off
the cap to the needle and pinch the area of skin where you plan on
administering the injection so that you raise it up slightly. Check
the second diagram. The easiest and safest areas to administer the
needle are located away from your bones, nerves, joints, or any
other important or obtrusive area of the body. Turn to the last
page to view a diagram of preferable sites for injection. The most
accessible areas to perform Intramuscular injections like
testosterone are into the quadricep or gluteus maximus. The most
accessible area for Subcutaneous injections like GH and HCG is
located around the bellybutton on the stomach.
6. Using a
swift, firm motion, press the needle into the skin at a ninety
degree angle when performing an IM injection or at a forty five
degree angle when performing a SUBQ injection.
*The
seventh step is meant ONLY FOR INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTIONS! ONLY! For
subcutaneous injections move on to Step 8*
7.
Intramuscular: As the needle continues to be inserted into the
muscle, pull the plunger back very slightly and check for blood in
your syringe.*This will occur rarely. If you happen to have this
experience, it merely means that you inserted the needle and struck
or landed near a blood vessel. If so, pull the syringe and needle
out at once and massage the area gently where the needle was
inserted with a clean tissue or gauze. Return to the second step
and repeat the process after choosing a new site for injection.
8.
Administer the medicine by performing a slow and steady plunger
push until the point is reached where the syringe is 100% empty.
Press a gauze or swab close to the site of injection.
9. Safely
yet swiftly pull the needle out from the skin and massage the site
of injection gently with gauze or dry cotton.
10. Throw
away the syringe immediately into an approved Sharps disposal
container approved by OSHA..
11. Store
all medication and supplies in a proper and safe place that is out
of the reach of strangers and children. Make sure that medical
supplies and medicines that require refrigerated storage are put
away correctly.
12. After
you have accumulated enough medical waste in your OSHA Sharps
Disposal container to reach the recommended
fill line, you should give your local waste disposal
management provider a call and follow the guidelines in your area
to dispose of the medical waste responsibly.
The above
information is provided to you only for purposes of information.
This document is not supposed to be a surrogate for the instruction
that your bio identical hormone replacement therapy doctor or any
other qualified medical professional can provide more fully. Do not
use this information to self-diagnose or self treat a disease or
health ailment. Neither should you use it to self-prescribe
medication. If you feel that you have or know that you have a
medical issue, make contact with a health representative,
physician, or health provider as soon as is possible and
appropriate.
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