Procrit injection – air bubble problem

[GINGERPAL]

I am still having a problem with getting the procrit out of the vial without a big air bubble forming in the syringe.  Then I have a problem releasing the air bubble and sometimes it creates small clusters of air bubbles in the procrit solution in the vial and then I have to struggle with the procrit solution to try to get the full dose into the syringe.  Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else.   Thanks.   Ginger.

[rockymoe]

The clinic I go to gave me some different syrines to use instead of the ones the pharmacy sends. There is no extra Procrit like there is with others.

[GINGERPAL]

thanks all.   i will try again... it has been difficult for me to get the full amount of procrit into the syringe - so far after a struggle, i have barely been able to  fill the sryinge with the full procrit amount....to  me it doesn't seem there is any extra procrit solution in the vial.

[Bill1954]

Oh, and it’s fine to overdraw the drug from the vial into the syringe; the mfgr generally provides extra product to waste off if needed.

Bill

[Bill1954]

Do you tap the syringe body with your fingertip/fingernail before you express the air from the injection? Sometimes the viscosity of the fluid can trap air in it.

Before you inject, point the syringe with the needle towards the ceiling, then tap the side of the barrel a few times; the air bubbles are lighter than the liquid and should migrate up to the top of the syringe.  Then, press the plunger in slightly and express as much air as is reasonable. If a few small bubbles remain they’re not going to hurt you; this is a subque injection.

You struggle to draw the drug from the vial into the syringe?

When you draw the drug from the vial into the syringe, insert the needle through the top of the vial, then invert the whole apparatus, so the syringe is pointing up towards the ceiling with the now-upside down vial on top of it. Retract the plunger until the fluid from the vial runs into the syringe barrel. If needed, slowly withdraw the syringe and needle (works) from the vial as you do this; if you still have trouble, get back to us and someone here will help you.

Additionally, there are lots of instructional videos for subcutaneous injection; check U-tube or enter ‘subcutaneous injection video’ into a search engine.

Good luck,

Bill

[working dog]

just really tap the syringe hard many times over...all the bubbles will come out...think about what a drug addict has to go through.....i would tap the syringe twice....once i suck in what ever it takes...then i tap that many times...then i put the needle in only a little ways draw slow to get the rest...i don't worry about the bubbles because i tap it again many times hard with my finger...no more bubbles...now i keep the needle straight up and push out the procrit until i get to 180 or whatever...good luck...billy

[pcds]

procrit is a bit more of a challenge then other injectables.  I have a fairly large body syringe with lots of room, so I pull back until I have all the liquid in the syringe.  I'm careful to put just the tip through the top and sometime tip the bottle to get every drop.  I always have air in the syringe but as I push up, getting the liquid to the top, the air leaves through the needle.  Also flicking against the syringe should help get the bubles to the top.  If you shake the bottle at all small bubbles will be there and makes it more difficult.  Seems to work out in the end.  If I get a little air injected it doesn't seem to make a difference for me.