Does size matter? (vial size, that is)

[Secretdaya]

It's my understanding that a lot of the GLP1s come in 3ml vials from various sources. I ordered some sterile empty vials myself and was surprised by the tiny size when they arrived. I suppose I didn't really think too much about it before, I just made some quick assumptions based on the vials I am most familiar with (from popular compounding pharmacies). I was wrong. The vials I've been getting from compounding pharmacy previously are huge by comparison.

Anyway, not the point.

I am questioning whether it makes any difference if I reconstitute into a 3ml vial or a 5ml or 10ml or bigger. As long as the concentration and dosing is correct, and provided the needle size is appropriate to extract the solution, is there any downside to using a bigger vial? Would the extra "air space" have any impact on the peptide or the sterility of the contents?

Any opinions on this?

 

[Calm Logic]

Glutathione is usually in very large vials despite many people only using a relatively small amount of BAC. And no one has any complaints.

With such larger vials, Gemini says there is a greater risk of oxidation, which would not be a concern for the most part:

Tirzepatide and Retatrutide contain amino acids (like Methionine) that are prone to oxidation.... If you're using the vial within 2-3 weeks, you'll never notice. But if you're stretching a vial over 6-8 weeks, that extra air in a 10ml vial might lead to a slight, silent drop in potency toward the end.

 

[indolent]

3mL is fine for nearly everything. Concentration is not a good way to look at things for peptides. Recon based on how much fluid you want in each administration, and of course how many mg of the peptide you want. Reverse calculator in my signature.

When I began with compounded tirz @2.5mg/week, they sent it in 1mL vials. Sub-tiny.

Also, why are you reconstituting into empty vials at all? If you haven't ever reconned peptides, you might have assumed (as I did) that it's a necessary step. But it's not. In almost all cases, you use a hypodermic needle through the self-sealing top of the bac water to draw the fluid, and then you squirt it through the self-sealing top of the lyophilized peptides vial. Done.

I stay away from splitting into empty vials, because I don't trust the sterility claims of suppliers, and effective home-sterilizing is impractical

 

[94brian49]

It's not really a downside or if it really matters, but i noticed that in a larger vial it tends to condense more.

Now i'm not entirely sure if that would mess up your concentration.

I just swirl and roll gently each time i take it out of the fridge, letting it sit for at least a few minutes before pinning.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

Unfortunately, size always matters.

 

[Calm Logic]

When I began with compounded tirz @2.5mg/week, they sent it in 1mL vials. Sub-tiny.

I never knew vials could be cute until I got those.

Also, why are you reconstituting into empty vials at all?

Filtering?

 

[ZippityDooDah]

The only "downside" I can think of is the potential for it to be a bit more difficult to get every last drop out of a vial with a larger stopper.

In a lot of situations, larger vials are going to be more practical. For example, if you have 3mL vials of 60mg reta and are taking a 4mg dose, that means you'll have 15 doses from each vial. Assuming an desired fluid volume of .25mL per dose, you would need 3.75mL of fluid, or 3mL at .2mL per dose. Either way, while you can fit a bit more than 3mL of fluid in a 3mL vial, anything over ~2.5mL is usually not optimal due to the lack of airspace. Personally I would prefer to recon with 4.5mL of fluid in a 5mL vial for .3mL doses (more water means more accurate dosing BTW).

 

[Secretdaya]

Filtering?

Yes.

The only "downside" I can think of is the potential for it to be a bit more difficult to get every last drop out of a vial with a larger stopper.

In a lot of situations, larger vials are going to be more practical. For example, if you have 3mL vials of 60mg reta and are taking a 4mg dose, that means you'll have 15 doses from each vial. Assuming an desired fluid volume of .25mL per dose, you would need 3.75mL of fluid, or 3mL at .2mL per dose.

Right, thank you. This is one of the scenarios I was thinking of. Higher liquid volume needed.

But then also sort of questioning my dexterity with these smaller vials. Personal preference for the size I am used to handling. It sounds like I can choose whatever I prefer, within reason.

 

[Airborne Daddy]

Unfortunately, size always matters.

She said yours is perfect babe, the big ones hurt....