Tips to Overcome Vial Pressure for Medication Draws?

[QueenMuntha]

I am finding it extremely difficult to minimize the vial pressure on draws. I am injecting 2-3 times the volume of air than what the mg dose is, but the pressure is STILL so incredibly high that I am having a hard time withdrawing the medication, AND, worst of all, the pressure remains when I pull the needle out and the medication spurts from the rubber stopper AND from the needle.

Like, anybody have any tips? Do I just need to inject a shit-ton of air?

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Something doesn't sound right...

If you're over-injecting air as you describe, the internal pressure should cause the fluid to essentially fill the syringe automatically with little need to draw. You should absolutely not be injecting 2-3 times the amount of air as your fluid draw. Maybe +10% max.

The more common problem is difficulty on the draw due to vacuum caused by a lack of equalizing air to replace the fluid being removed.

The easiest ways to remedy either situation is to remove the plunger from the syringe after reconstituting to equalize the pressure, or to draw additional air into the syringe with your diluent/BAC before reconstituting. Either way should make it so you should only have to inject almost exactly the same volume of air as the fluid you'll be drawing.

FWIW, difficulty on draw can also be exacerbated with super fine needles like 31G and 32G.

 

[cldfront]

Something doesn't sound right...

FWIW, I've had to go big on injecting air with some Nexa vials that have a serious vacuum. If you're only pulling 5 or 10 units I'd say 2-3x that would be about right to negate the vacuum. 20-30 units with a 100 unit syringe sounds about right.

 

[BNLFL]

FWIW, difficulty on draw can also be exacerbated with super fine needles like 31G and 32G.

That's was what I was thinking. I'm using a 30, and it's a tad slow with that. Great tip on pulling the plunger out while it's in the vial, thanks for that.

 

[MaineUser]

Remove the plunger completely from your syringe. Insert needle into vial. It will equalize the pressure. Then reinsert plunger and it's perfect.

 

[Peotidethrowaway]

FWIW, I've had to go big on injecting air with some Nexa vials that have a serious vacuum. If you're only pulling 5 or 10 units I'd say 2-3x that would be about right to negate the vacuum. 20-30 units with a 100 unit syringe sounds about right.

When I recon new vials I inject the bac and unscrew the needle to let it equalize the pressure before withdrawing it. Hasn’t killed me yet.

 

[FilterOrDeath]

FWIW, difficulty on draw can also be exacerbated with super fine needles like 31G and 32G.

They can also try switching from the insulin syringe/needle combos to using a 1ml luer lock syringe and hypodermic needles. It is really easy to withdraw with a 25g, then switch to the 30g hypo for injection. No dull needles either. Just throwing that option out there as well for anyone that hasn't considered it yet.

 

[QueenMuntha]

Remove the plunger completely from your syringe. Insert needle into vial. It will equalize the pressure. Then reinsert plunger and it's perfect.

This method worked FABULOUSY on my vial this morning. I used the 3 ml syringe.

Many thanks to @MaineUser and @ZippityDooDah