Pre-drawing Lantus Insulin. Ok or not?

[Kdd921]

I find it much easier to pre draw the insulin in the needle and keep them in the fridge that way. But I read somewhere that it is not safe to do it that way. Does anyone know if it is actually okay to do so?
Thanks!

 

[Dyana]

It is not recommended to prefill Lantus syringes:
STICKY: LANTUS & LEVEMIR - INFO, PROPER HANDLING, & STORAGE

 

[Ry & Scooter]

No - the silicone lubricant inside the syringes will contaminate and degrade the insulin. It's the same reason why we don't inject excess insulin back into the container - always shoot excess insulin into the air or a paper towel or you'll risk contaminating the whole thing

 

[jennyb]

No - the silicone lubricant inside the syringes will contaminate and degrade the insulin. It's the same reason why we don't inject excess insulin back into the container - always shoot excess insulin into the air or a paper towel or you'll risk contaminating the whole thing

How fast will it degrade?? I'm a newbie I usually get the syringe loaded at like 7AM leave it on the counter till 8AM when I give it. Maybe I shouldn't, any thoughts how do others do it???

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I would not be concerned about that amount of time. Mine sometimes go 1/2 hour or more.

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

How fast will it degrade?? I'm a newbie I usually get the syringe loaded at like 7AM leave it on the counter till 8AM when I give it. Maybe I shouldn't, any thoughts how do others do it???

From the linked study info:

Summary
Aventis Pharmaceuticals does not recommend prefilling syringes with Lantus and
storing for any period longer than needed
for application. In addition BD states the
following (9): “BD does not recommend
that any of our syringes be prefilled more
than a few minutes in advance of the injection. There are no conclusive studies to
determine the safety or risks associated
with this practice.”

Now it also says that we shouldn't use Lantus after the 28 days and many of us do so without incident. But with that we are looking at insulin that has lost its potency, not the potential of injecting insulin that has been contaminated with stuff from the syringe.

At most, I've had a syringe filled for 5 minutes. I don't fill them until I am getting ready to inject it.

 

[jennyb]

How fast will it degrade?? I'm a newbie I usually get the syringe loaded at like 7AM leave it on the counter till 8AM when I give it. Maybe I shouldn't, any thoughts how do others do it???

From the linked study info:

Summary
Aventis Pharmaceuticals does not recommend prefilling syringes with Lantus and
storing for any period longer than needed
for application. In addition BD states the
following (9): “BD does not recommend
that any of our syringes be prefilled more
than a few minutes in advance of the injection. There are no conclusive studies to
determine the safety or risks associated
with this practice.”

Now it also says that we shouldn't use Lantus after the 28 days and many of us do so without incident. But with that we are looking at insulin that has lost its potency, not the potential of injecting insulin that has been contaminated with stuff from the syringe.

At most, I've had a syringe filled for 5 minutes. I don't fill them until I am getting ready to inject it.

Melanie, help me out. how do you warm it up?? what exactly do you do? I keep my lantus in fridge. Do you take out the whole lanus and let it warm on the counter every time? For how long should I let it warm? Please tell me exactly how you do it? And anyone else can also chime in, too please.
jennyb

 

[Ry & Scooter]

Draw the insulin into the syringe and then hold the syringe where the insulin is inside between your fingers for 20-30 seconds. Don't roll it between your fingers as tempting as it might be

 

[jennyb]

Draw the insulin into the syringe and then hold the syringe where the insulin is inside between your fingers for 20-30 seconds. Don't roll it between your fingers as tempting as it might be

Draw it directly from fridge and it only takes 30 seconds to warm up, am I understanding correctly?

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

Melanie, help me out. how do you warm it up?? what exactly do you do? I keep my lantus in fridge. Do you take out the whole lanus and let it warm on the counter every time? For how long should I let it warm? Please tell me exactly how you do it? And anyone else can also chime in, too please.

I do similar a thing as Ry. I draw her insulin first, set it down and go about drawing Smokeys other meds. Then I warm it between my fingertips for a few moments as I find her if need be and get situated to test. It is a small quantity of insulin and doesn't take much to warm it up.