? Something wrong with insulin vial or syringe?

[katiesmom]

I use a Lantus vial ( not pen). The weirdest thing happened. I went to prepare her injection, and I did everything like I normally do, I injected 2-3 units of air into the bottle (because thats how much I take out), to avoid vacuum.
I inverted the bottle to draw insulin out of the vial and I got nothing. All I got was air, 3 units of air!
Tried again, same syringe, basically same thing happened, got all air in the syringe, except this time, as I watched, after several seconds, the air in the syringe started slowly being replaced by insulin, just trickling in.
It wasnt a vacuum effect, I know what that is like, but almost like a partial blockage in the needle of the syringe.
I threw it away, grabbed another syringe, and it was better, but it still filled up weird, that "trickling" effect.

Anybody got a clue what is going on? Is it the syringes or the vial? I would think syringe, but to get 2 weird ones in a row? Its not a new box of syringes, I have used several with no problems. Can there be too much air in the vial?
I have done hundreds of shots, never had this happen!

 

[Larry and Kitties]

Likely the syringe needle is clogged or there is a defect in the needle. I would try almost fully withdrawing the plunger from the syringe body and see if yo draw air in or create a partial vacuum. Then fully depress the plunger.

 

[katiesmom]

Likely the syringe needle is clogged or there is a defect in the needle. I would try almost fully withdrawing the plunger from the syringe body and see if yo draw air in or create a partial vacuum. Then fully depress the plunger.

Thanks, thats what I thought, it sounded like it was clogged or maybe debris in the needle.

Problem happened last night, so the syringe is long gone now. I messed with it afterwards filling it with water and shooting it out, and it seemed okay, so most likely a clog/debris.
I just hope I didnt contaminate the insulin since I tried to use it twice and the second time it did open up a little- and I injected air in the vial , hopefully it was just air, no small piece of debris got in there.

I just did the AM injection with a new syringe and it was fine, so it wasnt the vial.


If that every happens again, I will immediately discard and not try a 2nd time.

 

[Olive & Paula]

I occasionally use the vial. I do not inject air and it works fine.

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

I occasionally find a wonky syringe that absolutely refuses to draw up insulin (no matter what I do to try to persuade it otherwise... ). And I think there was one time that I got two in a row...
It doesn't happen often, but it does happen... I just chuck it out and use a fresh one.

Eliz

 

[katiesmom]

I occasionally find a wonky syringe that absolutely refuses to draw up insulin (no matter what I do to try to persuade it otherwise... ). And I think there was one time that I got two in a row...
It doesn't happen often, but it does happen... I just chuck it out and use a fresh one.

Eliz

Thanks for letting me know its not just me. It was 5am, I was tired and felt like I was in the twilight zone, thinking what the heck is going on?! I am using Walgreen syringes, which are crap really, IMO. I ordered some BD and monojects which will hopefully get here by the end of the week.

 

[Critter Mom]

@katiesmom -

Lovely pic of Katie!


Mogs
.

 

[tiffmaxee]

I've had that happen drawing up air but when I insert the needle again it has worked.

 

[Juliet & Diggy]

I've never heard of putting air into the vial. Is that something that should be done? I've been using my vial for quite some time and I've never done that or had any issues. I have had the insulin fill up slowly if I try to draw it in the needle too fast, but I assumed I just needed to go slower.

 

[Olive & Paula]

I don't inject air either.

 

[tiffmaxee]

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...insulin-info-handling-drawing-fine-doses.151/

From the sticky do not inject air into you pen or vial.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

For vials, the manufacturer says:
Step 3:

Draw air into the syringe equal to your insulin dose. Put the needle through the rubber top of the vial and push the plunger to inject the air into the vial.
http://products.sanofi.us/lantus/lantus.html#section-16

With a vial, if you do not inject air air will slowly be drawn into the via the holes the needle makes in the rubber stopper.

 

[katiesmom]

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...insulin-info-handling-drawing-fine-doses.151/

From the sticky do not inject air into you pen or vial.

It says "Do not inject air into cartridges or pens. Cartridges and pens are designed to work on a negative pressure principle."
Now I understood that as inject air into the vials as the manufacturer says, but not the pens, as the pens dont need it.
But I have also read with low dosing as we do with kitties, we dont really need to inject air. Enough air does eventually get in with percing the stopper. So I dont know.
So although I have been injecting the air, I am going to stop and see if there is any difference with drawing up the insulin.

 

[katiesmom]

@katiesmom -

Lovely pic of Katie!


Mogs
.

Thank you @Critter Mom She does have the most beautiful big round eyes, people often comment on them. I tell her that her cuteness is the reason she gets away with so much.