Wasting T?

[youngbuck]

I've had some issues lately with my T vials running out too early and I'm hopeful you guys might have some input.

My doctor recently lowered my dose as such that I can no longer legally get 10ml vials -- it would exceed a six-month supply, so my script has to be written for six 1ml vials instead. It's a bit of a pain, since I have to go to the pharmacy more often and it's also more expensive, but I can deal.

...however, with the past two 1ml vials I've gotten, my T has run out a week before it's supposed to -- and because it's a controlled substance, it's not easy to get early refills. I inject weekly and I've been coming up one dose shy even though mathematically, it shouldn't be happening. My doctor was thankfully willing and able to authorize my refills, but this time around, he requested that I bring my supplies to the pharmacy and see if there's something I've been doing wrong. The pharmacists confirmed that I've been reading and filling my syringes properly, but suggested that I might be losing T when I swap out needles. Their recommendation was to use just one needle for both drawing and injecting, since even small amounts of loss can add up for a cumulative effect. I'm going to give that a try, but I'm admittedly not optimistic I won't be having the same problem this time next month.

I've tried Googling around, but as this is a rather specific issue, there's not a whole lot of information out there. I did find a couple of somewhat relevant threads on steroid boards, but I'd rather hear from y'all. Thanks in advance for any advice; it's been driving me crazy.

[CursedFireDean]

I had a small dose that required individual vials at one point, and I drew and injected with the same needle. I was BARELY able to get the correct number of doses from a vial that way, I am sure that if I swapped out needles, I wouldn't have been able to do it. I would not be surprised at all if that was what is happening to you.

I have gotten 10ml vials from pharmacies despite. My doctor always prescribed me the 10ml vial even though it was a 3 month prescription and that was well over 6 months worth, and I sometimes got a few 1ml vials from pharmacies and sometimes was given the 10ml vial. Different pharmacies tend to care at different levels. I actually had about a year's worth of T in my possession at one point because the pharmacy just didn't care, they didn't even check my ID like they normally do. It is possible you might be able to find a pharmacy that will give you 10ml vials even though its more than a 6 month amount.

[Devlyn]

Hi youngbuck, I hope you get some good advice from the guys. I see you haven't posted in the Introductions area, and we usually hand out an information packet there to help new members figure things out. Luckily, I brought one along with me! 

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Hugs, Devlyn

[HeyTrace19]

It definitely is easier to dispense from the larger vials!  I have had the same problem recently.  You could try and fill your scrip at a different pharmacy and see if you can get the 10ml vial, or ask your doctor to write VERY specifically on the prescription that it is to be dispensed in the larger vial.  Is your issue that the insurance company is not allowing more than a six month supply?  You could always bypass the insurer and pay out of pocket if that would end up being more convenient.

I find it unpleasant to draw and inject with the same needle, since to me it feels like the 'edge' has dulled and it is more painful.  Now that I have been on T for a number of years, it seems a little less worrisome if one dose per month is a little bit shy, but if that had happened to me early on I would be one grouchy dude!

If it happens again this month, I would have another conversation with your doc about prescription clarity...Good luck!

[Tysilio]

Our doctors typically adjust our dosages pretty often, without writing us a new Rx each time. The real dosage often differs from the "official" one on the prescriptions for a lot of drugs, anyway. See if your doctor will write you a prescription specifying a weekly dose which will use up a 10 ml vial within 6 months. (I won't post what that comes out to, so as not to violate the rules here, but it's easy to do the math.) You and your doc will know that your actual dosage is lower than that, but no one else needs to.

Et voilà! Now you can get 10 ml vials, no hassle.

[LordKAT]

5 ml vials are possible. Getting those should help with the problem.

[youngbuck]

First of all, thank you for all of your responses, and thank you, Devlyn, for the warm welcome.

I had a small dose that required individual vials at one point, and I drew and injected with the same needle. I was BARELY able to get the correct number of doses from a vial that way, I am sure that if I swapped out needles, I wouldn't have been able to do it. I would not be surprised at all if that was what is happening to you.

This is very interesting and the kind of experience I was looking for, thanks. Drawing from the little vials is such a pain; I can understand the need for extreme precision.

It definitely is easier to dispense from the larger vials!  I have had the same problem recently.  You could try and fill your scrip at a different pharmacy and see if you can get the 10ml vial, or ask your doctor to write VERY specifically on the prescription that it is to be dispensed in the larger vial.  Is your issue that the insurance company is not allowing more than a six month supply?  You could always bypass the insurer and pay out of pocket if that would end up being more convenient.

I find it unpleasant to draw and inject with the same needle, since to me it feels like the 'edge' has dulled and it is more painful.

I'm already paying out of pocket, so it's not an insurance issue -- I believe it's a state regulation that's tripping me up, which unfortunately I can't do anything about. I do live close enough to another state that I could try filling my scripts there, which might be worth considering if I still have trouble.

I actually used to use the same needle for my injections but ended up switching to two for comfort reasons (and also because my draw needles are much bigger and therefore much easier to fill my syringes with). I've been on T long enough that I can deal with a little more pain, but hopefully that won't be too much of an issue.

Our doctors typically adjust our dosages pretty often, without writing us a new Rx each time. The real dosage often differs from the "official" one on the prescriptions for a lot of drugs, anyway. See if your doctor will write you a prescription specifying a weekly dose which will use up a 10 ml vial within 6 months. (I won't post what that comes out to, so as not to violate the rules here, but it's easy to do the math.) You and your doc will know that your actual dosage is lower than that, but no one else needs to.

I've definitely been wondering about this and think I'll bring it up to him the next time I go in. I was just concerned that my asking him to do that would be some kind of ethical violation, and obviously I don't want him to do something he's uncomfortable with or could possibly get in trouble for. He's been very willing to help me out in the past, so I don't think he'd just shut me down -- but again, I didn't know if this would be an unreasonable request on my part.