Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm having problems finding needles I need at my local pharmacies. Nobody stocks the separate syringes and hubs. They only sale the one piece already together ones. They're a lot cheaper that way too. If they have to order them it's going to cost me double.

Has anyone used the same needle they used to draw out of the vial to also inject with?

Is there really any difference?

Infection risks a side.

Once you use a needle on the vial, the tip dulls.
So if you use it too inject yourself after, it might hurt and bleed more.
It'll be harder to pierce the skin.

Can you buy them in bulk online?

Quote from: Jayr on April 14, 2013, 08:51:40 PM
Can you buy them in bulk online?

Everywhere I have seen online is expensive and a hassle. If anyone has a good reputable company (that isn't expensive) they get theirs from send me a pm.

Don't really care about an extra pinch of pain. It's the infection risk that is troublesome.

Uhh, I just got my prescription from Walgreens. They gave me the syringes that are already put together, and I use them to draw out the T and then to inject. I wouldn't know if it hurts more than not doing it that way. I do know that if you stab yourself once, fail, and try again with the same needle, it is significantly more painful the second time. But that was a stupid mistake and has nothing to do with the kind of syringe I'm using.

I haven't heard anything about an increased risk of infection, but then I haven't asked. That's just what they gave me at Walgreens. I've been going two and a half months and I'm fine. I even had a mishap about a month in where I "contaminated" my T by stabbing my leg and then putting the needle back into the vial... which, yes, was stupid. An embarrassing mistake. In any case, my doctor just said to watch and be sure the T didn't get cloudy. I haven't had any problems since then, with infection or otherwise.

Quote from: democration on April 14, 2013, 09:38:58 PM
Uhh, I just got my prescription from Walgreens. They gave me the syringes that are already put together, and I use them to draw out the T and then to inject.

See I was always told you shouldn't use the same needle to inject that you used to fill the syringe from the vial. Then I thought it was strange that every pharmacy I have called doesn't have the ones I need.

I got my first needles when I was in the hospital having my hysto (had the hysto 4 days before starting T). I just told my surgeon I didn't have any and she hooked me up while I was there. Now I'm almost out.

Quote from: Simon on April 14, 2013, 10:08:26 PM
See I was always told you shouldn't use the same needle to inject that you used to fill the syringe from the vial. Then I thought it was strange that every pharmacy I have called doesn't have the ones I need.

My boyfriend has been on T a few months longer than I have, and he got his prescription from a different pharmacy. They gave him the separate needles when he first started, and again when he refilled his prescription.

He was with me when I went to Walgreens for it and was concerned about the syringes being already all put together like they were, so he asked them about it. I don't know if pharmacists are necessarily the people to ask, but it makes sense since they're handing out the medication that they would know. They said it shouldn't be any problem, but that I could get them the other way if I wanted— it'd just cost more. Obviously I opted to just go for the cheaper stuff. I really didn't know it mattered! :-)

http://www.drugsupplystore.com/servlet/StoreFront (http://www.drugsupplystore.com/servlet/StoreFront)

I bought 100 18g needles, and 100 22g syringes+needles already put together. I couldn't find 18gs that were already attached to syringes. The total of my order was like $33. That was last year and I still have plenty. I've had a couple botched injections where I had to ditch a 22g and replace with a fresh one. It's just good to have a lot on hand.

Quote from: democration on April 14, 2013, 09:38:58 PM
Uhh, I just got my prescription from Walgreens. They gave me the syringes that are already put together, and I use them to draw out the T and then to inject. I wouldn't know if it hurts more than not doing it that way. I do know that if you stab yourself once, fail, and try again with the same needle, it is significantly more painful the second time. But that was a stupid mistake and has nothing to do with the kind of syringe I'm using.

I haven't heard anything about an increased risk of infection, but then I haven't asked. That's just what they gave me at Walgreens. I've been going two and a half months and I'm fine. I even had a mishap about a month in where I "contaminated" my T by stabbing my leg and then putting the needle back into the vial... which, yes, was stupid. An embarrassing mistake. In any case, my doctor just said to watch and be sure the T didn't get cloudy. I haven't had any problems since then, with infection or otherwise.

this is exactly what i do! besides the mishaps lol, i did drop my vial on the ground once and it cracked XD

I've never had a problem using the same needle for drawing up and injecting. With my first dose, the docs office didn't change the needles out between vial and injection either. I've even neglected to swab the vial top (but which I keep in it's box to ensure even less stuff gets on it than without doing that) and still never had a problem as far as infection goes.

So if you can't get them with the injection needle separate from the draw syringe and needle, don't sweat it. It's fine. I even use the 23G's (21G's are for my gluteal IM's only seeing as they refuse to go all the way through my thigh flesh when I need to put the dose there) for both too.

Just do NOT touch the needle when you're drawing up if you're going to use it for the injection after. It's awkward at first to not allow that to happen, but that's really important... never, ever touch it. I did once at first and decided to just wipe it with the alcohol swab and didn't have a problem from that either but yeah, that's your call what to do if you ever did.

I use http://www.stroheckersrx.com/ (http://www.stroheckersrx.com/) in Portland if anyone is local but they also ship quickly. When I need to get a new vial of T I ask for the 2 needles that I use - 18 and 22 and they just give me a supply no cost. I think the T is about $55 for the 200mg bottle so for me it's a good deal.

Quote from: tvc15 on April 15, 2013, 02:38:55 AM
http://www.drugsupplystore.com/servlet/StoreFront (http://www.drugsupplystore.com/servlet/StoreFront)

I bought 100 18g needles, and 100 22g syringes+needles already put together. I couldn't find 18gs that were already attached to syringes. The total of my order was like $33. That was last year and I still have plenty. I've had a couple botched injections where I had to ditch a 22g and replace with a fresh one. It's just good to have a lot on hand.

Cheers, I think I'm gonna use this site from now on. Getting needles from the pharmacy is so frustrating. They never know what I'm talking about when I say I need an 18g needle and a 27g needle with syringe. Even when I give them my prescriptions. I've started just bringing in one of each to show them what I need. Plus my insurance covers T but not needles so the money is the same.
I always take it out of the vial and inject myself with different needles. But what I'm curious about is if this is such a huge safety concern, why do they always get so confused at the pharmacy when I tell them I need 2 different needles?
Although your pharmacy sounds even worse Simon. I never pay extra if they have to order them.

I know some say you shouldn't inject with the same needle that you used to draw the T but even in hospitals they do it with the same needle. I was so many times in hospitals or the ambulance came for me and got injections and nobody of the nurses or doctors have change the needle. Anyway I used to rub the needle with alcohol after drawing it up just to be super safe.

Quote from: Simon on April 14, 2013, 09:21:36 PM

Quote from: Jayr on April 14, 2013, 08:51:40 PM
Can you buy them in bulk online?

Everywhere I have seen online is expensive and a hassle. If anyone has a good reputable company (that isn't expensive) they get theirs from send me a pm.

Don't really care about an extra pinch of pain. It's the infection risk that is troublesome.

The usual rate is $24 for a box of 50 safety syringes (23 gx, 1 inch needle) , $11 for normal ones (box of 100). It's shipping that hurts (imed.com uses UPS @ $12)

I've done both. When I didn't change needles it hurt a little more. If you can get a prescription for 100 of what you need, you can go to a medical supply store and get them.

I bought my needles online and the order was like $30 and I got like a hundred pack. The thing you have to remember is, even if you're doing it weekly a 100 pack will last you like 2 years or so. So you're spending like $30 every 2 years on needles. I found getting my needles from the pharmacy was more expensive by far. And I haven't had an infection. They are wrapped and sterilized just like at the pharmacy.

I ended up getting a Rx from my doctor to get what I wanted. I get my T from Costco now ($65 a 10mL vial) and 18G/21G needles from Walmart (14 cents each). That's the cheapest I've found for both.

I have no problem what so ever getting the needles and syringes I want from Walgreens. I don't bring a script for them as it isn't needed.

I do like stroheckers as they send them included with the price when you refill your script each time.

I go through stroheckers as well but when I run out I go through cvs. They also only give the needles attached to the syringe. I just draw up the t, take a needle off of another syringe and put the unused one in place of the one I drew up with. It's a bit of a waste but if rather not risk infection or a dulled needle

Quote from: LordKAT on May 19, 2013, 12:56:56 AM
I have no problem what so ever getting the needles and syringes I want from Walgreens. I don't bring a script for them as it isn't needed.

I do like stroheckers as they send them included with the price when you refill your script each time.

I dunno what it is because I don't live in a populated area but the pharmacies all want an Rx for needles. It's fine now though. I have enough for a good while.

Stroheckers is a good company if they work with your State. Unfortunately I'm in one that they don't.

I don't live in a populated area either. I kinda had to get Walgreens to stock what I needed. since then no problems though.

It depends on your area, what your state's laws are, and what's going on. For example, in New York you can get up to 10 needles without a prescription from a pharmacy but the pharmacy can deny you needles without any sort of reason. Part of this is an attempt to combat the HIV rate here (highest per capita in the US). I think it cost me something like $3 for 10 needles the last time I went. None of the pharmacies stock the size I like (23g 1 inch) so I either have to hunt down the one pharmacy that does, or get a prescription so they can stock it.

Hm. I got my needles at Wal-Mart (30 for like 3dollars)...I'm not sure if my insurance covered it or not...I'm assuming so. They are 22g x1 1/2 and come apart. No one has told me about using two different needles though...
I do it in my ass and I don't feel a thing. (har har)

I don't know if this option exists in the US, but when I was thinking about buying some smaller needles for my shots rather than using the 20g needles it comes packaged with I found that Veterinarian Supply websites sell bulk packs of needles.