I'm an idiot and forgot to pick up my prescription for needles this weekend, and now I'm going on vacation for 10 days. I have 1 syringe that was given to me as a "practice" one about a year ago. I never stuck myself with it, just played around with the dosage part. I was wondering if it would be safe to use this to inject? Or the proper way of cleaning it would be beforehand.
It was a new needle when I received it, and its had a cap on it the entire time, it's just been sitting in my apt for a year. I live in the East Bay, and there is a needle exchange program - was wondering if I was going to need to go get one, if I couldn't use this one?

I don't think I would risk my health on a dirty dusty syringe and/or needle. Just pick up the script on the way out of town. Phone before hand and it should be ready to pick up soon as you get there.

Call some pharmacies around will you will be. Some don't require a prescription, many may even be willing to contact your current pharmacy and verify information to allow you to purchase one or two while you are out of town. Or your doctor might call the prescription in for you at another pharmacy as well.

I know that there are a couple of Walgreens in my town that don't require a script at all, some do, but a few don't. Make some calls, talk to a pharmacist, they should be able to give you good advice.

Hell call a Planned Parenthood! So many of them have trans programs now days or deal with the trans community they may help you out. Aren't those things everywhere?

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Post Merge: June 28, 2010, 03:12:09 AM

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Also I am just curious, how the hell do you have time to contemplate stopping at a needle exchange program but not at the pharmacy? That part kind of blew my mind a bit.

I wouldn't see why it would be a problem. If you use it, Clean it w/ an alcohol swab before you use it. Going to the needle exchange would be another option.

If you really want to use it, you should boil the needle part.  It won't hurt it because it's metal, but it'll sterilize it.  And then do the alcohol swab.

You can not sterilize the inside of the syringe very well. After 1 year of not being sterile it can have been visited by things like dust mites as well as germs of various sorts.  Don't do it. Your life isn't worth losing over a dirty needle.

This may be a dumb question to ask, but, since when do you need a prescription to buy needles?  Is it just a state by state law?  Here in Idaho they only require you to be 18 to buy them.

It's a state law. In my state, you need an RX. But there are needle exchanges in various states and locations, even in states that require RXs, where you can take used sharps and exchange them for new ones.

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Post Merge: June 28, 2010, 05:03:03 PM

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It's a state law. In my state, you need an RX. But there are needle exchanges in various states and locations, even in states that require RXs, where you can take used sharps and exchange them for new ones.