Dull Needles?

[rhmason]

Hello everyone,

My Urologist recently moved me from Edex mc20 to trimix 30mg papaverine 1 mg phentolamine 10mcg aprostadil. The needles that came with the trimix are the same size as the ones that come with the edex, .33 mm x 12.7mm. It seems as if it takes a lot more pressure to get the needle through the skin with the insulin syringe than it does with the edex syringe. I'm wondering if I got a batch of needles that are dull or if that's just a characteristic of this particular brand Sure Comfort (please see attached photo). Has anyone else have difficulty using this brand of needles? What is the trimix syring that most users prefer?

Any input is greatly appreciated,
Ray

[james4326]

I get 50 units or less, 29 gauge, 1/2" needles from my local Sam's, and they work great.

[Martin6469]

Compare needles with a good magnifying glass.

I use "BD Insulin Syringes" 31 gauge 8mm. Always nice and sharp. (Smaller needle diameter = less pressure needed.)

[bldoink]

I'm using "Sure Comfort" brand currently. It's their 1/2 cc 5/16" 31 gauge version. Right at the top under the big "Sure Comfort Insulin Syringes" it says in very small print "Use once and destroy*Lubricated needle for your injection comfort". It says lubricated on the box also. Yours says "Use once and destroy*For immediate use". I don't know if that difference is significant. I would think all insulin syringes would be lubricated but maybe not. I'm using these as my other box of syringes is getting low and I have a bunch of these as my compounding pharmacy gives me a bunch of them whenever I get my mono-mix script filled.

That said, these don't seem to go in as easily as my normal syringes which are Publix store branded insulin syringes with the same needle size but 3/10cc capacity. They don't say lubricated on the bag either but they do on the box. I like the Publix branded syringes ok but I won't claim they're the best. They are convenient for me to get. I have no idea who actually makes them except that they're made in Korea, as are several brands.

The other brands I'm familiar with are the Easy Touch and BD. IIRC they both went in easily enough but I didn't care for the BD brand as it has more plunger resistance. The Easy Touch box says "Film coated for maximum comfort". The box is actually full of bags of accumulated "Sure Comfort" syringes. The BD bag doesn't say and I don't have a box. I think I liked the Easy Touch the best. I think most people consider the BD brand to be the highest quality. They probably are. I just don't like their plunger resistance.

Plunger resistance is important to me as I depend heavily on that to determine if my needle placement is correct. Generally the smaller the capacity of the syringe the lower the plunger resistance. That's why I recommend using the smallest capacity possible based on your dose volume. You probably aren't used to that technique as it's difficult with the Edex cartridges due to their large double stoppers you have to push. And of course determining correct placement by aspiration is impossible with the Edex cartridges as they aren't designed to allow that.

I don't know where you're located but State law in Florida doesn't require a script to buy syringes. Unfortunately many pharmacies do require a script for syringes. When I told the Publix pharmacist I'd had difficulty buying syringes without a script he laughed and told me the druggies don't use insulin syringes, they use larger ones.

But yeah, try a different brand. If they don't feel like they go in as easily as the Edex cartridge needle then they obviously don't.

Good luck.

[rhmason]

James,
I'm a Sams Club member; I didn't think of using their pharmacy, Thanks!

Martin,
Thanks for replying, I've read where the BD syringes are especially sharp. But here and on Amazon reviews I've read the plunger is very stiff.

Bldoink,
Lots of great info thanks! I live in eastern Hillsborough County, FL and use Publix quite frequently, didn't think about their pharmacy.
Also wasn't aware some needles are lubricated, some are not. I'm sure that would make a difference.

Ray

[bldoink]

Publix will order pretty much any syringes you want if you want to wait. Of course you can order off the internet too but I never have enough to order from any of those medical places to justify the shipping. I'm lazy so I settle for the Publix brand and they usually have the 5/16" 31guage 1/3cc size syringes I like. Pretty cheap too. I imagine they could change their supplier without notice and leave me disappointed but oh well. I'm sure Sams, Costco and BJ's are probably cheaper and Walmart too but they're already cheap although I don't recall the actual cost.

Plant City? I'm down there East of that big lake.

[dxchase70]

Plunger resistance is important to me as I depend heavily on that to determine if my needle placement is correct. Generally the smaller the capacity of the syringe the lower the plunger resistance. That's why I recommend using the smallest capacity possible based on your dose volume. You probably aren't used to that technique as it's difficult with the Edex cartridges due to their large double stoppers you have to push. And of course determining correct placement by aspiration is impossible with the Edex cartridges as they aren't designed to allow that.

Bldoink, can you clarify plunger resistance with regards to needle placement? I think I've read somewhere that if it's difficult to press down on the plunger, that means the needle not in a good spot? Just wanted to make sure I have this right. I remember on one of my earlier attempts to inject Edex, it was really hard to press down on the plunger. I think I pulled back the needle a little bit and then it was easier to press the plunger.

Performing a proper injection has been a bit hit or miss for me so far. I think I've injected 8 times so far and I believe 3 were unsuccessful. Although I'm not exactly sure if they were unsuccessful since I did get a partial erection.

[rhmason]

Bldoink,

Are you referring to Lake Thonotosassa? I'm in Seffner.

Do you have a preference for the 1/2 cc syringe over the 1cc?

Thanks,
Ray

[bldoink]

Bldoink, can you clarify plunger resistance with regards to needle placement? I think I've read somewhere that if it's difficult to press down on the plunger, that means the needle not in a good spot? Just wanted to make sure I have this right. I remember on one of my earlier attempts to inject Edex, it was really hard to press down on the plunger. I think I pulled back the needle a little bit and then it was easier to press the plunger.

Performing a proper injection has been a bit hit or miss for me so far. I think I've injected 8 times so far and I believe 3 were unsuccessful. Although I'm not exactly sure if they were unsuccessful since I did get a partial erection.

If you're in the correct spot/depth the plunger should be fairly easy to depress and not painful but let me clarify that second part a bit more. My mix is pretty strong and I can get some pain when I depress the plunger even when in the correct spot if I depress it too quickly. I depress the plunger slowly and in little pulses with a second or so between each pulse. If I'm in the correct spot and I depress slowly I get no pain. If I do get pain I stop and readjust my depth.

Back to resistance. Never force the plunger down if it's difficult that's a sure sign you're at the incorrect depth. Readjust the depth and try again. On a rare occasion you might even find it helpful to withdraw the needle and reinsert, but I think I've only done that 2 maybe 3 times in 10 years. I don't like the idea of drilling an extra hole.

Aspiration can also work well. A tool that wasn't available to you with Edex. I didn't initially use this technique but others here do so I've been using it for awhile now to confirm if necessary. To check location with aspiration I pull back on the plunger a tiny bit. If depth is correct the plunger will withdraw and stay. If it does and you look you will see a tinge of blood. If you're not in the correct spot when you pull back on the plunger a bit it will automatically go back to it's original location like pulled by a spring (actually vacuum) when released and little to no blood should be present, should you look. I rarely look for blood as the spring back effect is clue enough.

I'll send you a PM later.

[bldoink]

Are you referring to Lake Thonotosassa? I'm in Seffner.

Do you have a preference for the 1/2 cc syringe over the 1cc?

Ray,

Nope, the big one, Okeechobee.

I have a preference for the 1/3cc syringes. Use the smallest capacity syringe that will easily hold your dose. My dose is 14 units. A 1/3cc syringe easily holds 14 units.