syringes and the fridge

[flyingduck2019]

This may have been discussed before but here goes----Does anyone know if putting a syringe in the fridge effects the ability to pull back or push forward the rubber stopper? I am asking as I have had some issues with some of my syringes after being loaded and stored in the fridge. All of them seem to slide back and forth as taken out of the box. They only become difficult to push forward after being loaded and stored in the fridge. I can only guess that the cold temperature causes the rubber to harden somewhat, thereby making the plunger harder to depress.

Maybe I am wrong and it's no big deal if I am, I was just wondering if this might be the case and I have searched the internet and have not found anything stating this is true or false. I know that lots and lots of guys store loaded syringes in the fridge and some even in the freezer. I also store loaded syringes in the fridge ready for action at a moments notice.

[RadioWaves]

I keep my TriMix loaded into Becton Dickinson 5/16"x31g syringes, and kept in the fridge without real issues regarding depressing the plunger. Although it is a slightly harder to get the plunger moving from a dead stop. I did look at one of my used syringes that was in my Sharps for a week and I noticed that I saw some residual TriMix that was around the plunger and that the TriMix had darkened somewhat. I think that the Trimix slightly decomposes the rubber plunger after sitting a while in room temperature. I've not noticed any darkening of the TriMix while refrigerated.

[implant1959]

I really think best practice is to only draw up the medication in the syringe right before injection. Trimix is supplied to you in a glass vial, exposing it to the plastic and rubber of the syringe may degrade the medication. Also you are recapping the needle, which increases chance of contaminationg. Also you have no way to know if someone has messed with your syringes, since the seal on the needle cap was previously broken.

[GoodWood]

I haven’t tried the fridge but I had problems with Trimix loaded syringes in the freezer. About half the time I could NOT inject. The plunger would NOT move. Not sure if something precipitated and plugged the needle or what.

So I just draw up what I need when I need it for use immediately or within a few hours. I’ll draw up a dose in the morning and bring it with me in a refrigerated med carrier if I have a date after work and am not getting home before then. No problems there.

[INDIANA BONES]

Had the same problem after refrigerating filled syringes. On injection could not tell if the plunger had stuck or I was not in a good spot. I now always back the plunger and push back in until a drip comes out of the needle before injecting.

[frwmw1]

I really think best practice is to only draw up the medication in the syringe right before injection. Trimix is supplied to you in a glass vial, exposing it to the plastic and rubber of the syringe may degrade the medication. Also you are recapping the needle, which increases chance of contaminationg. Also you have no way to know if someone has messed with your syringes, since the seal on the needle cap was previously broken.

I think you are right, because bacteria could get into the needle after being opened.

[ftwabeck3533]

Starting statement is and always shall be "to each, his own".

When I get a brand new 5.0 ml glass vial of Trimix from the compounder, I immediately fill 33 syringes with 0.15 ml (cc) each. Then I place 32 syringes in the freezer and one in the fridge (ready when she is!). When the one in the fridge is used, one comes out of the freezer and into the fridge. I use 1-2 syringes a week, so mine can be in the freezer for several weeks. Occasionally, maybe 1 in 20, are a little harder to get started -- but always work. I always make sure the air bubble is purged before injecting in my dick, so the plunger gets a test before sticking it in me.

I swear by the entire process as working for me.

[bldoink]

I don't really have that much experience freezing syringes and none with tri-mix as I use mono-mix. And I never just refrigerated any. However I have frozen syringes with mono-mix (Edex) several times. I didn't have any issues with dissolving plunger material that I noticed. I don't know if that was due lack of close observation, the brand of syringes I was using at the time (Publix store brand I think) or if there is something in tri-mix that is hard on the plunger material.

I do know that if I was seeing dark material in my syringes that was from dissolved plunger material, or from anything any other contaminant for that matter, I sure a hell wouldn't be injecting it into my dick.

[Phil65]

Then I place 32 syringes in the freezer and one in the fridge (ready when she is!).

Is Trimix frozen when put in the freezer and one can't draw into syringe? How long does it take to thaw from freezer and why not just leave syringes in there if it only takes a few seconds of rubbing in between palms?

[implant1959]

I found this quote online "“BD plastic sterile hypodermic syringes are not intended or FDA-cleared for storage (i.e. for more than 24 hours) of compounded pharmaceuticals,” the company said".
Also they say you shouldn't freeze plastic water bottles because of breakdown of the plastic and contaminating the water. I would think this would also apply to syringes.
I just know when i was injecting i always drew up right before injection.
Would be interested if someone had talked to the compounding pharmacy about this. Or is there a statement on the syringe packaging addressing this?