Pro Tips on reconstitution and filling a Pen Cartridge
Prepare a sterile workspace – wipe down with Clorox wipes or other disinfectant.
- Wash hands and wear gloves
- Pop off the plastic top cap (lid) of your peptide then carefully pop off the bottle stopper with a standard bottle opener.
- Remove top lid on BAC water vial and wipe the top with alcohol wipe.
- Draw appropriate BAC water from BAC bottle using a 3ML / 22 or 23 Guage Needle – it is helpful to push air into the bottle to help with the vacuum.
PRO TIP – Use 2ML with all GLP-1’s such as Tirz, Reta and Sema. The dosing works best in reusable pens with 2ML. Use 3ML for other peptides that are typically dosed at 500mcg and below for more accurate dosing. It helps keeps the peptides from re-crystalizing some do some don’t. It also helps with stinging of those spicy peptides.
- Slowly mix BAC water into Peptide vial – SLOWLY then gently swirl to dissolve. DON’T SHAKE – it may take a few minutes for all the product to dissolve. Be patient.
- Once dissolved pull all the solution back into same 3ML syringe making sure to get every last drop
- If using a filter remove needle and install filter on end of syringe and reattach the needle
- Create a vent for the cartridge by using a 100U Insulin syringe – remove the plunger and caps and insert the syringe it into the top of the pen cartridge. This creates a relief valve so you don’t blow out the stopper in the cartridge while pushing in the dissolved peptide.
- With the insulin syringe still in the cartridge. Insert the syringe with the peptide next to the vent syringe and push in the peptide liquid slowly. You will hear the air escaping from the smaller syringe.
- Disassemble Pen by PULLING the pen apart.
- Unscrew the clear cartridge holder from pen body.
- Push plunger all the way inside the pen body if it is sticking out at all.
- Insert filled cartridge into glass holder and screw back on – sometimes you have to press hard to get threads to start.
- Screw on pen cap (little needle) and while holding pen with needle up, gently thump on glass to get air to surface (bubbles up) It is ok if there is a small bubble left it actually does help with dripping while injecting.
- Turn the dial on the pen units to about 5 and press – repeat until air is removed from cartridge.
That’s it. Keep your pen in fridge just like you would keep your reconstituted vials in the fridge if dosing with syringes.
Now you are ready for your first injection.
- To Dose … turn the units dial to match the dosing calculation – the units on the pen is the same as the units on a 100U insulin syringe.
- Wipe injection location with alcohol swab and push small needle into injection site. Count to 5 before removing to ensure all solution is injected. Remove pen cap and safely discard. They are designed to be single use.
If you need help with figuring out your dose, use a peptide calculator. There are several on app stores that you download. PepCalc is a well-known app for IOS and android.