If this is your first use, then reconstitute the vial with bacteriostatic water or load and prime the auto-injector device.
Do not shake or tap the growth hormone medication forcefully because it will be inactivated.
Here is an easy step-by-step guide to the injection process:
* Select an injection site and disinfect it with alcohol wipes/swabs.
* If your product is in a vial, then replace the needle for reconstitution with another sterile one for subcutaneous injections. Then pinch your skin with the fingertips of your non-dominant hand and stick the whole needle with your dominant hand under 45°.
* If you are using a pen, then attach a sterile needle to the device and stick it under 90°.
* Press the button/stopper and hold it with the needle inside for a few seconds.
* After you pull the needle out, put sterile gauze and a bandage on top. Do not press or massage the injection site.
* Discard the used needle and the syringe in the container for sharp materials without recapping. Throwing sharp materials in regular waste puts the health of people who handle that waste at risk. Always use new sterile needles for the next injections.
Now let’s clear up the preparatory part of the injection process. First of all, you check if the medication is suitable for use. After reconstitution, growth hormone should be a clear and colorless liquid.
Besides, you should make sure that the injection site you have chosen is clear too. Switch to another one if there is reddening, swelling, pain, wounds, rashes, or signs of inflammation in the area.
When starting therapy you should be able to choose from several different HGH preparations including:
Vials containing powder
Preloaded and prefilled pens
Chambers for use in auto-injector devicesNo matter which preparation you will use, growth hormone should be injected into the fat tissue under your skin (subcutaneous). This type of injection provides the best bioavailability and rate of absorption for HGH.
If you use growth hormone in a vial, then the powder should be first reconstituted into a liquid using a regular needle and syringe. Then the injection is performed using the lifted skinfold technique.
The method requires you to pinch your skin and insert the needle (a new needle suitable for subcutaneous injections) at a 45° angle.
When using an auto-injector device such as an HGH pen, there is no need to pinch and lift the skin. All you have to do is inject at a 90° angle (holding the pen perpendicular to your skin).
The best results of HGH therapy can be achieved by injecting the medication at the same time every day and creating a habit.
The best time for you will depend on your personal routine. Yet, small studies suggest that injecting before sleep may lead to a slightly better physiological pattern of growth hormone release in the body.
Once you begin to prepare to inject the medication, you will need the following items:
Alcohol wipes/swabs
Sterile gauze
Bandage
Container for sharp materials
Injector pen with suitable needlesIf you will inject growth hormone from a regular vial that requires reconstitution, then instead of an auto-injector device you will need:
Vial with HGH
Vial with diluent (bacteriostatic water)
Sterile syringe
Sterile needle for withdrawal
Sterile needle for subcutaneous injectionsSubcutaneous injections typically can be administered at several areas:
The abdominal area around the belly button
Outer upper arms
Front outer thighs
Lower loinsThe best place to inject HGH is in the abdominal area. Also, it’s much more convenient than other injection sites. Furthermore, studies report that injecting in that area causes less pain.
Another method to reduce the sensation of pain during an injection is to ensure that the growth hormone solution is not too cold (if it was stored in the fridge). Therefore, you should leave HGH vials, pens, or cartridges at room temperature for 30 minutes before injection.
Auto-injector pens require thinner and smaller needles which also helps minimize pain. Your sensation also depends on the total volume injected – lower than 0.8ml is tolerated the most amongst patients.
Here are several extra tips from our medical specialists on how to reduce pain and discomfort during a growth hormone injection:
Apply pain-numbing cream or ice to your skin before the injection
Relax your muscles in the injection area to pinch your skin more easily
When injecting at a 45° angle, turn the bevel of the needle up to prevent skin tearing.
Pierce through your skin with a single swift motion
Don’t change the direction of the needle while going in or out of your skin
Push the plunger of the syringe slowlyAccording to research, local skin reactions are common after HGH injections and involve transitory complaints such as redness, short-term bleeding, pain, discomfort, and swelling. They resolve spontaneously without treatment.
Make sure to keep a list of the sites where you inject and rotate these sites frequently. Scientists warn that injecting repeatedly on the same spot can lead to the formation of a dent in the area due to lipoatrophy (localized fat loss).
Subcutaneous injections are the easiest method to self-inject a substance at home. The method provides a lower risk of pain, infection, or complications.
In the case of inappropriate technique, there is a risk of injecting the medication within the layers of the skin or in a blood vessel instead of subcutaneously.
This may significantly diminish the effectiveness of the medication but without a higher risk of adverse reactions.
Injecting an air bubble subcutaneously is also not dangerous since the gases can get absorbed from the tissues.
Concerning side-effects include allergic reactions, continuous bleeding, and numbness in the limb.
