Lovenox anyone? Splitting prefilled syringes?

kz's_girlygirl

So my RE suggested we use Lovenox during our next cycle, and I was lucky enough to get a few 40mg prefilled syringes donated to me.  My RE only has me scheduled for a 30mg dose though.  Since it's a subQ injection, I should be able to just draw up 3ml with a spare menopur syringe and inject that way, right?  I'll double check with a nurse, but just had a moment of freak out when I saw the prescription this morning thinking I would have to order an entire new set. 

Thanks to anyone out there!

Twinkie0612

I never did lovenox, but my ganirelix was prescribed at half the dose of the prefilled syringe.  I would split each prefilled syringe into two doses and save the extra for the next day.  So yes prefilled syringes can be split.

BankerBSN

I take the whole 40mg twice a day so I am no help. The 40mg is a pretty standard dose though.

And there is 40mg in 0.4ml so you would need 0.3ml for the 30mg if my med math is correct.

kz's_girlygirl

BankerBSN said:

I take the whole 40mg twice a day so I am no help. The 40mg is a pretty standard dose though.

And there is 40mg in 0.4ml so you would need 0.3ml for the 30mg if my med math is correct.

Thanks!  I would end up being pretty stumped if I tried to get 3ml out.  Math+Me=Nothing good.

STL34

It would be easier to split if you used a syring with a removeable needle.  The prefilled syringes are not this way.  I'm not sure what type of syringes you have from menopure.  But, if they are not the type with a removable needle, you may need some type of sterile container to split the Lovenox.  If it has a removable needle, you move the plunger to the desired level, remove the needle and inject the Lovenox into the syringe and carefully replace the needle.  I haven't done this with Lovenox.  But, I have with Ganirelix and Cetrotide.

kz's_girlygirl

STL34 said:

It would be easier to split if you used a syring with a removeable needle.  The prefilled syringes are not this way.  I'm not sure what type of syringes you have from menopure.  But, if they are not the type with a removable needle, you may need some type of sterile container to split the Lovenox.  If it has a removable needle, you move the plunger to the desired level, remove the needle and inject the Lovenox into the syringe and carefully replace the needle.  I haven't done this with Lovenox.  But, I have with Ganirelix and Cetrotide.

Thank you so much! My menopur syringes do have removable needles. Just so I have this straight- you're saying to remove the needle from the empty menopur syringe, draw the plunger to the specific setting (drawing air), then inject the lovenox into that syringe?

This may be completely stupid , but how does the air escape when I inject the lovenox?

I've never split injection doses before!

Twinkie0612

kz's_girlygirl said:

It would be easier to split if you used a syring with a removeable needle.  The prefilled syringes are not this way.  I'm not sure what type of syringes you have from menopure.  But, if they are not the type with a removable needle, you may need some type of sterile container to split the Lovenox.  If it has a removable needle, you move the plunger to the desired level, remove the needle and inject the Lovenox into the syringe and carefully replace the needle.  I haven't done this with Lovenox.  But, I have with Ganirelix and Cetrotide.

Thank you so much! My menopur syringes do have removable needles. Just so I have this straight- you're saying to remove the needle from the empty menopur syringe, draw the plunger to the specific setting (drawing air), then inject the lovenox into that syringe? This may be completely stupid , but how does the air escape when I inject the lovenox? I've never split injection doses before!

This is exactly how I split ganirelix. First, I remove the air out of the prefilled syringe.  Then, I pull the plunger back on the empty syringe to the correct dose insert the needle of the prefilled syringe into the empty syringe and slowly fill the empty syringe.  The air will escape because there is space around the needle at the opening of the empty syringe. Once the syringe is full, I put the needle back on. 

Since you are not splitting your syringes in half (it looks like you are using 3/4 of the syringe), you should get 4 doses out of 3 prefilled syringes.

kz's_girlygirl

Thank you ladies so much! Feeling better about it now. You're the best