This Heparin is blowing my mind-Ease my confusion?

intheplanningstage

So I was supposed to switch from Lovenox to Heparin last night. I get home and look at the prescription, which says "prefilled syringes". My dr said she specified those because they are easier but if insurance didn't cover it, I may have to get the vials where you withdraw the meds and do it on your own. At first I was relieved that insurance covered it but then I realize...there's no way to inject the meds. It's not a "syringe" like Lovenox. It's a skinny, preloaded vial with right amount of meds...but there are no needles. Almost an hour later we came to this conclusion at the pharmacy: I need a special cartridge to inject and they don't know why the cartridge and the needles don't come with the meds. And of course it's not something the pharmicies just have in stock. So they gave me one more dose of Lovenox to hold me over to today and then overnighted this supposed cartridge. Anybody have this experience? I'm still nervous that I'm going to go pick it up and something's not going to be right.

Sugargirl1019

I'm not familiar with heparin predosed cartridges but if you take a picture of what you have I can try to walk you through it!

I'm a nurse so maybe we can figure something out together.

ETA: the "skinny, pre dosed vial with the right amount of meds in it" sounds like something I use frequently, but I draw the amount into a syringe.

Mkherren12

Following!! I'm still a ways away from switching over but it nice to know possible road blocks when the time comes.

mistyjewel88

When I had to do mine they gave me little vials with the meds in them and a separate order for the syringes. I have no idea what you are talking about. I am sorry and hope you get it figured out. Once you do you should post a picture so others can see if they have the same issue.

intheplanningstage

For everyone in the future, this is what I needed:

https://www.hospira.com/en/products_and_services/drugs/carpuject/

I was only given the vials and not the empty injector (or needles) originally. Maybe worth mentioning to clarify whenever an order is placed. What a mess but at least its resolved. Thanks guys!

Sugargirl1019

intheplanningstage said:

For everyone in the future, this is what I needed:

https://www.hospira.com/en/products_and_services/drugs/carpuject/

I was only given the vials and not the empty injector (or needles) originally. Maybe worth mentioning to clarify whenever an order is placed. What a mess but at least its resolved. Thanks guys!

That is the exact medicine cartridge I am used to using, but I've never seen that needle attachment piece. How interesting!

In the future for others, you can draw the medicine out of that skinny vial into a syringe and just give yourself a shot that way with normal needles.

topaz7777

I had the vials and had to order the syringe seperately.  I had to pull the medicine into the needle and inject.  My first time I was definitely confused, but this time I know what's up.  Also, the insulin needles are the smallest, I'll be getting those this time.  The ones I had with my last pregnancy were large and brutal.