Injection Techniques

• Your Pen or prefilled syringe should be kept in its original carton until you are ready to use it. Read the instructions on the box and the pharmacy regarding the refrigerator (36°F to 46°F) or the room temperature (68°F to 77°F) storage.
• Do not use if the liquid is cloudy or discolored or has flakes or particles in it.
• Keep the injection supplies, and all other medicines out of the reach of children.

• If your medication is refrigerated, remove the vials from the refrigerator 15-30 minutes before administration so it can reach room temperature.
• Select a clean, dry work area.
• Gather your supplies:
  • Medication Pen or Prefilled Syringe
  • Alcohol pads or cotton balls and bottle of rubbing alcohol
  • Sharps container*
  • Bandaids
• Wash your hands well before preparing your medication.
• *The container can be a sharps container, coffee can or leak-proof, closable milk jug. Find out the proper way to dispose of biological waste in your area.
   

• Your doctor, clinic nurse, or pharmacist will instruct you on preparing your particular dose of medication.
   

• Select your injection site (see picture). The following parts of your body have subcutaneous (most fatty) layers:
  • Outer surface of the upper arm
  • Top of thighs
  • Buttocks
  • Abdomen, except the navel or waistline
• If you are very thin, then do not use the abdomen as an injection site.
• Do not use the same site for injections each time. Rotate your injection sites in a regular pattern. You should be at least 1 ½ inches away from the last injection site.
• Select a site and cleanse the area (about 2 inches) with a fresh alcohol pad, or cotton ball soaked in alcohol.
• Wait for the site to dry.
• Remove the cap as noted in the medication instruction.
• Pinch a 2-inch fold of skin between your thumb and index finger.
• Hold the Pen or Prefilled Syringe the way you would a pencil or dart. Insert the needle at a 45 angle to the pinched-up skin. The needle should be completely covered by skin.
• Slowly push the plunger to inject the medication. Hold for 6-10 seconds to ensure medication has been dispensed.
• Remove the Pen from the skin. Do not rub the skin. 
• If there is bleeding, then apply a cotton ball with pressure and cover with a bandaid.
• Immediately put the Pen or Prefilled Syringe into the disposal container.

• If you forget to take your injection at the scheduled time or date, inject a dose as soon as you remember. 
• Take your next dose at your regular scheduled time. 
• In case you are not sure when to inject your medication, call your doctor or pharmacist.
   

BD Needle Photo Reference:  https://www.scribd.com/document/468697649/abs

Video References: 
1.    https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/administer-vaccines.html
2.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNXOFKjTPJc
3.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsfrVMBv-BY
4.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYnUrw8yqaY

• Humira Pen

i.    Do not remove the gray or the plum-colored caps until right before your injection.
ii.    When the plum-colored button on the HUMIRA Pen is pressed to give your dose of HUMIRA, you will hear a loud "click."
iii.    The loud “click” means the injection has started.
iv.    Injection is complete when the yellow indicator fully appears in the window view and stops moving.

• Humira Prefilled Syringe

i.    Always hold the prefilled syringe by the body of the syringe with the needle pointing down.
ii.    Do not drop or crush HUMIRA. The prefilled syringe is glass.

• Humira Injection Training Video

i.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW8g_6LLDHI