My midwest LLMD has agreed to let me give myself Bicillin LA injections. His prescription was for 6 shots (2.4 mU) reconstituted with lidocaine.
I just got back from Walgreens and I am looking at what I picked up and it seems that all they did was add some lidocaine in a bottle to the order. I was thinking, right or wrong, that they were going to reconstitute the shots themselves and all I would have to do is inject it into the muscle.
I will definitely call my LLMD tomorrow because I would have no idea how to get the lidocaine into the bicillin (or even how much to use), but I thought I would ask for some advice.
Also, the 2.4 mU looks like alot of medicine. Has anybody had any problems injecting all of this into the same spot?
Thanks for any help.
Jeff
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Jeff,
I don't know about the lidocane. I didn't numb up before my injection.
As for the 2.4 mu.....hummm, I used 1.2 mu. how many times per week are you doing Bicillin?
Usually I see that people are using 1.2 mu injections but they may do them one-three times per week.
I would just sit tight until you clarify all of this in the morning with your doctor.
PS I loved the convenience of Bicillin.
Feelfit
Posted by no_lyme_in_florida (Member # 5537) on :
Feelfit,
Thank you for the reply. The 2.4mU is once a week. I am definitely not going to do anything until I speak with my doc, but I was sitting here looking at everything and was curious what others who had done this thought.
Jeff
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Jeff,
You're welcome. If you are doing the 2.4 in one injection that will take awhile to complete the injection. The slower you go, the better (less pain).
I really did not have huge pain issues. be sure to draw back on the plunger before you inject to check for blood.
I will be in Ft Myers Nov-Mid-May. Have a winter home in Lehigh.
If you have any Bicillin questions once you get squared away, feel free to PM me.
Good Luck, Feelfit
Posted by janet thomas (Member # 7122) on :
I did IM Bicillin 1.2 mil units twice a week for 6 months. It really doesn't hurt and I never used lidocaine. Jab the needle in really fast, pull back a little to check for blood and then inject very slowly. Oh, and I warmed up the Bicillin first.
Posted by blackmon (Member # 1528) on :
Jeff, Do a search on lymenet for bicillin--there have been many threads discussing techniques for injecting and other issues.
Make sure that you aspirate to check for blood before injecting. If you've never given yourself an injection it would be best to have a nurse or other qualified practitioner show you how the first time.
I didn't understand from your post what form the bicillin is in--I assume you are getting the pre-filled syringes b/c that's all that is available in the US. If so, then I don't see how you could possibly add lidocaine to those--it's extremely thick and there would be no way to get it into the syringe. Some people order the powdered form from overseas and reconstitute it with lidocaine and sterile water.
If you are using the pre-filled ones then perhaps you could just inject the lidocaine first, then inject bicillin in the same area.
It has helped many - I hope it helps you.
Nancy
Posted by KauaiGoddess (Member # 11782) on :
Aloha,
I did 1.2 mu's 2x/week....
I never numbed it before, so don't know about that...did them for about 7 months...
I'd alternate hips every time I got the shot...no problems...
I read that someone had gotten 1.2 in one hip and the other 1.2 mu's in the other hip...(so they got the full 2.4 in one dose) forget who it was...
Glad your going to wait to talk to your LLMD...good luck! hope it all works out!