I am taking 45mcgs weekly and do they expect me to throw away the balance of peg left after each injection? That's 135mcgs I would be throwing away. I am paying almost $200 per 180mcg vial.
I am going to use up my entire vial. I see no reason to throw it out as long as it is kept refrigerated and new needles are always used. Anyone else doing this?
Yes, I and many others do the same. I cover the vial top with a wrapper from an alcohol swab before putting it back into the refrigerator. I swab the vial top, then my injection site before each injection. In my case, there is money to be saved by stocking up so I buy it every other year.
Good luck to you, russkatt!
I think that this is an issue for both Peg and Besremi, perhaps even more for Besremi as it utilizes 500 mcg syringes in the US. Normally, doctors would suggest not reusing the syringes. However, I know that many people are doing so...
yes I just clean the needle and reuse - I don’t pay as I’m in the U.K., but it’s such a waste.
I'm new to doing the injection only 4 weeks in. I went to the nurse for first dose then she watched me do it for the second. She consulted with the Dr and said she thought I was at risk of under dosing or over dosing and contamination from keeping the other 2 doses. As I'm in Australia it does not cost much so I'm ditching the rest and just using the one dose. I just don't see why it doesn't come in the one dose!!
It doesn't come in the dose we need as that would cut profits for big pharma. I know a lady who buys her own syringes and decants the correct doses in to those, no waste. Whether we pay or not we are putting the unused amount into the water system.
I think this is what I will do going forward. I can take one vial and load 4 syringes and store in the refrigerator until needed. This stuff is too expensive to just throw it away. I even had my nurse tell me that she can't say to reuse the vial, but she has several patients that do.
I've written to my congresswoman in the US to complain about Besremi packaging way too much serum in the vial. At around $19,000/shot if you are at half dose you are throwing away, well, you get it. It is an outrageous expenditure for both patient and any federal apparatus like Medicare. I urge everyone to ask governments to step in to stop this waste.
« The label of Pegasys states that the product should not be reused and any unused portion should be discarded. This is because Pegasys contains benzyl alcohol as a preservative, which can only prevent bacterial growth for a short period of time after the first puncture of the vial. If the same vial is used for multiple injections, there is a risk of introducing bacteria or other microorganisms into the solution, which can cause serious infections at the injection site or in the bloodstream. In addition, repeated use of the same vial can also affect the quality and potency of the medicine, as it may degrade over time or become contaminated with particles or foreign substances.
Therefore, it is important to follow the instructions for using Pegasys and to use a different vial every week. If you have any questions or concerns about how to use Pegasys safely and effectively, you should consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist »
Yes that is what I was told by Nurse and Dr and it did not sit well with me at all. As far as using the same needle I think this is fraught with danger. But on the other hand if I was paying the amount you guys in the US are paying maybe I would be doing the same. Something needs to be done.
many veterans have been re using for decades, it’s doible IF it’s done properly, but unfortunately as a Rux patient I can’t remember the details of what properly is.
Manufacturers have to say no to cover themselves and make more money.
Take care to get it correct.
The CDC has guidance on "repackaging" single use vial drugs into multiple syringes at one time as long as its for a single patient.
I draw up multiple doses from the single-use vial at the same time and store the syringes in the refrigerator until needed. I use good sterile technique when drawing up the doses. My hematologist and pharmacist both support this approach, as the drug is too expensive to be wasted. I was using separate needles to draw and inject, but found that also to be wasteful due the loss of the medication in the 18g needle I used to draw it up. (I would switch to a 25 gauge needle to inject). I’m going to switch to insulin syringes (1cc, U-100, 27 gauge , 1/2”needle), and use the same needle to both draw up and inject.
90 mcg vials are available. I use those to do the same.
That is good to know, Thanks!
90mcg 135mcg & 180mcg avail in the UK so should be available everywhere(you’d hope)
Pegasys 
Pegasys treatment
Change from Interferon to Pegasys 
Cramp Pains With Pegasys
