How to open B12 ampoules!

[rebekah40]

I have bought some 1ml B12 ampoules (Rotexmedica) but I have got no idea how to open them! I tried opening one of them and ended up with broken glass. Can someone please help...?

[Poppet11]

If you look on the neck of the ampoule does it have a little spot?

[rebekah40 in reply to Poppet11]

Yes it does...

[Poppet11 in reply to rebekah40]

How do I explain this...

Erm, if you're right handed, hold the ampoule in your left hand with the spot facing left and then put your right thumb on the spot and break it backwards...

Can somebody else do this because I don't think I'm explaining it very well!

Don't do anything yet - wait till someone else chips in!

[rebekah40]

Thanks Poppett11! That has helped! It's more than I knew! I won't open yet, was going to leave until tomorrow!

[Poppet11 in reply to rebekah40]

It's amazing I manage to open them actually because I am very heavy handed! Ooops. Is a word I use a lot...and usually precedes, Ouch.

[rebekah40]

Well the first one I opened earlier was a disaster, so I'm a bit worried about the next one! I think I am also heavy handed too! I didn't realise that they would be like this - to be honest I didn't know what I thought they'd be like, but I did think it would be much more simple! Crap is a word I used earlier, you are much more polite

[engels]

You need to hold the ampoule loosely, if you grip it too tightly it can shatter. I form a fist with my right hand and pop the ampoule into the hole between my thumb and first finger with the dot facing towards me then use my left thumb and first finger to snap the top off backwards in a quick movement. It's really easy once you've got the knack.

[Poppet11 in reply to engels]

Are you left handed, Engels?

[engels in reply to Poppet11]

No.

[Poppet11 in reply to engels]

Well I can't do it your way - I go all cack-handed. I thought you must have been left handed!

[engels in reply to Poppet11]

I wouldn't describe myself as ambidextrous but I do seem to do a lot more with my left hand than most right handed people that I know. My father was the same.

[rebekah40]

Thank you Engels. I will give this a go and try not to be nervous or heavy handed, particularly since I wrecked the first one!

[Leilanilea in reply to rebekah40]

As one who remembers opening several of these daily as a nurse I definitely recommend holding the ampoule in non-dominant hand with an alcohol wipe/swab around bottom of ampoule (protection and traction) Plus a wipe over top of ampoule, held by dominant hand. The breaking action should be quick, brisk. As others have said, usually after you do it once or twice you'll know how much force to use. Then you can probably place the broken empty ampoule into the same sharps container you use for needles.

Good luck! Leilani

[rebekah40 in reply to Leilanilea]

Thanks Leilanilea for your advice....I think this might get some getting used to! I'm hoping I don't waste the B12 by getting glass accidentally in it!

[Gambit62 Administrator]

If it is any consolation I made a right bish of opening my first ampoule and actually cut my thumb quite badly - took me a while to figure out that the dot is actually marking the point where the top of the ampoule has been scored to weaken it.

I find that what works for me is, rather than gripping the ampoule in my hand holding it in a sterile wipe with the dot towards me. Thumb flat across the top and second finger gently holding the side that is away from me. Gently push your thumb away until you hear it/feel it snap. Generally they open quite easily but I do occasionally have a bit of a problem but it's probably about 1 ampoule in 10 that seems to be a bit stiffer.

Also, just in case this is part of the problem, you need to tap all the liquid down into the bottom of the ampoule before you try opening it.

Can't believe how much of a mess I made of the first ampoule these days!

[Leilanilea in reply to Gambit62]

Yes, getting bubbles out of top will allow you to get to all the liquid. Try holding closed amp in one hand at bottom, and make a flicking motion with your other hand with thumb and middle finger against the amp.

[rebekah40 in reply to Leilanilea]

Will do, thanks again for your knowledge and advice

[rebekah40 in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks Gambit! I also saw the dot but didn't know what it was for so ignored it. I almost cut myself also...they are quite dangerous aren't they?

[engels]

If you're still struggling you can buy little tools to make the job easier e.g.

sepha.com/en/products/view/...

[rebekah40 in reply to engels]

That's a handy gadget...thanks for the link, much appreciated!

[NovicePA in reply to engels]

I bought something off amazon that looks like a clip for freezer bags. Very cheap and does the job.

[treacletart33]

Also, after flicking down the liquid with thumb and index finger, put a paper towel or tissue around the top of the amp, then carefully push back, if it doesn't go at at that point, turn the amp a tiny bit clockwise and go again, there is a natural breaking point, and it will break. Don't rush.

[rebekah40 in reply to treacletart33]

Thanks for this useful advice, I imagine it's still going to be a bit messy for me. Hopefully I will get the hang of it soon.

[pvanderaa]

I guess I got lucky as I didn't know about the dot. I wrap the ampule in a tissue to catch any glass fragments. So far none have shattered. I push/bend the top to one side.

My shock was really, once it was open, what to do with it, as I didn't have the needle ready. I was sure it was going to tip if I set to down. I'm now in the USA and using rubber stoppers.

[Hidden]

I broke one ampoule, the first one I did on my own at home. (The pharmacist reckons the UK ones are packed in 5's because that is a years supply with on for accidents - I think he might have been joking but it is a thought. You could always claim you had broken on and request a new prescription a bit early then do the injections at 10 weeks instead of 13.)

My routine, which has now worked fine for the past 20 is to put the ampoule into a suitable crease in my body, under armpit of in groin, to warm it while getting the other bits ready, like opening the syringe packet and and needle packets, putting them onto a paper handkerchief ready. I put the ampoule into a paper handkerchief holding the bottom on my left hand and flick the top with my right hand to make sure the fluid is into the bottom, the grasp the head of the ampoule, through the handkerchief, with the weak spot dot facing me, then press firmly with my right thumb, forefinger behind the other hand and there is usually a satisfying snap as the head breaks off.

[nobbyclarke74]

I have a flat piece of wood 50mm by 80mm by 15mm with a10mm hole bored in the center I then put the ampule in and snap off the top with the dot at the back thumb on opposite side = success every time

[toph]

Buy an amp snapper off of Amazon about £2.50 and it's easy my 9 year old daughter does it for me

[goodach]

So, to cut a long story short: does the little white dot represent a weak spot? So to break the top off, you put the pressure in the opposite direction to that spot? I have had the opposite experience to most people -- I never had any trouble breaking the top off the first 3 times (beginner's luck?), but then a disastrous experience the next time (glass fragments all over the floor). I had not previously taken any notice of the dot. Perhaps we could have a demonstration on YouTube please?

[PaintLadie]

you can stick the tip in the corner of an envelope. Use the envelope to grip it and crack it open so your fingers don't come in contact with the glass. I did this and was able to cleanly open them no problems. I used a seed packet envelope I had nearby.