Different Types of Ampule Seals

[MoKayD]

I never understood what you all were talking about when you talked about breaking the glass vial open to use the B12. I recently ordered B12 vials from Canada for my daughter. When she used the first one yesterday, she told me that these vials were different than the ones I get from my pharmacy. She said these have glass tops that need to be broken open. She dropped the first vial when trying to open it and it was ruined because it broke into pieces on the floor. The vials I get from here in the US have a little plastic lid on the vial which you pry off. Under the lid the mouth of the bottle is covered in a rubber like material which you don't remove, you just insert the needle into the bottle and draw out the B12 liquid.

Now all of the talk about opening vials makes sense. I wonder why there are different types of seals. Is one better than the other when it comes to preserving the integrity of the B12.

[Lunario]

I don't think either one is better than the other in terms of quality. The pure glass ampules are probably cheaper to produce, I suppose. And they can be disposed of sustainably.

[Narwhal10]

Hi MoKayD,

Like Lunario said I believe it’s just manufacturing. Some medication comes in glass vials which you snap open others you insert needle into a rubber type bung after removing ‘silver foil’.

Best wishes

[Ratherbewalking]

Hello. The multi-use, glass bottles are much larger, contain preservative, and are good for 30 days once opened. Unfortunately, they’re the only option for prescription hydroxocobalamin in the USA.

The glass ampules are single use and preservative-free. I much prefer these, so I order them from Germany.

[MoKayD in reply to Ratherbewalking]

I get single use cyno vials from my pharmacy. I would be afraid to use a multiuse bottle.

[Ratherbewalking in reply to MoKayD]

Ah, cyanocobalamin. And I see you bought them in Canada, so that makes sense.

I thought you were talking about getting hydroxocobalamin in the USA. I can't take cyano--it literally makes me ill.

[MoKayD in reply to Ratherbewalking]

methyl makes me feel horrible. It's funny how different types affect people differently.

[Ratherbewalking in reply to MoKayD]

so true!

[helvella]

One advantage glass has is the avoidance of any possibility of latex allergy.

If it has what looks like a rubber seal, you really have to check before use if you (or any other recipient) suffers latex allergy.

[MoKayD in reply to helvella]

I'm not sure if it is rubber, I just called it that because I'm not sure what it is. The texture is kind of spongy but nothing leaks out if you hold it upside down. I always hold it upside down when drawing out the liquid. I want to use every drop.

[helvella in reply to MoKayD]

I realise. But the fact you don't know (and nor do I) means that if we were afflicted by latex allergy, we would have to go through a whole process of checking. With glass, we avoid that.

[MoKayD in reply to helvella]

I googled it and this is what I found, Most pharmaceutical vial closures do not contain natural rubber latex. A recent attempt to quantify the prevalence of natural rubber latex in stoppers determined that 78% of pharmaceutical products marketed in the United States contain no latex.

[rogergee]

Maybe that's where withdrawing needles are vital, if you're pushing through a membrane in order to access the liquid?

[lambuth_eagle in reply to rogergee]

I’m on the US and get single use vials from my pharmacy. I use an 18 gauge 1” needle for drawing up. If I use my 25 gauge 1.5” injection needle to draw up, it definitely gets blunted from the vial.

[MoKayD in reply to lambuth_eagle]

I only use one needle. It both draws out vial and injects it into my body. It never hurts when I inject.

[lambuth_eagle in reply to MoKayD]

I definitely think it’s a personal preference. The nurse who taught me said to use separate needles. I’ve had nurse friends say it isn’t necessary. Since I can get 100 drawing up needles for about $10, it’s worth it to me to have a fresh needle for injecting. I have tough skin (despite being very hydrated and moisturizing) so using separate ones has helped.

[MoKayD in reply to lambuth_eagle]

Yes, the nurse who taught me used just the one needle. You do what you've been taught.

[rogergee in reply to MoKayD]

Me too

[rogergee in reply to lambuth_eagle]

I guess I was used to blunt needles! They never struck me as so.

[EiCa]

After breaking two glass vials open, and having them break jaggedly, I decided to buy the metal glass ampule opener on Amazon. Someone here stressed buying the metal opener; not the plastic one. The reviews for the plastic openers (much cheaper) we not too good. Though it was pricey, the metal opener works like a breeze so definitely worth it! I was sure I could break those ampules open myself, without an opener. I even watched some videos on-line. I successfully opened the first one but then ruined the next two. Learned my lesson.

[MoKayD]

Thanks for the suggestion. I've got to buy one of those for my daughter.