Using actemra pen

[WaltzG]

Hi I self-injected with the actemra pen last night for the first time on my own and today I have a bigish bruise at the site. Is this normal or did I do something wrong? It didn't happen when I did with a nurse....

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You injected at a different site with the nurse - you probably caught a tiny blood vessel this time. I use a pre-filled syringe so am not familiar with the vagaries of the pen version. Maybe someone else uses the pen.

[WaltzG in reply to PMRpro]

Many thanks . .it did bleed a bit after so sounds likely... Very Happy New Year and thanks for your help on here.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to WaltzG]

Yes - that'll be it, Where do you inject? Stomach or thigh? I think it is probably harder to make sure to avoid obvious blood vessels with the pen and on the thigh. Using the pre-filled syringe is like any other injection, you can press on the site as soon as the needle is out.

[WaltzG]

Hi on the thigh ....seeing anything like a blood vessel is difficult because of angle and reading glasses ...but I'm sure I will get better as I go along!!

[Blearyeyed in reply to WaltzG]

Have they told you to do anything at the site ?My husband uses a pen for his diabetes injections , they do suggest the thigh or buttock is better as you can cause more tenderness in the stomach .

The OH says that changing the needle , even on a new , unused pen can reduce problems. He assumes you have been given a box of replacement needles. Keep your pen at 90 degrees to the area you are injecting and insert the needle with smoothness and less force.

As Pro says , you will get bruising with the pen if you hit a blood vessel or capillaries and you will bruise more easily if you have been on steroids.

[WaltzG in reply to Blearyeyed]

Hi I don't have spare needles or anything......I will go more gently next time was a bit nervous!! Thx reply and Happy New year

[JuneWalker]

I use the pre-filled syringe. I always inject in my upper thigh and twice I have had bruising.

[WaltzG]

Thank you sounds regrettably fairly normal. Very Happy New Year

[Rugger]

I used the pre-filled pens for 2 years and only occasionally got a large bruise - sometimes a small one and often nothing at all! I always used my stomach and rotated the sites like a clock face to avoid using the same places - always 2" away from the navel.

I hope it suits you as well as it did me. I was sorry when my allocation ran out, but grateful that I had 2 years instead of one, due to the pandemic.

[WaltzG in reply to Rugger]

Hi thanks . I do like it !! Much more energy next day! Very Happy 2023