Alcohol swab or soap and water

[Matthew 19:12 (imported)]

When depo is injected, is the best place the thigh or the arm or the buttock? Also is an alcohol swab necessary first, or will soap and water on the site do? Thanks.

[speedvogel (imported)]

When depo is injected, is the best place the thigh or the arm or the buttock? Also is an alcohol swab necessary first, or will soap and water on the site do? Thanks.

The main reason to use an alcohol prep before injecting anything is to remove body oils that might make the needle slip. The soap and water would disinfect the site as well, but it will leave more oils on the surface of the skin.

I am a diabetic and I have hide like the sole of an old army boot, so It is very difficult to get even a tiny insulin syringe needle into me.

Now as to where to inject, that depends on both the gauge and the length of the needle. I shoot my testosterone into my butt because it is to be IM and I use a 21 gauge x 1 1/2" needle.

[Losethem (imported)]

The main reason to use an alcohol prep before injecting anything is to remove body oils that might make the needle slip. The soap and water would disinfect the site as well, but it will leave more oils on the surface of the skin.

Um... no, that's wrong. You use the alcohol swab to sterilize the area before plunging a sterile needle into the sterile environment inside your body. Soap and water would make the area clean, not sterile. There is a HUGE difference between clean and sterile. Clean is free of dirt, sterile is clean of dirt and pathogens. Big difference.

I work in healthcare, I'll be glad to debate this with anyone.

And really, needle slip on skin? You use them, those little buggers are sharp and will enter your body where ever you press them without slipping. I've never had a needle slip when giving an injection either on myself or others.

--LT

[Matthew 19:12 (imported)]

Is it very unsafe to inject depo then, if you have no alcohol, but only soap

An water?

[daledale (imported)]

Alway use alcohol. I believe they recomend the butt. That is what I've done for year

[Losethem (imported)]

If you can afford depo, you can afford alcohol swabs. They are not expensive and can be acquired very easily. They cost about 1/100th what my testosterone costs. I'd think it would cost you about 1-2 pounds for a package of 100-200 of them.

--LT

[Matthew 19:12 (imported)]

Could I just swab it with vodka? I read online, that they use alcohol swabs in clinical settings, but in home setting soap and water is ok.

[Matthew 19:12 (imported)]

Or is alcohol gel ok, if not vodka?

[kristoff]

Or is alcohol gel ok, if not vodka?

Just spring for the 39 cent bottle of rubbing alcohol, and buck or so for a small bag of cotton balls.

[Losethem (imported)]

Just spring for the 39 cent bottle of rubbing alcohol, and buck or so for a small bag of cotton balls.

I'm with you Kristoff. I simply don't understand why they are having this discussion. Alcohol swabs (or cotton balls and rubbing alcohol) are not expensive. They cost no more than a bar of soap. So just go out and buy some already and stop with this silly discussion. *ugh*

I simply cannot understand why after explaining the

difference between clean and sterile

that some people just can't stop being stupid and understand it's not a good idea to put "clean" needles into sterile areas of their body. Perhaps they just don't understand the difference, so let me put it in terms a 3-year old could understand clean is clean and only means that an object is clean in appearance. Sterile is SUPER CLEAN meaning microbes, bacteria, viruses are cleaned off. What you're doing with alcohol swabs is killing all those things off on the surface of the skin where you intend to put your needle, soap and water alone CAN'T DO THAT.

So pull your heads out of your ass and buy the alcohol swabs and do it correctly. Sheesh...

If I were a moderator I'd close and delete this thread before people start believing the misinformation in it.

--LT