Question about Forteo pen priming - Osteoporosis Message Board

Aleta145 · 03-18-2008, 11:01 AM

For those of you familiar with the pens, does it seem to you like there's a lot coming out when you prime it? With both pens so far, when they're set on "1" the stream of medicine shoots up about 7-8" in the air. My husband is concerned about whether he's getting the correct dose--it seems like there's more going into the air than into him. How do you know if the pen is accurate?

dawn2dusk · 03-20-2008, 12:47 PM

I am also a user of the forteo pen and know what you mean about the stream that comes out when you prime it. I have talked with Eli Lily (maker of the pen) about a couple of issues, and they assured me that the pen is designed so that the "proper" amount comes out in both the priming sequence and when you inject yourself. They said sometimes you will see a stream and other times it will be in more of a droplet form. Having said that, my pen ran out before the 28 days it is supposed to last (last month). Lily said that could only happen if I primed the pen more than once, injected myself twice in one day or left the needle on the pen when storing it. I had done none of those, and no other explanation was given. They did call my pharmacy and authorized another pen for me at no charge. Their customer service department is very good, and I would suggest your husband call them if he has questions.

DesertBloom · 03-20-2008, 04:47 PM

Hi Aleta: I've always wondered about this as well, but I guess you can only take Eli Lily's word for it. There is one other way I thought of to check it, "if" you want to go through the hassle.

First you will need a small cup, and syringe with the needle on it. It will have to be a small syringe that measures in micrograms or cc's, which "could" be hard to find or you could do the math and convert the measurement from a ML syringe and convert to mcgs. Yeah I know this sounds stupid, but it could be done pretty easily if you have a syringe and are willing to waste the prime and the shot.

Inject the prime into a cup, then draw all of it into a syringe and write down the measurment. Now dump that prime done the toilet and inject the injection dose into the same "empty" cup. Again draw the entire contents into the syringe and write down the measurement. 2nd option: You could dump both the prime and the injection into 2 "different" cups and compare the volume, without using a syringe, but it won't give you a accurate measurement. The type of cup I'm referring to are the type that are plastic and I think they are 30 ML and come with Nyquil or cough syrup. Also, you wouldn't necessarily need a needle on the syringe if you don't need to be completely precise. You could draw it into the syringe without it.

If you want to do all this you will know for sure how many mcgs are in both the "prime" and "injection."

It's up to you if you want to do this, and remember you have several extra shots and primes left at the end of the month anyway so you would only be using up the wasted portion of the pen. When I finish my pen it always ends on the 20 mark of the pen cylinder.

Sometimes my analytical mind is a real drag, but this is the only way I can think of to answer the question for sure, if you aren't willing to rely on what Eli Lily claims--that the actual injection is 20 mcgs.

Have Fun

And no I'm not nuts, just in case you were wondering

DesertBloom · 03-20-2008, 05:11 PM

Hi Aleta: I just did the above and it doesn't work!!! I used one of my old pens and did what I explained. The prime only put out 3 drops about the size of the purple needle guard on the pen--the larger end--and the injection (2 on the pen) put out about 3 times the amount. There's no way to measure it since it's so small. The only thing I can tell you is the injection releases 3 times more than the prime, in volume. Boy I guess I forgot how small a microgram is...

Well that was my experiment for today

petal*pusher · 03-21-2008, 09:16 AM

Too funny DesertBloom! I love experiments!

I've wondered this also...it's easy to see that little plunger slowly push out the prime...and it sure does seem like a lot of liquid is being wasted. ($$$)

I remember thinking this same thing when getting other shots during my life (or my kids)...how come so much is being discarded...but, thinking back, the same amount seemed to squirt out..........p