If you have been prescribed human growth hormone therapy as an adult, it is because your body is not producing enough growth hormone (somatotropin) naturally. In this report, we explain how to use HGH injections at home while answering some of the most commonly asked questions.
- First Question: I want to use HGH, but I am scared of needles. Is there a way that I can give myself a shot at home without ever seeing the needle?
- Answer: Many adults are afraid of or apprehensive about needles. A number of the injectable pen devices on the market offer needle shields or guards that keep the needle hidden from view throughout the injection process. They are simple to use. You can administer HGH injections without ever seeing a needle.
- Second Question: How will I know how much HGH to use? What happens if I inject too much or miss a dose?
- Answer: That was actually multiple questions, but all focused on the same topic – dosing. Your hormone physician will calculate your dosage and it will be listed on your prescription and your instructions. Injecting too much HGH on a regular basis will likely result in unwanted side effects. Missing a dose once is not that much of a problem. However, doing it continuously will hinder your results. If you have concerns about keeping track of your treatments, some of the injector devices come premeasured and there are those that will track your injections to tell if you missed a dose.
- Third Question: How do I know how long to use HGH?
- Answer: Your doctor will prescribe an initial course of treatment – typically 4 to 6 months (with 6 months being most common). After that, the doctor will run a new set of blood tests, and then your provider will assess the progress you have made. You may then decide if you wish to continue treatment. If so, the doctor will then determine if the dosage should remain the same or change. Many people do lower their dosage once they reach a point where they want to remain in a stable, holding position.
- Fourth Question: What is the HGH route of administration?
Answer: HGH is a subcutaneous injection. You will administer one shot (using the tiny needles associated with insulin syringes) below the skin of your abdomen.
Hormone doctors prescribe HGH injections for at-home use by adults who have growth hormone deficiency.
Instructions for Using HGH in Vials
When ordering your human growth hormone medication, you and your health care provider will discuss the various options available. Here at RXHormone medical clinic, we offer 6 high-quality brands of HGH in different injector styles. Some people who ask us how to use HGH injections choose the lowest cost method – vials containing freeze-dried (lyophilized) HGH powder that they will reconstitute with a provided bacteriostatic solution. Each shot used this way will be with a fresh insulin syringe. In this section, we will cover the instructions for using HGH in vials. The following section will discuss the use of HGH injector pens.
The first step in how to mix and use HGH is the reconstitution process, outlined below:
- Gather your supplies (HGH vial, bacteriostatic solution, alcohol swab, mixing syringe, Sharps container) to a clean workspace (counter or table)
- Wash your hands with soap and water then dry with a clean towel
- Remove the tabs on the HGH and bacteriostatic water vials
- Wipe the vial tops with an alcohol swab
- Uncap a new mixing syringe, stick the needle through the bacteriostatic water vial top, and turn the vial upside down
- Fill the syringe with the prescribed amount of solution by slowly pulling back on the plunger
- Remove the needle from that vial and place it into the center of the HGH vial, tilting the vial so that the needle points to the side
- Slowly push in the plunger allowing the solution to run down the side of the vial into the powder – use all the solution prescribed
- Remove the needle from the vial and replace the cap, disposing of it in the sharps container
- Gently swirl the HGH vial – do not shake
Before you continue with how to use HGH, make certain all the powder has mixed completely. There should be no crystals or particles left in the vial.
Now that you have prepared your HGH, how to use it instructions are below:
- Take one of the new HGH administration syringes (insulin syringe) from your supply and remove the cap from the needle
- Insert the needle into the HGH vial, turning it upside down, so the solution covers the needle
- Gently pull back the plunger filling the syringe to the prescribed dosage
- Check the syringe for air bubbles, tapping the side until they move to the top, and you can inject them back into the vial – add more HGH if necessary
- Remove the needle from the vial and recap the needle
- Use an alcohol swab to sanitize the injection site and let air dry
- Once dry, uncap the needle and insert the needle into the skin then push the syringe in until all medication enters the body
- Remove the needle, replace the cap, and dispose of it in the Sharps container
- Return your HGH to the refrigerator
From the second time using a prepared vial forward, wipe the top with an alcohol swab before inserting the needle for filling.
One of the most common questions from people wondering how to use HGH is where they should give themselves the injection. Here is the answer:
- Select a spot on the abdomen one to two inches away from the belly button, alternating sides each day. Try not to use the same spot more than once a week. You can move a little bit up or down, to the right or left of a previous injection site.
HGH vial preparation takes only a few minutes, HGH shot administration is fast and easy.
HGH Pen Administration
It is more difficult to explain how to use HGH pen systems here because there are so many choices. What we will do is give you an overview of how the various injector pens work.
- The first option for how to use an HGH pen is the all-in-one unit design. These are self-contained units that you dispose of when empty. The pens come premixed and ready for use. All you have to do is attach a new needle and dial your dose each day, and you are prepared to go. Once used, the needle is recapped and disposed of in the Sharps container.
- Next up are the pen units that utilize replaceable cartridges. Depending on the brand, some come premixed and ready for use, others require reconstitution. There are variances in the ones that need mixing before use. Some feature two-chamber cartridges, where the HGH powder and sterile solution are all inside the unit in separate chambers, ready for mixing. Other cartridges utilize prefilled mixing syringes.
Another difference between these options is refrigeration. Some brands of HGH require continuous refrigeration, while others are stable at room temperature for a specified time. You can discuss which options best meet your lifestyle and budget needs with your medical advisor here at RXHormone.
The administration of HGH by injector pen is to the same location on the abdomen as specified in the previous section. You will always sterilize the skin of the injection site with an alcohol swab before inserting the needle.
All injector pens use tiny, disposable needles that you discard in the Sharps container.
If you have any further questions about how to use HGH, please contact RXHormone medical clinic for assistance. Consultations are free of charge – we are here to help.