there are three basic steps for injecting copaxone prefilled syringes: gather the materials. choose the injection site. give yourself the injection. step 1: gather the materials. first place each of the items you will need on a clean flat surface in a well-lit area: one blister pack with copaxone prefilled syringe. remove only one blister pack from the copaxone prefilled syringe carton. keep all unused syringes in the prefilled syringe carton and store them in the refrigerator. alcohol prep (wipe). dry cotton ball (not supplied). let the blister pack with the syringe inside warm up to room temperature for 20 minutes. to prevent infection wash and dry your hands. do not touch your hair or skin after washing. there may be small air bubbles in the syringe. to avoid loss of medicine when using copaxone prefilled syringes do not expel (or do not attempt to expel) the air bubble from the syringe before injecting the medicine. step 2: choose the injection site. there are seven possible injection areas on your body: arms thighs hips and lower stomach area (abdomen). (see figure 1 ). each day pick a different injection area from one of the seven areas. do not inject in the same area more than once a week. within each injection area there are multiple injection sites. have a plan for rotating your injection sites. keep a record of your injection sites so you know where you have injected. there are some sites in your body that may be difficult to reach for self-injection (like the back of your arm) and you may need help. do not inject in sites where skin depression has occurred because further injections in these sites may make the depression deeper. step 3: give yourself the injection. remove the syringe from its protective blister pack by peeling back the paper label. before use look at the liquid in the syringe. if it is cloudy or contains any particles do not use it and call shared solutions at 1-800-887-8100 for assistance. if the liquid is clear place the syringe on the clean flat surface. choose an injection site on your body. clean the injection site with a new alcohol prep and let the site air dry to reduce stinging. pick up the syringe as you would a pencil. remove the needle shield from the needle. with your other hand pinch about a two-inch fold of skin between your thumb and index finger (see figure 2 ). insert the needle at a 90-degree angle (straight in) resting the heel of your hand against your body. when the needle is all the way in release the fold of skin (see figure 3 ). to inject the medicine hold the syringe steady and push down the plunger. when you have injected all of the medicine pull the needle straight out. press a dry cotton ball on the injection site for a few seconds. do not rub the injection site. throw away the syringe in a safe hard-walled plastic container.
how do i inject copaxone?