it, clean, flat work surface.
Wash your hands well with soap and warm water.
Step 2: Prepare your injection site
Choose an injection site around your stomach area (abdomen), buttocks, and upper legs (thighs).
If a caregiver is giving you the injection, the outer area of the upper arms may also be used. (See FIGURE B)
Use a different injection site for each injection. Do not give an injection in an area of the skin that is tender, bruised, red or hard.
Clean the skin with an antiseptic wipe where you plan to give your injection.
Do not touch this area again before giving the injection. Let your skin dry before injecting.
Do not fan or blow on the clean area.
Figure B
Figure B
*Areas in gray are recommended injection sites.
Step 3: Prepare the vial.
Remove the cap from the top of the vial. Throw away the cap but do not remove the rubber stopper. (See FIGURE C)
Figure C
Figure C
Clean the rubber stopper with an antiseptic swab. (See FIGURE D)
Figure D
Figure D
Do not touch the rubber stopper after you clean it.
Put the vial on a flat surface.
Step 4: Prepare the needle
Pick up the syringe with the needle attached.
Remove the cap that covers the needle. (See FIGURE E)
Throw the needle cap away. Do not touch the needle or allow the needle to touch anything.
Figure E
Figure E
Carefully pull back on the plunger to the line that matches the dose prescribed by your doctor.
Hold the vial between your thumb and index (pointer) finger.
Use your other hand to push the syringe needle through the center of the rubber stopper. (See FIGURE F)
Figure F
Figure F
Push down on the plunger until all of the air has gone from the syringe into the vial.
Turn the vial and the syringe upside down. (See FIGURE G)
Hold the STELARA vial with one hand.
It is important that the needle is always in the liquid in order to prevent air bubbles forming in the syringe.
Pull back on the syringe plunger with your other hand.
Fill the syringe until the black tip of the plunger lines up with the mark that matches your prescribed dose.
Figure G
Figure G
Do not remove the needle from the vial. Hold the syringe with the needle pointing up to see if it has any air bubbles inside.
If there are air bubbles, gently tap the side of the syringe until the air bubbles rise to the top. (See FIGURE H)
Slowly press the plunger up until all of the air bubbles are out of the syringe (but none of the liquid is out).
Remove the syringe from the vial. Do not lay the syringe down or allow the needle to touch anything.
Figure H
Figure H
Step 5: Inject STELARA
Hold the barrel of the syringe in one hand, between the thumb and index fingers.
Do not pull back on the plunger at any time.
Use the other hand to gently pinch the cleaned area of skin. Hold firmly.
Use a quick, dart-like motion to insert the needle into the pinched skin at about a 45-degree angle. (See FIGURE I)
Figure I
Figure I
Push the plunger with your thumb as far as it will go to inject all of the liquid. Push it slowly and evenly, keeping the skin gently pinched.
When the syringe is empty, pull the needle out of your skin and let go of the skin. (See FIGURE J)
Figure J
Figure J
When the needle is pulled out of your skin, there may be a little bleeding at the injection site. This is normal. You can press a cotton ball or gauze pad to the injection site if needed. Do not rub the injection site. You may cover the injection site with a small adhesive bandage, if necessary.
If your dose is 90 mg, you will receive two 45 mg vials a |
