How to mix your medicine.
Some medicines arrive ready to use. Others come as a powder you mix with a liquid first, called reconstitution. It sounds technical, but it is a few calm steps, and you only do it once per vial. Your pharmacy label tells you the exact liquid and the exact amount for your product. This guide walks you through the how.
Follow your pharmacy label first. The steps below are the general method. The exact diluent, the exact amount to add, and your dose always come from the label written for you.
Before you start
- Wash your hands well and dry them.
- Clear a clean, flat surface with good light.
- Set out your supplies: your medicine vial, the bacteriostatic water your kit includes, alcohol prep pads, and a new mixing syringe.
- If your vials were in the fridge, let them sit until they reach room temperature.
Mixing, step by step
1. Clean the tops. Wipe the rubber top of each vial with a fresh alcohol prep pad and let it dry.
2. Draw up the water. Pull back the mixing syringe to the exact amount of bacteriostatic water your label lists, then insert the needle into that vial and draw it up.
3. Add it slowly. Insert the needle into your medicine vial at a slight angle and let the liquid run gently down the inside wall of the glass. Do not aim it straight onto the powder.
4. Swirl, never shake. Roll the vial slowly between your fingers until the powder fully dissolves. Shaking can damage the medicine, so let it settle on its own if it needs a minute.
5. Check it. The liquid should look clear, with nothing floating in it. If it stays cloudy, has particles, or looks off, do not use it. Message your care team.
6. Label and store. Write the date you mixed it on the vial, put it in the fridge, and use it within the date on your label.
A few good habits
- Use a new syringe and a clean surface every time.
- Never share vials, needles, or syringes.
- Keep the mixed vial refrigerated, out of the freezer, and away from direct light.
- If you are ever unsure, stop and message your care team before using it. That is exactly what they are there for.
Ready for the next step? See how to give your injection.
Questions? Contact support or message your care team anytime.
General how-to only. Your pharmacy label and provider directions always control.