Injection Methods

[01dragonslayer]

Injection Methods​

• Intramuscular injection: An injection into muscle tissue.
• Subcutaneous injection: An injection into the region between the skin and the muscle, also known as a “SubQ” injection.

AS far as performance enhancement is concerned, there are two primary injection methods. These are the intramuscular injection method and the subcutaneous injection method. An intramuscular injection is exactly as it sounds; it is an injection given directly into a muscle. A subcutaneous injection is an injection which is placed between the skin and the muscle. Which method is utilized will depend on the drug being administered and the goals & preferences of the user. The overwhelming majority of individuals choose to administer their AAS by way of IM (intramuscular) injection, although they can be injected subcutaneously, if desired, although it is not recommended to inject over ½ cc/mL of AAS. HGH, Insulin, HCG, and Peptides) are typically administered subcutaneously.

The Injection​

The injection process itself is relatively straightforward. Perhaps nothing causes more anxiety for AAS users than their first injection. This fear is far more psychological than physical, as the act of performing an injection, especially when utilizing proper technique and the correct pin size, can be relatively painless. Some muscle groups are more prone to causing discomfort than others and the possibility of hitting a nerve, scar tissue, or a sore spot is a reality, but in general, an injection should not be considered a “painful” experience. With the information presented in this document, you have been presented with everything you need to know in order to properly perform an injection. For an abbreviated step-by-step walk through, see Safe Injection Technique.

Types Of Syringes​

For a beginner, the many different types of syringes and their associated terminology can be confusing. Let us look at these differences which define the various types of syringes. Generally, syringes are defined by the following 3 things: Gauge size, how many cc’s a syringe can hold, and needle length. By learning what these things mean, you will have no problem selecting the appropriate syringe for your needs.

You may have heard of a syringe type known as an “insulin syringe” or "slin pin." Regardless of whether a syringe is classified as an insulin syringe or not, ALL syringes, including insulin syringes, are categorized by the 3 variables listed above. Insulin syringes are named as such due to the original purpose for which they were produced, which was to administer insulin to diabetics. Because diabetics will often need to perform multiple daily injections into the SubQ region, a smaller & shorter needed was needed in order to increase patient compliance through more tolerable, and relatively painless, injections.

The 3 Variables​

• Gauge: The gauge of the syringe refers only to the thickness of the needle itself. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the needle. The higher the gauge number, the thinner the needle.
• CC: A cc refers only to how much volume a syringe can hold. The average syringe will hold anywhere between 1-3 cc’s. The more cc’s a syringe holds, the larger the barrel will be.
• Needle Length: Needle length refers to just that…the length of the needle. This is not a measure of the entire syringe, but only the needle itself. The average needle will measure between 5/16th’s of an inch and 1.5 inches in length.

Typically, the syringes normally used for injecting AAS (non-insulin syringes) come individually wrapped and can be purchased as little as one at a time. Insulin syringes come in individually wrapped or a plastic bag, but regardless they come in packs.

Selecting The Syringe Needed​

Standard Syringe Specifications​

Most common syringe specs for steroid injections:

• 18-22g for drawing and 23-27g for injecting
• 1/2" to 1.5 inch needle length
• 3 cc syringe

Note: If your syringes come with the needles already attached, order the drawing needle to come on them. Otherwise, you'll have to switch needles, each time you want to draw from a vial.

Most common syringe specs for peptide injections:

• 28-31 gauge
• 5/16th" to ½ inch needle length
• ½-1 cc syringe

Gauge Numbers​

Most of the steroid products on the market are oil-based. As an “oil-based” steroid, the steroid molecule has been suspended in oil, with the oil being used as a carrier. Since AAS are measured in mg amounts and are a solid in their natural form, they require a carrier if they are to be effectively delivered into the body by injection. Since oil is significantly more resistant to bacterial proliferation than water, and is also inexpensive, it is a logical choice. However, oil also has a higher viscosity than water, which means it will resist flow under applied force to a greater degree than water. The higher the viscosity of an injectable product, the thicker the needle will need to be in order to be able push the fluid through the needle.

When talking about needle “thickness,” which one of the three previously mentioned variables am I referring to? If you thought “gauge,” you thought correctly. The “gauge” of a syringe pertains solely to the thickness of the needle. Choosing the correct gauge is the an important factor in needle selection, because if you choose a gauge number which is too high, the oil will not fit through (or at least be very difficult to force through) and if you choose a gauge number which is too low, you will be piercing your tissue with an unnecessarily thick needle and cause more tissue damage, scarring, and trauma than necessary. The most basic rule to follow when it comes to gauge selection for your injection needle is to choose the highest gauge number possible, BUT which will still allow the oil to flow through the needle easily. This will make the injection nominally invasive, while reducing discomfort and minimizing scar tissue buildup. There is no machismo in using a needle which is thicker than necessary—only idiocy.

Today, almost all steroids will fit through a 25 gauge syringe, so this gauge size should be your automatic go-to choice when the viscosity of a steroid is unknown. This gauge is relatively thin in comparison to the syringes used back in the day. Not too long ago the viscosity of many oil-based steroids was much higher than it is today, requiring the use of 21-22 g. needle for basically every injection—and in some cases, such as when injecting crude forms of Testosterone suspension or injectable Winstrol, an 18 g. syringe would be required just to be able to fit the steroid crystals through the needle without clogging it. For those of you who are trying to mentally picture an 18 g. needle without a reference point, it is more like a small nail than a needle. Today, things are much easier.

Needle Lengths For Injection Sites​

The recommendations below are the “average” needle lengths used for each body part listed.

• Glutes: 1-1.5 inch (For one's first purchase, unless you are exceptionally lean, it's best to stay with 1.5" needles for Glutes to make sure you inject deep enough into the muscle.)
• Ventro Glutes: 1 inch
• Delts: 1 inch (some individuals can get away with ½ inch)
• Quads: 1 inch (some individuals can use as small as a ½ inch needle when injecting into the quads, depending on how lean they are).
• Chest: ½-1 inch
• Biceps: ½-1 inch
• Triceps: ½-1 inch
• Calves: ½ inch
• Traps: ½-1 inch
• Lats: 1 inch

CC & mL​

The term “cc” stands for cubic centimeters and is a unit of measurement for determining injection volume. It is important to note that the term “cc” and “mL” (milliliter) are identical and interchangeable with each other. 1 cc = 1 mL.

While syringes will indicate measurement in cc’s, steroid products (vials/bottles/ampules) will almost always use ml’s as their unit of measurement. So, if your steroid product says it contains 10 ml per bottle at 250 mg/mL, you know it also contains 10 cc’s per bottle at 250 mg/cc. Therefore, if you wanted to inject 500 mg of that steroid, you would need to inject 2cc’s (2 mL’s) of that product.

Syringe Size​

Most 23-27 g syringes hold 3 cc’s, although some will occasionally hold less, so you when ordering you should always specify exactly what you want to purchase. Since 3 cc syringes are no more costly than their smaller counterparts and being that many steroid users will often inject more than 1 cc at a time, it makes sense to strictly purchase 3 cc syringes for steroid injections (with the exception for the rare occasion you need larger).

Syringe, Needles, etc. Suppliers​

• [Apollo Lab Supply](www.apollolabsupply.com)
• GPZ Med Lab
• Total Diabetes Supply
• Medical Laboratory Supply
• Androusa