Empty insulin pen from pharmacy

[Alihan22]

Hi
I’ve recently been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and have been instructed to have 10 units of insulin before bed. I collected my first prescription yesterday and was all set to go at bedtime. I got the pen out of the fridge (Humulin KwikPen) and it was empty, no insulin in cartridge. I then got the second prescribed pen from fridge and that was also empty! In the process of me being a newbie I have put my needle on the pen but when I realised it was empty I have taken my needle off and pricked myself with the underside. I have had a sleepless night worrying about this... is there any possible way the pharmacy have given me someone’s old empty pen? Am I at risk having pricked my finger with the needle? I can’t believe my first time of doing this I have all this worry Has anyone experienced empty pens given by a pharmacy before? Of course when the pharmacy open this morning I will be calling but I don’t want them to fob me off when this seems to me to be a very serious issue. Photo of empty pen received. Any help much appreciated. Thanks, Alison

 

[SB2015]

I have never heard of this at all. You will need to talk to the pharmacy.
If they have given you someone else’s empty pen that is worrying and needs to be reported.

 

[Ljc]

Hello @Alihan22 , welcome to the forum. You can stop worrying , honestly! 🙂
Their is no risk at all that that cartridge would have been used . Once they have left the pharmacy any meds that we return to them even if the pack is still sealed is destroyed this is for our protection ie in case it has been tampered with.
Unless they are faulty like yours are we put used pre filled pens in our yellow sharps bin .

It sounds like that pack has been dropped and the seal at the end has broken or their was a problem at the filling stage at the factory and they never got filled in the first place.

Take them back to the pharmacy so replacements can be arranged they will also report the incident to the manufacturer in case it is a production line problem .

I hope this has set your mind to rest.

 

[Vicsetter]

Hello @Alihan22 , welcome to the forum. You can stop worrying , honestly! 🙂
Their is no risk at all that that cartridge would have been used . Once they have left the pharmacy any meds that we return to them even if the pack is still sealed is destroyed this is for our protection ie in case it has been tampered with.
Unless they are faulty like yours are we put used pre filled pens in our yellow sharps bin .

It sounds like that pack has been dropped and the seal at the end has broken or their was a problem at the filling stage at the factory and they never got filled in the first place.

Take them back to the pharmacy so replacements can be arranged they will also report the incident to the manufacturer in case it is a production line problem .

I hope this has set your mind to rest.

why on earth would you put a pen in a sharps bin? these are for the prevention of stick injury from Sharp objects, canulas, lancets, needles etc. I for one would need a new sharps bin every month.

 

[Ljc]

why on earth would you put a pen in a sharps bin? these are for the prevention of stick injury from Sharp objects, canulas, lancets, needles etc. I for one would need a new sharps bin every month.

That’s what I was told to do when I used disposable pens

 

[Robin]

That’s what I was told to do when I used disposable pens

I was told by the hospital DSN to put my empty cartridges in my sharps bin, so that’s what I’ve always done. I assumed it was because there’s always a bit of insulin left in them, and it's the safest way of disposing of them. (I could be wrong, and it’s another reason entirely)

 

[Kaylz]

I was always told to just dispose of them in general waste bin xx

 

[silentsquirrel]

I was always told to just dispose of them in general waste bin xx

me too

 

[Greymouser]

My wife uses pen injectors for her Methotrexate and has been told to put the empty ones in a sharps bin, but then again that is not insulin and Methotrexate is a dangerous drug. Not much help, but from what I have seen of her pens, they do not always retract all the way after use, so leaving the needle exposed. Of course it could be very different for you guys and your mileage may vary, as it were. 🙂

Edit: Just to add on topic, the pharmacy should quickly re issue with new pens, my has had troubles in the past with hers and the pharmacist has always been great. 🙂 Some her pens did not operate at all, even though they were filled!

 

[silentsquirrel]

My wife uses pen injectors for her Methotrexate and has been told to put the empty ones in a sharps bin, but then again that is not insulin and Methotrexate is a dangerous drug. Not much help, but from what I have seen of her pens, they do not always retract all the way after use, so leaving the needle exposed. Of course it could be very different for you guys and your mileage may vary, as it were. 🙂

Edit: Just to add on topic, the pharmacy should quickly re issue with new pens, my has had troubles in the past with hers and the pharmacist has always been great. 🙂 Some her pens did not operate at all, even though they were filled!

With insulin pens the needles are separate from the pen, and removed after injecting, needles are put in sharps bin.

 

[Greymouser]

With insulin pens the needles are separate from the pen, and removed after injecting, needles are put in sharps bin.

I never knew that. Surely though the needle still needs a sharps bin though?

 

[Kaylz]

I never knew that. Surely though the needle still needs a sharps bin though?

Nobody's disputing the fact the needles go in a sharps bin, @silentsquirrel has stated they do in the post but it isnt really a must that the pene/cartridges need to go in sharps

 

[silentsquirrel]

I never knew that. Surely though the needle still needs a sharps bin though?

Yes, as I said, needles in sharps bin, but I see no need to put the pen in when empty, and have never been told to.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I was told by the hospital DSN to put my empty cartridges in my sharps bin, so that’s what I’ve always done. I assumed it was because there’s always a bit of insulin left in them, and it's the safest way of disposing of them. (I could be wrong, and it’s another reason entirely)

I put empty vials in the sharps bin - can’t remember whether I was told to or not now!!

 

[Greymouser]

Yes, as I said, needles in sharps bin, but I see no need to put the pen in when empty, and have never been told to.

I missed that somehow, sorry. 😳