How to inject steroids
How to inject steroids for beginners. Injecting any substance into the body by yourself carries some risks. That is why it is often advised to consult a physician to administer the injections. But doctors are not cheap and steroids, if not prescribed by a doctor, must be obtained illegally and the all situation may be embarrassing, not to mention dangerous. Therefore, if you plan to start cycles involving injectables, you must learn how to inject yourself properly. Things may go wrong if you share equipment, use non-sterile steroids, of inject incorrectly.
Most importantly, each injections requires new and sterile equipment. Do not use a syringe previously used. Cleaning it will not kill all the bacteria/viruses. Never share injection equipment.
Equipment needed
1. A 2–3 ml syringe;
2. Needles (2): one to suck up the liquid from the vial/ampoule into the syringe and another to inject it into the muscle. The drawing needle must be 18–23 gauge, 1-1,5 inches long. Injecting needle must be 21–25 gauge, 1-1,5 inches long.
3. Alcohol swabs (to clean the injection site and the stoppers of vials).
4. A container (to put used needles/syringes in). Any hard plastic container with a lid, like a laundry detergent bottle, can do.
It is recommended to inject no more than 2 ml of fluid into the muscle at one time. Injecting more will affect how the steroid is absorbed and increases the risk of developing abscesses. The thickness of the needle is measured in gauges (smaller gauge means thicker needle). The needle must be thick enough for the compound to pass through and long enough to reach into the muscle (injecting in the buttock will require a longer needle).
Preparation
Find a clean spot to lay out all equipment. Wash your hands with soap before handling any equipment. Steroids kept refrigerated must warm up to room temperature before injecting. This reduces the shock to the muscle and improves absorption into the body.
Insert the “drawing-up” needle onto a syringe.
Ampoule: open the ampoule using a cloth or gloves to avoid cutting your fingers with the glass. Insert the needle and draw back the plunger until the amount of liquid needed is in the syringe.
Vial: remove the plastic cap on top. Clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab. Push the needle through the rubber stopper and push a small amount of air into the vial. This helps regulate the pressure inside the vial. Draw the plunger back until the amount of liquid needed is in the syringe.
When using two substances, be extra careful not to mix the drugs from one vial to another.
Remove the drawing-up needle from the syringe and put it in your plastic container. Attach the second needle to the syringe. Leave the cap on the needle on until you are ready to inject. Hold the syringe pointing upward, flick the barrel to move any bubbles to the top, and then push the plunger slowly to get rid of any air. When you can’t see any bubbles and a small drop of the liquid appears at the needle tip, the syringe is ready.
Where to inject?
Inject anabolic steroids into a muscle, not into a vein. The largest muscles (buttock, hip and thigh) are the safest places. It is important to change the injection sites regularly to avoid tissue damage. If you feel a lump in your muscle it is time to inject elsewhere. Anabolic steroids work throughout the body, so there is no point in targeting specific muscles with injections.
The hip: this is the best choice for injection as the hip has no major nerves or blood vessels. It can be a little difficult to find at first, so it’s advised to have an experienced person to show you the area. To locate it, place the palm of the opposite hand (right hand for left hip, left hand for right hip) over the top end of your femur and your index finger on the bony part at the front of your pelvis. Then spread the middle finger out towards the top of your hip bone: the injection site is in the “V” your fingers make.
The butt: this is another large muscle very good for injection. Inject in the upper external side of each buttock.
The thigh: inject in the the middle outer muscle of either thigh.
The shoulder: find the tip of your shoulder bone and inject about fingers below it. This is not the best choice as the shoulder is a small muscle.
Tips for safe injections
Use a new alcohol swab to clean your injection site area. Rub the area for 30 seconds. Remove the plastic cap from the needle. The needle should not touch anything before injection. Hold the syringe like a dart and slightly spread the skin of the injection site using your other hand. With a quick movement, push the needle through the skin and into the muscle at a 90 degree angle. Pull the plunger back a little bit; if blood is drawn into the syringe, remove the needle quickly and apply pressure using a cotton ball. Discard needle and syringe in the plastic container and prepare a new injection to another site. If no blood is drawn into the syringe, continue injecting slowly pushing the plunger. After injecting, remove the needle quickly and apply pressure with a cotton ball.
After injecting
A small amount of bleeding from where the needle penetrated the skin is considered normal. As it is a bit of swelling, redness, pain, itching or burning at the injection site. These symptoms should disappear in a day or two. If they don’t, go see a doctor. Wash your hands and gently massage the injection site to help distribute the steroid. Always put needles, syringes and empty ampoules/vials in the plastic container. Seal it and dispose of it appropriately once it is almost full.
Abscesses: an abscess is an infection caused by bacteria that get under the skin if the injection site isn’t cleaned well before injecting, or by a steroid not fully absorbed. An injection site that looks red, hot, painful or will feel as a hard lump are symptoms of abscesses. If not treated, a blood infection may occur.
Pain: it’s often caused by not injecting in the right place or stressing the same injection site by using it too many times. Pain can be a sign of damage to a muscle, tendon or ligament. A prolonged pain may affecting how the muscle performs during training. Always rotate injection sites to avoid this problem.
Hitting a nerve: if a nerve is hit, it’ll be very painful. If this happens, remove the needle immediately. Again, if you hit a nerve your injection site must be wrong.
Bleeding: injecting into a blood vessel can lead to bleeding inside the muscle and visible bruising. This can cause pain and stiffness. Always check with care where you inject.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a virus that affects the liver. It can cause inflammation, swelling and, depending on the type of hepatitis, it could lead to loss of weight, scarring, liver damage and even death. Hepatitis A, B and C are the three most common types of hepatitis.
Hepatitis A
There is no risk of Hepatitis A from steroid use.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B spreads by contact with infected blood. The virus is passed by sharing needles, unprotected sex, sharing hygiene tools (toothbrushes, razors, etc.).
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C spreads only with blood-to-blood contact. The virus spreads in the same way as with Hepatitis B. Symptoms of Hepatitis C are tiredness, body aches, fever, dry, itchy skin, abdominal pain, nausea, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyeballs.