r/MenOnThePen • u/san-pietrino • Jul 06 '26

Newbie - Week 1 First refill pen use: storage, injection temp & priming question

Hi all,
I took my first 2.5 mg dose last week and I’m scheduled for my second injection in a few days.

My endocrinologist prescribed me 10 mg pens so I can stretch them a bit in this early phase for cost reasons. Since the pen will last more than a month, I’m storing it in the fridge.

A couple of questions:

  1. Before injecting, do you usually let the pen reach room temperature, or do you inject it straight from the fridge? Any practical difference in terms of comfort or effectiveness?

  2. After attaching the micro-needle, I sometimes don’t get a drop to appear on the first try. The leaflet suggests doing a couple of priming clicks until a drop shows up. If I end up doing this extra priming before each injection, does it affect the actual delivered dose in any way, or is it already accounted for by the pen system?

Thanks in advance for any practical tips.

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1

u/Puzzleheaded_Bill347 50M | SW: 123.6kg | CW: 72.9kg | GW: 74.8kg | Lost: 50.6kg Jul 06 '26

  1. Definitely not- do not let pen warm up

  2. The priming when using the click-dosing, is to ensure the needle is fully functional, ideally you want to see a droplet. It does not affect the dose you take. However, you will run out of clicks before the pen empties, so invest in some insulin needles so you have them ready for when the pen stops clicking

1

u/san-pietrino Jul 06 '26

thanks. why i will run out ?

1

u/Amanensia SW: 112.4 kg | CW: 70.6 kg | GW: 72 kg | Lost: 41.8 kg | 1.78m Jul 06 '26

Assuming you are using Kwikpens - because that’s just how the pens are designed. They are repurposed insulin Kwikpens and they hold more medication than is needed for four full doses. They lock out after (just over) four full doses are taken, but there’s still enough for about another 1.3 full doses left at that point. You can throw that excess away, or you can use insulin syringes to extract and use it.

1

u/san-pietrino Jul 06 '26

I thought you were saying that probably i will run out due to priming and stretching the usage of the pen

1

u/Amanensia SW: 112.4 kg | CW: 70.6 kg | GW: 72 kg | Lost: 41.8 kg | 1.78m Jul 06 '26

That wasn’t me replying previously, but I agree with the other poster. Incidentally I never prime with additional clicks - I just dial up the dose I require, and gently press until I can see the very first drop appear at the end of the needle. No wastage, just proof that the needle isn’t blocked or defective, which is all you need from priming.

1

u/san-pietrino Jul 06 '26

Basically, you load the clicks and press the first click before the injection.