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Harm Reduction Allergy/sensitivity to needles?

B

BlueIV

Bluelighter
Joined
Apr 22, 2014
Messages
256
I'm really hoping that this is completely silly, but I think I might be seeing the beginning of the development of an allergy or sensitivity to my needles.

I'm always watching to make sure I don't end up missing my shot, and it seems like lately the area around the needle swells up, even when the IV is just fine.

Sometimes I also have a bit of a rash after putting pressure down on a gauze pad once I've removed the needle.

Is it even possible to develop a sensitivity to the coatings on needles? Maybe it's just the way the needle is laying at times - I hope this is the case.

If not, what are my options? Can I still use coated needles but just learn to use cannulas so the contact isn't for as long? Are there small, non-coated butterflies? As it is, no one here sells them.
 
It's safe to assume needles are nickel free, right? It's such a common allergen, that I figure it shouldn't be an issue. It doesn't say one way or another on the package. They are latex free.
 
I know that has we get older that we can develop allergies to things that we never had before. What a great time to get off the poker before something worse happens.
 
legalizeall said:
I know that has we get older that we can develop allergies to things that we never had before. What a great time to get off the poker before something worse happens.
Click to expand...

I need to IV at this point to stay healthy, this is stuff given out by a clinic for a life-threatening condition.
 
It happens

Most especially with certain drugs too

I would suggest super light pressure to the site with cotton for 3 seconds just to let the blood on the surface clot, then no pressure.

legalizeall said:
I know that has we get older that we can develop allergies to things that we never had before. What a great time to get off the poker before something worse happens.
Click to expand...

BlueIV isn't injecting recreational drugs though. If it was 99.999999% of the other posters who are shooting meth, or coke, or heroin, or a variety of pills, you'd have a point.

I'm familiar with their posts and hence I know about it

Also BlueIV if my advice works please let me know.

I would be delighted to know my IV recreational drug use lead to helping someone who wasn't using rigs for recreational drug use.

And best of luck with treating your condition <3

BlueIV said:
It's safe to assume needles are nickel free, right? It's such a common allergen, that I figure it shouldn't be an issue. It doesn't say one way or another on the package. They are latex free.
Click to expand...

The metal needle should be entirely stainless steal in my experience.

If anyone is using non-stainless steel needles I would love to know the metaloid content.
 
Last edited:
Thanks! There's no lasting effect so far, it's all while the needle is there and for a minute after. I doubt it's anything in the drug, as it's all by the length of the inserted needle, and not just where I can best guess the needle tip is. Missed shots don't seem to cause any problems beyond what you would expect them too - no more painful or swollen then when a nurse has missed with saline.

I just want to switch ASAP if it is a reaction to the needles, as that can't be healthy for my veins in the long run.

The only thing I could find by search was an issue with nickel, and I do have a nickel allergy. The info didn't seem very good though - just the blind leading the blind :)

There's a good chance I'm just worrying over nothing and this is typical when a piece of metal is stretching the skin slightly and sticking into a vein.
 
Captain.Heroin said:
I would be delighted to know my IV recreational drug use lead to helping someone who wasn't using rigs for recreational drug use.
Click to expand...

It already has, I did quite a bit of reading before I had my first appointment, as I wasn't given much information other than the drug and that it was by IV.
I also love that I can come here and ask these questions!
 
Depending on what you're IVing, it's normal to experience a small amount of transient irritation/swelling around the injection site, esp. if it's an immunoactive compound of some sort.

Needles are made of medical grade stainless steel, I thought.
 
Stainless steel does contain nickel although it is usually so well bound that it doesn't cause allergic reactions even in people who usually experience them. I suspect that you would already have mentioned a nickel allery if you had one and would you also find yourself unable to wear 9 caret gold. I would also imagine that if you were allergic to any other componant of stainless steel you would also have come across that for all your life too and although you can and do, of course, develop allergies that you never had before at any point it would be odd, I feel, to then develop it on one of the most hypoallergenic materials we have rather than say, the back of your watch, or a button.
I wonder if you aren't experiencing a general histamine reaction simply from the act of penetrating the skin rather than from any actual antigen, your body will be registering the hole and the penetrating 'thing' and will presumably want to remove the object and seal the hole asap and a histamine response as a part of that process doesn't seem too outrageous a leap of faith.
 
Greyhounder said:
Stainless steel does contain nickel although it is usually so well bound that it doesn't cause allergic reactions even in people who usually experience them. I suspect that you would already have mentioned a nickel allery if you had one and would you also find yourself unable to wear 9 caret gold. I would also imagine that if you were allergic to any other componant of stainless steel you would also have come across that for all your life too and although you can and do, of course, develop allergies that you never had before at any point it would be odd, I feel, to then develop it on one of the most hypoallergenic materials we have rather than say, the back of your watch, or a button.
Click to expand...
I do have a pretty bad nickel allergy.
 
I dont think u are allergic. I also experience a small bump around the injection site that is due to irritation. I think it normal
 
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