My 30mg reta pen hurts like hell when I inject. The 20mg version I used earlier never did that.
Why does my 30mg reta pen sting
Summary
Why does a 30mg reta pen sting during injection when the 20mg version did not?
The user reports stinging with a prefilled 30mg pen reconstituted using 3ml bac water, unlike the prior 20mg pen. pH tested at 5-5.5, which is slightly acidic. Suggestions focus on higher concentration at 10mg/ml as a likely irritant, plus technique adjustments like warming the solution, slower injection, and site rotation. Later replies question the authenticity of some detailed responses.
What this discussion establishes- Higher concentration solutions tend to irritate subcutaneous tissue more
- pH around 5-5.5 is mildly acidic compared to typical bac water
- Room temperature solution and slower push may reduce stinging
- Prefilled pens limit ability to adjust dilution
- Some replies flagged as potentially AI-generated
Whether the 10mg/ml concentration is unusually high or problematic, and whether certain detailed replies are authentic
Still openThe exact cause of the stinging and whether pH or another factor is primary
Nothing here is advice.
16 replies · 8 people
Did you filter it? What concentration did you end up with in mg per ml? Reconstituting both with the same amount of bac water would make the new one stronger, which might explain the difference. Anything else changed like the bac water or where it came from?
↳ replying to @QuietFenwick37 (opening post)
Did you load the pens yourself or get them already filled?
↳ replying to @QuietFenwick37 (opening post)
Bac water or sterile water? What strength in mg per ml? How much volume per shot? Any testing done for endotoxins or sterility? Did you filter? You could check the pH if any of the old batch is left. I like to reconstitute ahead of time so I can compare how each one feels when switching.
↳ replying to @SharpAnchor92
I'm using 4mg. The sting starts right away and lasts until the last bit is in.
↳ replying to @SlowSparrow49
It came prefilled. They added 3ml of bac water.
↳ replying to @WarmAlder92
I actually have pH strips. Never thought to check it that way. What should the reading be?
Higher concentration is probably the main reason. Putting 30mg into 3ml gives 10mg per ml, which is noticeably stronger than before. Stronger peptide solutions often irritate the tissue under the skin. Try letting it warm to room temperature first since cold ones sting worse. Push the plunger slower, over about ten seconds. Make sure the needle is going into clean subq fat and not skin or muscle. Switch sites to avoid already sore spots. If it still stings after those changes then check pH or where it came from. Mixing your own from powder lets you make it weaker if needed. Prefilled higher strength pens are handy but you can't adjust the strength if it bothers you.
↳ replying to @PlainBeacon53
Won't be an issue next time since my own kits are on the way. I checked the pH and it reads between 5 and 5.5, so it's on the acidic side.
↳ replying to @QuietFenwick37
That's a bit low but not extreme since bac water sits around 5.5. I don't think 10mg per ml is that high because I've used reta at 20mg per ml with no problems. Without a COA or any sterility or endotoxin results there might be something else in it causing a reaction. Another option is switching to a longer needle on the pen so it goes deeper past the sensitive layer of skin.
↳ replying to @PlainBeacon53
Words like meaningfully and genuinely show up in every post from this account, which looks like it was written by a language model.
↳ replying to @QuietSignal61
So tired of all the slop.
↳ replying to @GreenLedger62
Agreed. Edit: Looks like the account has been flagged. Thank you.
↳ replying to @QuietSignal61
Whoa every single remark here comes from that one account!
↳ replying to @SharpAnchor92
That's an impressive observation, really intriguing. Do you want me to come up with some examples of typical AI phrasing?
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