Users report mixed reliability with pens, some finding stuck plungers and uncertain dosing while others have no issues across multiple models. Pens are praised for speed and reduced waste on daily or frequent injections, plus fresher needles each time. Oil-based solutions require extra steps like pre-heating and longer dwell time to avoid leakage. Testing methods using scales help verify delivery.
What this discussion establishesSome prefer pens for convenience while others see little gain over syringes for infrequent use
Still openWhether certain pen designs handle viscous oils reliably without under-dosing
Nothing here is advice.
I bought around five pens for research meds I use often. The first one I tried didn't seem to push anything out, so I opened it up and saw the plunger was stuck. Since then I've noticed the same problem with half my pens. They won't move and I haven't found a fix. I'm starting to wonder if I'm even getting the right amounts each time. Has anyone run into this or other problems with these pens?
Which pens are you talking about? I really like my metal ones from eli lilly.
Pens seem like extra trouble. Do they have any real benefit compared to a normal insulin syringe, especially if you're injecting every day?
I was doubtful at first too, but once I started using them I really like them. The amount of wasted syringes was bothering me a lot. I can load several vials into one pen cartridge and it's fast. Now that I'm on multiple peptides it's simple to grab one, attach a needle, and inject. Much less waste overall.
I never had trouble with syringes for my research stuff and kind of enjoyed the mad-scientist part. After switching to a refillable pen my weekly shot is finished in seconds. I keep the loaded pen in the fridge door, grab it, inject, and put it back. Once a month I take my four non-reusable pens, draw the liquid straight into a syringe, then transfer it into a pen cartridge. That's the only chemistry-set work left.
I'm also wondering which pens you're using. I have a V1 and recently got a Luxura. Both feel solid and my V1 has worked without any problems.
I'm sure I'll eventually get one that fails on the first try, but so far none have. The models I've tried have all worked fine. I keep a couple of 3 ml water cartridges just to test new pens. With a decent 0.1 g coffee scale you can check several 20-50 unit shots pretty well.
Yes, especially for daily shots they're much nicer and easier, though I also use them for weekly ones just because it's convenient.
Here's a trick I saw to avoid blowing out the cartridge stopper even if the vent needle isn't working. Just fill the cartridge while it's already inside the pen you've prepared for use.
That sounds like a solid way to test my pens. Thanks.
I'll try that. I really want these to work because I hate preparing shots every day or two. I have the V1 model.
Just to be clear, I weigh the full water cartridge first, usually around 5.5 g plus the water for about 8.5 g total. I tare the scale with a folded paper towel, then deliver 5-10 shots of 10 units or a few 20-unit shots into the towel without losing any liquid. I measure after each towel change for repeatability. After two full cc the cartridge weight drops by exactly 2 g. A good 0.01 g scale would let you measure units directly, and covering the scale helps with air movement.
I really like my pens. I do six peptides daily and three more weekly, so they save me a lot of time. There's also less risk of contamination than drawing from a vial every day, and the needle stays sharper since it doesn't pierce the vial first.
One of my pens came apart during an injection so I stopped using it. All the other models I've tried have been reliable and accurate. I like using pens overall.
Nah, I'm keeping my autopens. I do wear socks though because my feet get cold.
I think pens cause less pain. With a syringe the needle gets dulled going through the vial first, but with a pen the needle is always new. I've never had a pen fail to work properly.
That was a bit silly on my part. I tried quoting an entire sticky post and it didn't come through right. It did include an opinion on autopens that shaped my view, but it also shows how fast opinions on this topic have shifted in just months or years. Keep poking, everyone.
The real question is whether you're filtering or injecting daily. Thick oils or large proteins can make filtering tricky. If you're not filtering and only pinning once a week there's no point spending time and money loading five shots into a pen. When you're doing twenty-plus shots across multiple pens it becomes an efficient assembly line.
My hormones come in grapeseed oil and that's the main reason I'm interested in pens. They're prescribed and already suspended in oil, and sex hormones don't mix with water. My peptides can ride along. Would the oil change which pen I should choose? I guess it just means the spring takes longer to push the dose. I'm already using the same syringes for both peptides and my prescription, so any advice would help. I haven't found much clear info online.
I haven't tried it myself, but I've seen reports online that oils don't always deliver full doses in certain pens. Needle gauge probably matters; for thicker or IM injections I'd go with 25 ga. Not a lot of help, but I'd stick with manual pens.
I've only used pens for peptides. Even slin pins are annoying for oils, especially at 25 g. I'm building a little collection and must have about ten pens now.
Quick update from what I've learned: oils are a bit more annoying than water but worth it. I ordered some V2 pens and they arrived fast. On the first try I waited thirty seconds after the last click and oil was still coming out. Pre-heating the vial with a heating pad on low helps, just like I used to do with my bra for drawing. Now I wait a full minute after the click and leakage is minimal, though a tiny drip still happens. Both water and oil are basically incompressible so dosing volume shouldn't be an issue. The 31 ga needles that came with them work fine for me; I've used 29 and 31 ga for water without trouble.
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