A GUIDE TO INJECTING SKYRIZI
Hey there! I’m Maya and I’m here to walk you through how to inject yourself with SKYRIZI. Now, if it’s your first time, don’t worry! And if it’s not your first time, I hope you pick up some new tips while you’re here.
Now, I’ve done this a few times by myself, but my doctor originally walked me through how to inject, and I called Bryan, who’s my Nurse Ambassador, when I first started injecting on my own at home.
INJECTION PREP
All right, let’s get started. So, when my SKYRIZI comes in the mail, it goes straight in the fridge. Now, before I inject, I let it sit out for 15 to 30 minutes, out of direct sunlight, to get to room temperature. And while I wait, I try to relax.
Okay, that should be enough time. So, once my hands are clean, I like to put out everything that I’ll need. So, I have my SKYRIZI syringe. I have an alcohol swab, which I got from my local pharmacy. I also have the Instructions for Use, just in case. I like to grab a cotton ball (I had some right in my medicine cabinet) and then a sharps container. Now, I like this spot because there’s a lot of space and I don’t have to leave my couch.
HOW TO INJECT STEP-BY-STEP
So, it helps me to break down the injection process into 4 simple steps: the 4 Ps. And you can see them here on the package. We have: pick, prepare, pinch, push. Okay?
So, first I pick my injection site. So, I’ll go with my left thigh. But, you can also pick your right thigh or your lower stomach.
But, if you choose your stomach, make sure to inject at least 2 inches away from your belly button.
So, you want to grab your alcohol swab to clean your skin in a circular motion, like this, and let it dry.
Now, I hold my syringe with the needle facing down, and I check the liquid inside to make sure that everything looks okay. So, it should be clear to slightly yellow, which it is. See that? There’s a few bubbles in there, but that’s normal. So, looks like we’re good to go!
All right, so I hold my syringe in one hand, and I take the needle cover off with the other hand, okay? Like this, and then you want to throw it away. You see? You may see a drop of liquid at the end of the needle, which is normal, okay?.
So, I’ve got my syringe in one hand, and with the other hand, I’m gently pinching the area of my cleaned skin to hold firmly.
Now I’ll inject the needle into my skin at about a 45-degree angle using a quick, short movement – like this. Now, holding the angle steady, I slowly push the plunger in all the way until all of the liquid is injected, and the syringe is empty. There we go.
Now, I pull the needle out of my skin while keeping the syringe at the same angle, like this. I release the plunger to allow the syringe to move up... until the entire needle is covered up by the needle guard. See how that works? The needle guard won’t come back down unless all the liquid has been injected.
All right, so now, I press my cotton ball where I just injected, and that’s it!
I drop my used syringe in one of these handy sharps disposal containers and—voila—safe and sound.
Now I’ll just put it back out of reach. Just like that, another injection complete.
HELPFUL TIPS FOR SELF-INJECTING
So, to recap, I prepare myself and my space. I pick an injection site, prepare the syringe, pinch the skin, push the plunger in.
And safely discard the syringe. That’s the whole injection process!
Now, it seemed tricky at first, but I got it down soon enough. And Bryan, my Nurse Ambassador, he recommended I create a routine – injecting at the same time, same place – that sort of thing. I also do something nice for myself after each injection – maybe I’ll paint as a reward.
Oh, and this Skyrizi Complete App has helped me so much.
I mean I used it to log my first starter dose so I knew when to take my second starter dose 4 weeks later. You can set reminders for future doses, too.
Since, after 2 starter doses, SKYRIZI is only 1 injection 4 times a year.
And when I get those reminders, I know to contact my specialty pharmacy to get my next injection on time.
Oh, and I can’t forget about the Skyrizi Complete sharps disposal and mail-back service.
Once my sharps container gets full, I request a new one that’s sent to me with a box to mail this one back. I signed up for the service online, and it doesn’t cost me anything!
I’m lucky to have people around to support me. I’ve got Skyrizi Complete on my team, too. Like Bryan, who’s such a good listener, and this App!
There’s always someone to reach out to if you need help. You’ve got this.