How to open an ampoule with. Helpful advice: how to open ampoules correctly? What else are ampoules

The disease sometimes sneaks up unexpectedly. Oral administration of the drug is less effective than intravenous or intramuscular injection. After all, the rate of active substances in the blood is high. It is not always possible to go to the hospital for an injection. In this case, it is important to know how to carry out the manipulation yourself. And the first step is important - to open the ampoule correctly.

Follow a simple algorithm when opening the ampoule:

Read the instructions, pay attention to the expiration date of the medicinal product.
Inspect the ampoule for integrity. Shake her because it is important that the medicine sinks to the bottom.
Next, soak a cotton swab in alcohol and open the ampoule. Wrap the medicine container with a tissue to avoid cuts. Using light pressure, break off the narrow end of the ampoule.
Draw up the solution with a syringe and needle. It is advisable to change the injection needle.

A notched ampoule is easiest to open. This place looks like a ring of a different color or shade. Treat the container with alcohol or any other antiseptic. Often such injections are completed with a nail file. Then use it to cut the break point. Apply a napkin, press down on the notch and break the narrowed part of the ampoule. The situation is a little more complicated with ampoules without a notch. When buying a medicine, it is impossible to predict whether a vial will come across with a notch or without. Moreover, they are not marked in any way. In this case:

Take a nail file. And file it at the junction of the wide part to the narrow one.
Or use a knife to cut through the narrow end.
If these tools are not at hand, try breaking the upper part by pushing with your thumb. Be careful, this method is risky as the ampoule breaks easily.

Opening an ampoule with dry powder inside has its own characteristics. Buy a thinner with this medicine. However, it is worth consulting with a specialist about his choice. This is how lidocaine, novocaine, etc. are prescribed. Often preparations in the annotation contain information on compatibility with solvents.

Open the ampoule like this:

Take a needle with a syringe, treat with an antiseptic and draw up a solvent with it.
First open the lid of the dry powder ampoule. Wipe the rubber cap of the jar with an antiseptic. Pierce it with a needle and inject the solvent inside the ampoule.
Shake the container well to form a homogenized solution.
Change the needle and dial it for subcutaneous injection.

When giving injections to yourself or loved ones, follow simple rules to secure the manipulation:

Insert the needle into the ampoule so that its section is completely immersed in the solution.
Do not hit the bottom of the ampoule with the tip of the needle unless you intend to replace it. Since this dulls it, which causes painful sensations when injected under the skin.
It is still advisable to change the needle after typing the medicine into the syringe. Opt for thinner needles for direct insertion under the skin.
If there are air bubbles in the syringe, they should be disposed of so that there are no bumps and bruises. Tap the syringe with your fingernail, lightly push the plunger to release the air.

Attack of headache (toothache, stomach) pain. The cure for it has long been invented - an ampoule with an analgesic, a syringe - and in 10 minutes life will again be filled with meaning. But when we try to extract the drug, an unpleasant surprise may await us, prepared by our native pharmaceutical companies - it is not so easy to open an ampoule. A few minutes of desperate struggle, curses against the one who invented all this, the crackle of breaking glass, the treatment of cut limbs with an antiseptic - and the road to a painless existence is free. A situation familiar to almost everyone. These unpleasant moments can be avoided if you know how to open the ampoule.

The modern pharmaceutical industry offers several types of glass packaging for injectables that can be opened in different ways.

History of the ampoule
It all began in the 19th century. Historians differ in their opinions on the inventor of the ampoule. Some believe that the Russian pharmacist A.V. Pel became the progenitor of the container. Western experts give the palm to the Frenchman Stanislav Limousin. But the fact is that in the 80s of the last century, a glass vessel with a narrow elongated neck and a wide base was invented, designed to store a sterile drug. The name of the container comes from the Greek word "amphora" - a vessel. Until now, domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers produce injectable forms in ampoules, painfully reminiscent of a 130-year-old "old woman".

Glass ampoule without notch
To successfully open a glass ampoule, it is necessary, armed with knowledge, to apply strength and sleight of hand. A conscientious manufacturer must complete the package with a drug with a scarifier or a knife for ampoules. In this case, the buyer is lucky, and the algorithm of actions is standard:

shake the ampoule;
using a scarifier to saw off the neck of the ampoule, choosing the optimal distance from the top;
wipe the place of the cut with alcohol;
wrap the neck with cotton or a napkin and, in the "away from you" position, break off the filed tip of the ampoule.

If, when trying to find a knife for ampoules, only disappointment awaits, then the situation becomes more complicated. To resolve it, you can, first, ask the pharmacist to find a scarifier in a different package.

Secondly, use a nail file as an abrasive agent for opening the ampoule, after wiping it with alcohol.

Well, for those who are not looking for easy ways - the third, most cruel option is to wrap the container with the coveted medicine with cotton wool and break off its top, relying on chance. If, as a result of the expended efforts, glass fragments did not fall inside the container and did not scatter throughout the room, the first barrier was overcome. It remains to open the ampoule without spilling the medicine and blood of the future patient. If you succeed in this, you can consider yourself a virtuoso.

Notched glass ampoule
According to European standards, ampoules must have a colored ring or break point. The glass in the place of the break is much thinner, and it is not difficult to open the ampoule with a dot. Having processed the ampoule with an antiseptic and armed with a napkin, it is necessary to press on the notch and gently break off the neck of the ampoule - that's the whole algorithm.

Dry powder bottle
Some drugs are not stable when dissolved and are available in powder form. If you become the proud owner of a bottle of dry powder, the task of opening it and extracting the medicine can turn into a puzzle.

First, a solvent is needed. Most often it is water for injection, anesthetic solution or isotonic solution. Sometimes manufacturers release it together with the main drug. Otherwise, the solvent is bought separately.

Secondly, you need a syringe.

Well, the process itself:

it is necessary to draw the required volume of solvent into the syringe (for clarification, read the instructions for the preparation);
remove the lid from the bottle (it can be metal, it is cut off with scissors or a knife, and plastic);
under the top cover, find the bottom, rubber one, which must not be forgotten to wipe with alcohol;
piercing the rubber cap with a syringe needle, inject the solvent into the bottle;
shake the bottle thoroughly, make sure that all the drug is dissolved;
draw up the solution with the same syringe;
change the needle on the syringe to a new, sterile one.

And be treated to your health!

Quite often, a person finds himself in a situation where he needs to get an injection. When contacting a specialized medical institution, there are never any difficulties with carrying out this manipulation. An experienced healthcare professional knows how to open the ampoule, mix the solution with the medicinal powder, and prepare the syringe. However, many people are accustomed to self-treatment and prefer to administer injections at home, with the help of relatives.

If you are one of the patients who do not want to visit medical institutions to receive the next dose of a medicine, then you probably wondered how to open an ampoule with a medicine on your own. Also, some cosmetic preparations are available in glass bottles, for example, ampoules for hair, vitamin preparations for the skin. Many women already easily carry out a number of manipulations and quickly get to the contents of the glass container. There are several ways to open the ampoule correctly. Following the instructions, you can easily complete this maneuver. Let's take a closer look at several methods.

Method one: using a file

Typically, glass cones containing medicines or cosmetics are sold in a package with a special file. Using it, you can easily get to the contents of the ampoule.

Take the medication in one hand. With the fingers of your other hand, firmly grip the file and perform several reciprocating movements with the tool along the narrowest point of the glass container.

After that, you need to take a paper napkin or unwanted tissue and wrap it around the top of the glass. With a sharp but gentle movement away from you, break the glass and open the package.

Method two: using available tools

Sometimes there are situations when the file for opening drugs is lost or was initially missing. What to do in this situation? How to open an injection ampoule without a file? In this case, you can use the tools at hand, for example, a knife, a nail file.

Similarly to the first method, take the ampoule and with the selected tool make several notches on its neck in a narrow place. After that, open the preparation by first wrapping the glass with a napkin.

It should be noted that a nail file is a more effective tool for opening glass ampoules than a knife. However, it should be borne in mind that the material must be glass or metal. Paper nail files will be powerless in this situation.

How to open ampoules with a dot?

Recently, more and more manufacturers of medicinal injections are releasing packaging that does not require preliminary filing. This information is usually not indicated on the packaging. How do you know that the ampoule can be opened without a file?

This type of glass container has a point at the widest point of the neck. It can be red, green or black. Also, this type of injection has a rim of the corresponding color in the narrow part of the neck. It is according to him that it is necessary to break the packaging.

Take the dotted ampoule in your hand. Cover the top of the glass with your other hand (don't forget the napkin). Move abruptly away from you and open the medicine.

How to open a dry powder ampoule?

In most cases, drugs for injections are available in a ready-made liquid form, but some drugs require preliminary preparation. In this case, you will have two ampoules that need to be opened. One of them has liquid contents. How to open such a package, tell the methods described above.

The second glass container usually has dry bulk contents. The instruction assumes mixing these two bases. In order to get to the free-flowing powder, you need to proceed as follows.

Open the vial of liquid and draw the medicine into the syringe. Open the second ampoule using any sharp object: a knife, scissors or a nail file. Pick up the corner of the metal cover with the tool and gently bend it. Insert the needle of the syringe into the ampoule by piercing the rubber cap. After that, it is necessary to thoroughly mix the medicine and draw it back into the syringe.

Conclusion

Use the option that suits you how to open the ampoule. Try each of the methods described to make the right choice. Remember to be careful when handling glass.

If you often have to open ampoules, get a special silicone tool. It will help you open glass cones without injury or additional tools.

Before starting the procedure, wipe the glass with cotton wool soaked in an alcohol solution. This is necessary in order to prevent the ingress of microbes into the drug.

Sometimes it is necessary to inject at home. This can be an injection of vitamins, anti-anxiety medications, or as directed by your doctor. It is not always possible to go to the clinic, where they know exactly how to open the ampoule and inject the drug. But how to protect yourself from mistakes and not harm by making an injection at home?

How to open the ampoule correctly?

First of all, it is necessary to open the ampoule correctly. There are two types of ampoules according to the opening method:

traditional, which require a cut on the neck;
with a dot at the break point of the glass cone.

First you need to determine the type of ampoule. This is usually not written on the packaging. But a cursory glance at a glass flask is enough to understand whether it is traditional or not.

The point can be black, red, or another color. If it is not on the neck, then to open it you need a special nail file, which is hidden under the top cover of the package. Such a file has the shape of a circle with a cut-out segment, the edges of which are covered with an abrasive material.

The sequence for opening the ampoule includes the following steps:

1) filing is done with abrasive edges on one side of the neck;

2) without unnecessary effort, it is carried out 3-4 times with a nail file along the selected side of the ampoule;

3) then it is necessary to moisten a cotton pad or ball in an antiseptic;

4) one hand holds the base of the cone with the medicine, and the thumb and forefinger of the other hand grasp the protrusion of the ampoule;

5) cotton wool is used in order not to injure fingers;

6) the break is made by a sharp movement of the hand in the direction opposite to the one where the cut is.

This is the correct sequence for opening a medical ampoule. However, the file can get lost. Then it will be replaced by a nail file from a cosmetic set or a piece of sandpaper. Be sure to wipe the place of the cut with alcohol or other antiseptic to exclude the ingress of microorganisms into the preparation.

First of all, it is necessary to open the ampoule correctly. There are two types of ampoules according to the opening method:

traditional, which require a cut on the neck;
with a dot at the break point of the glass cone.

First you need to determine the type of ampoule. This is usually not written on the packaging. But a cursory glance at a glass flask is enough to understand whether it is traditional or not.

The sequence for opening the ampoule includes the following steps:

1) filing is done with abrasive edges on one side of the neck;

2) without unnecessary effort, it is carried out 3-4 times with a nail file along the selected side of the ampoule;

3) then it is necessary to moisten a cotton pad or ball in an antiseptic;

4) one hand holds the base of the cone with the medicine, and the thumb and forefinger of the other hand grasp the protrusion of the ampoule;

5) cotton wool is used in order not to injure fingers;

6) the break is made by a sharp movement of the hand in the direction opposite to the one where the cut is.

Some manufacturers make more progressive solutions - with a marker. In this case, the opening process is simplified and includes the following steps:

the cone marker is directed towards itself;
the ampoule opens with a slight movement of the hand away from you.

In this case, you do not need to use cotton wool, since the risk of injury is minimal.

Then the drug is drawn into a syringe, air is released and an injection is made into the muscle. The injection site is disinfected before this. The solution is introduced smoothly, after which the needle is removed, and a cotton ball is applied in its place.

Sterile injectable drugs are usually available in ampoules, which are hermetically sealed glass containers. In order to draw the medicine into a syringe, it is necessary to open the ampoule by breaking its upper tip. Usually for these purposes, a special file is included with the ampoules, but what if it is not there?

How to open an ampoule without a file? If you got a set of ampoules without a file, the first step is to figure out which type of ampoules you got. There are ampoules that don't require a nail file to open. On the neck of such an ampoule, there should be a mark in the form of a dot or rim, indicating a fracture line. The glass from which the ampoule is made is thinner in this place, so the tip should break off without difficulty.

To open such an ampoule, the first step is to disinfect it at the fracture site. First, wipe it with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, and then with dry sterile cotton wool so that the ampoule is not slippery. After that, grasp the top of the ampoule with sterile cotton and break it off with light pressure away from you.

The labeled ampoules should be opened with a gentle movement, so no additional tools (such as pliers) need to be used. When opening the ampoule by "force" methods, there is a high risk of crushing the glass, as a result, the sterility of the drug will be violated, and you may be injured by fragments.

If there is no mark on the ampoule, a special file is needed to open it (ampoule knife or ampoule scarifier). With the help of this nail file, a cut is made on the ampoule, along which its top breaks off.

In the event that the file is missing (say, you bought one or two ampoules of medicine at the pharmacy instead of a whole package, and the file was not given to you), you can try to file the ampoule with the help of improvised tools.

A metal nail file is best suited for this purpose. Disinfect the file with alcohol, press it against the neck of the ampoule at an angle of 45 degrees and carefully file the ampoule in a circle. Choose the place of the cut so that it is convenient to break off the tip, but at the same time it should not be too low.

After that, you need to repeat the same steps as when opening an ampoule with a label: disinfect and gently break off the tip along the cut line in the direction away from you, clasping it with a cotton swab or napkin.

You can also use a kitchen knife to open the ampoule, although it is worse for this purpose than a manicure file. With a sharp knife (of course, pre-disinfected), make several cuts in different directions in the alleged fracture site, and then proceed according to the standard scheme.

Acting with "handicraft" methods, it is better to wrap the ampoule with a tissue napkin or a thin towel instead of cotton wool: this will help better protect yourself from fragments if the ampoule does burst. As with labeled ampoules, pliers, forceps, and other household tools cannot be used to open the ampoule.

Having broken off the tip of the ampoule, be sure to make sure that no glass fragments get inside. Lower the syringe needle into the opened ampoule and draw up the medicine by pulling the plunger. Make sure that the needle section is always completely immersed in the solution, otherwise air bubbles will enter the syringe along with the medicine, which can provoke the appearance of an infiltrate (seal) at the injection site. Before giving an injection, the needle must be replaced, as it could become blunt against the walls of the ampoule.

The most important thing when opening an ampoule with a drug (especially with improvised means) is not to rush and be careful, then you will certainly succeed.

The modern pharmaceutical industry offers several types of glass packaging for injectables that can be opened in different ways.

History of the ampoule It all began in the 19th century. Historians differ in their opinions on the inventor of the ampoule. Some believe that the Russian pharmacist A.V. Pel became the progenitor of the container. Western experts give the palm to the Frenchman Stanislav Limousin. But the fact is that in the 80s of the last century, a glass vessel with a narrow elongated neck and a wide base was invented, designed to store a sterile drug. The name of the container comes from the Greek word "amphora" - a vessel. Until now, domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers produce injectable forms in ampoules, painfully reminiscent of a 130-year-old "old woman".

Glass ampoule without notch To successfully open a glass ampoule, it is necessary, armed with knowledge, to apply strength and sleight of hand. A conscientious manufacturer must complete the package with a drug with a scarifier or a knife for ampoules. In this case, the buyer is lucky, and the algorithm of actions is standard:

shake the ampoule;
using a scarifier to saw off the neck of the ampoule, choosing the optimal distance from the top;
wipe the place of the cut with alcohol;
wrap the neck with cotton or a napkin and, in the "away from you" position, break off the filed tip of the ampoule.

Secondly, use a nail file as an abrasive agent for opening the ampoule, after wiping it with alcohol.

Notched glass ampoule According to European standards, ampoules must have a colored ring or break point. The glass in the place of the break is much thinner, and it is not difficult to open the ampoule with a dot. Having processed the ampoule with an antiseptic and armed with a napkin, it is necessary to press on the notch and gently break off the neck of the ampoule - that's the whole algorithm.

Dry powder bottle Some drugs are not stable when dissolved and are available in powder form. If you become the proud owner of a bottle of dry powder, the task of opening it and extracting the medicine can turn into a puzzle.

Secondly, you need a syringe.

Well, the process itself:

it is necessary to draw the required volume of solvent into the syringe (for clarification, read the instructions for the preparation);
remove the lid from the bottle (it can be metal, it is cut off with scissors or a knife, and plastic);
under the top cover, find the bottom, rubber one, which must not be forgotten to wipe with alcohol;
piercing the rubber cap with a syringe needle, inject the solvent into the bottle;
shake the bottle thoroughly, make sure that all the drug is dissolved;
draw up the solution with the same syringe;
change the needle on the syringe to a new, sterile one.

And be treated to your health!