Step
1
Wash your hands and gather materials
Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Collect and prep your materials: bacteriostatic water vial, medication vial, reconstitution syringe, and needle.
Reconstitution is the process of adding bacteriostatic water to a powdered (lyophilized) medication to make it usable. Go slowly and carefully — the #1 rule is to avoid contaminating your medication.
🧰 What You'll Need
- Bacteriostatic water vial
- Medication vial (powder form)
- Reconstitution syringe + needle
- Insulin syringe (for injection)
- Alcohol swabs
- Clean, flat surface
Step
2
Prep your materials
Remove the caps from your bacteriostatic water and medication vial.
Attach the needle to your syringe, being careful not to touch the needle with your fingers.
If you are planning to inject afterwards, place your second needle on its syringe (avoid touching the tip while doing so).
⚠️ Do not let the needle rest on any other surface or come into contact with anything — this can lead to contamination.
Step
3
Draw up your bacteriostatic water
The amount of bacteriostatic water to add depends on the instructions on the box your vial came in.
The measurements on your syringe should be in milliliters (mL). Pull air into the syringe up to the required amount.
Hold the bacteriostatic water upside down and pierce the stopper with your needle. Slowly inject air into the vial.
If you feel pressure, stop, and allow the syringe to adjust. Then press the plunger again until all air is out of the vial and the bacteriostatic water has entered the syringe.
Example: If the label says to use 6 mL of BAC water, pull the plunger to the 6 mL mark.Step
4
Inject water into the medication vial
Pierce the stopper of the medication vial with the needle of your water-filled syringe.
Slowly push the bacteriostatic water into the vial. If you feel pressure, stop and let it equalize before moving forward.
The plunger may push back upwards several times before you are finished.
⚠️ Do not force the water into the medication vial — go slowly and carefully.
Step
5
Mix your medication
Gently swirl the solution until the powder and the bacteriostatic water have fully combined.
Once finished, you should no longer see any powder in the medication vial.
⚠️ Do NOT shake the medication or aggressively mix it. This can damage the peptide.
Step
6
Inject your medication (if desired)
If you are ready to inject, use your insulin syringe now.
To perform a subcutaneous injection, refer to the SubQ injection guide.
Step
7
Store your medication
After reconstitution, immediately refrigerate your medication.
Prior to mixing, powdered medication can be kept at room temperature. But once you add the bacteriostatic water, it should be kept in the fridge.
If you accidentally leave your medication out of the fridge, it is likely still fine to use — but please contact ELEO for directions if necessary.Important Reminders
Contamination is the biggest risk — never touch the needle or let it contact any surface. Refer to your medication box for the exact amount of bacteriostatic water to use. Refrigerate immediately after reconstitution. Follow your script's dosing exactly — it is the patient's responsibility to administer the correct dose.
Need Help?
Questions About Reconstitution?
Reconstituting can feel intimidating the first time. If you're unsure about anything, reach out before proceeding — we're here to walk you through it.