This article only provides general information and not medical advice specific to your situation.
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Injection site reactions can occur as a mild irritation with injectable medications.
Slight redness or an itch that is not getting worse is typically fine to leave alone, however tenderness, increasing in size, swelling, fever or any form of discharge can be signs of infection.
If you are concerned about your symptoms or side effects while on your medication, please get in touch with our Medical Support team of nurses and pharmacists here for more specific advice, or we can book you in to speak with your Juniper practitioner.
To help reduce injection site reactions, you can try the below:
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Change your injection sites
- eg If the reaction is occurring on your abdomen, try injecting in the thigh or vice versa
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Allow the injection to warm up by taking it out of the fridge 30 minutes before injecting
- This can reduce a stinging sensation as well
- Ice the site before injecting
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Place a cold, moist towel on the site
- If you would like to use an ice pack, make sure you put a thin cloth between the ice pack and your skin, and use for no more than 20 minutes at a time
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Avoid bath products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate and fragrance
- Try gentle, soap-free washes which can minimise itchiness.
You should go to a hospital's emergency department or call triple zero (000) for an ambulance if you experience the following alongside irritation at your injection site: Fever >38 degrees, severe pain or swelling at the injection site, blistering or oozing at the injection site, muscle aches, upset stomach (nausea), headache or dizziness, severe itching or a hives breakout, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat or symptoms that get worse instead of better.