Having the correct needle and syringe for you helps ensure you get the correct amount of your medication.
It may also make injections easier and less painful.
This article explains how needles and syringes are sized.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
Syringe Sizes
Syringes are labeled based on how much medication they can hold.
Measurements on syringes:
1 cc is equal to 1 mL.
You could easily end up giving yourself too little or too much medication.
Needle Sizes
Needles are labeled differently than syringes.
The packaging will have a number, then a “G,” and then another number.
For larger amounts of medicine, a wider needle with a lower gauge is often a better choice.
While it might hurt more, it will deliver the drug faster than a thin, high-gauge needle.
Where the needle will be inserted also matters.
Summary
Syringes can hold liquids or solids.
You’ll see milliliters (mL) marked on the tube for measuring liquids.
You’ll see cubic centimeters (ccs) for measuring solids.
It’s best to choose a syringe that holds the exact dose you need.
Needles are measured differently.
The first number on a needle label is its gaugehow thick the needle is.
Higher numbers mean thinner needles.
The second number on the label is how long the needle is.
You’ll need a longer needle if the medication is supposed to go into a muscle.
You’ll also need a longer needle for larger adults.
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