Non-specialist Use
Hypodermic needles are usually used by medical professionals (physicians, nurses, paramedics), but they are sometimes used by patients themselves. This is most common with type one diabetics, who may require several insulin injections a day. It also occurs with patients who have asthma or other severe allergies. Such patients may need to take desensitization injections or they may need to carry injectable medicines to use for first aid in case of a severe allergic reaction. In the latter case, such patients often carry a syringe loaded with epinephrine (e.g. EpiPen), diphenhydramine (e.g. Benadryl) or dexamethasone. Although sometimes disconcerting to spectators, rapid injection of these drugs may stop a severe allergic reaction.
Multiple sclerosis patients may also treat themselves by injection; several MS therapies, including various interferon preparations, are designed to be self-administered by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection.
In some countries, erectile dysfunction patients may be prescribed Alprostadil in injectable form, which is self-injected directly into the base or side of the penis with a very fine hypodermic needle.
Female-to-male transsexuals often use hypodermic needles for self-injection of prescription testosterone. Male-to-female transsexuals may also use hypodermic needles for self-injection of estrogen.
Hypodermic needles are also used in recreational intravenous drug use. Before governments attained current levels of awareness about the spread of disease through shared needles, hypodermic syringes in many countries were available only by prescription. Thus in order to limit the spread of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV through shared injection equipment, many countries have needle exchange programs in most larger cities. In some countries, such programs are wholly or partially subsidized by the government.
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