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ForumsCompounding & FormulationDumb question - what is bacteriostatic water exactly — need advice

Dumb question - what is bacteriostatic water exactly — need advice

AmyNC_wife Thu, Jan 9, 2025 at 12:08 AM 12 replies 1,479 viewsPage 1 of 3
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AmyNC_wife
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Jun 2024
North Carolina
Jan 9, 2025 at 1:33 AM#1

My compounded semaglutide came as a lyophilized powder and the pharmacy didn't include bacteriostatic water (they said it's sold separately?). Where do you all get your bac water? I want to make sure I'm getting the real deal and not something sketchy from Amazon.

39 15JessicaM_2024, TomFromTexas, mike.trainer_LA and 36 others
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greg_boulder
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Jul 2024
Boulder, CO
Jan 9, 2025 at 1:50 AM#2

This is a great question because bac water quality matters more than people think. You're injecting this, so it needs to be genuinely sterile and properly preserved.

Recommended sources (in order of reliability):

  1. Your local brick-and-mortar pharmacy — many carry Hospira/Pfizer bacteriostatic water 30mL vials. May need to ask the pharmacist, it's usually behind the counter. No prescription needed in most states.
  2. Medical supply companies — companies like MedVet, Henry Schein (typically B2B but some sell to consumers)
  3. Reputable online medical supply retailers — make sure they're a licensed pharmacy or medical distributor

What to AVOID:

  • Random Amazon sellers (many have been found to sell non-sterile "bacteriostatic water")
  • eBay listings
  • Any source that doesn't provide a lot number and expiration date
  • Anything that says "for research use only"
25 23fiona_VT, denise_HTX, raj_cambridge and 22 others
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tane_welly
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Sep 2024
Wellington, NZ
Jan 9, 2025 at 2:07 AM#3

I've been buying Hospira bac water from my local CVS for $8 a vial. 30mL vial lasts me months since I only need 2mL per reconstitution. Just walk up to the pharmacy counter and ask — they don't always have it on the shelf but can order it in 1-2 days.

Cheapest, safest, easiest. Don't overthink this one.

Last edited: Jan 9, 2025 at 5:07 AM
34 1DanielChem_CHI, marco_milano, pam_columbus and 31 others
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CanadaChris
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Nov 2024
Toronto, CA
Jan 9, 2025 at 2:24 AM#4

lol I've been making my own bac water for a year. Sterile water + 0.9% benzyl alcohol. Works fine.

20 20Dr.PulmRoch, maya_sedona, stefan_berlin and 17 others
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ChrisMacros
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Sep 2024
Michigan
Jan 9, 2025 at 2:41 AM#5
Previously posted:
lol I've been making my own bac water for a year. Sterile water + 0.9% benzyl alcohol. Works fine.

I cannot stress enough how much I do NOT recommend this.

Making your own bacteriostatic water at home is not safe for injectable use. You cannot guarantee sterility in a home environment. Even if you start with sterile water and pharmaceutical-grade benzyl alcohol, the moment you open those containers and start mixing in your kitchen, you've potentially introduced contaminants.

Bacteriostatic water from a pharmaceutical manufacturer is made in an ISO 5 cleanroom, sterility tested, endotoxin tested, and sealed under validated conditions. It costs $8-15 per vial. This is not something to DIY to save a few dollars.

Please, for the sake of your health, buy it properly. 🙏

16 17bri_stats, pete_manc_UK, anna.melb_AU and 13 others
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