A syringe driver is a small, battery-driven pump, which can
deliver continuous medication through a needle inserted under the skin of your
lower abdomen orouter, upper thigh. The medication is then absorbed into
your bloodstream and goes from there to your brain. The dose can be adjusted to
suit you, and the pump itself is carried in your pocket or in a small pouch
round your waist. You need to change the needle and its position each day to reduce
the risk of your skin getting sore. A small number of people use their syringe drivers continuously day
and night. If this is essential, the needle site must be changed every 12
hours. The proportion of people using a
syringe driver rather than separate injections varies with local and individual
circumstances, but mainly they are people who need more than six injections a
day. For them, the provision of a syringe driver can greatly improve the
quality of life.
