How To Administer Your GLP-1 Medication

You deserve to feel confident using whatever form of medication you were prescribed. Whether it’s a syringe, pre-loaded pen injection, or orally dissolving tablet, refer to these step-by-step instructions for easy administration.

Syringe Injection for Compounded Semaglutide or Tirzepatide

First, decide what part of your body you want to administer the medication. For self-administration, you can choose from your abdomen or thigh. If someone else is giving you the injection, they can also use the back of your upper arm (tricep area).

For the abdomen, stay at least two inches away from your belly button. For the thigh, use the space toward the outer side of your thigh. (Note: Rotating the injection site can help reduce your risk of skin irritation or infection.)

Next, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and clean the injection site with an alcohol swab to ensure hygiene. Wait for the alcohol to dry naturally; do not blow on it.

Prepare the syringe by holding it like you would hold a pen. With the cap still on, pull back the plunger to the line on the syringe equal to your dose. Remove the cap and insert the needle into the middle of the rubber stopper and push the air into the vial. Turn the vial and syringe upside down, then pull the plunger back just a little past the required dose. Knock out any air bubbles by gently flicking your finger against the syringe. Then, push the excess back into the vial until you hit the mark of the required dose. Carefully remove the needle from the vial.

Gently pinch an area of skin, and at a 90 degree angle, insert the needle into the skin using a slow yet constant pressure. Push the plunger until you’ve fully injected the medication, then gently pull the syringe out.

Carefully replace the needle cap and discard the capped syringe in a Sharps container. Do not throw away in the regular trash.

Pre-Loaded Pen Injection for Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound, or Wegovy

Pre-loaded pens vary in design and structure from brand to brand. For the most precise direction, refer to the instructions that come inside the medication package. The following is intended as a general overview:

First, decide what part of your body you want to administer the medication. For self-administration, you can choose from your abdomen or thigh. If someone else is giving you the injection, they can also use the back of your upper arm (tricep area).

For the abdomen, stay at least two inches away from your belly button. For the thigh, use the space toward the outer side of your thigh. (Note: Rotating the injection site can help reduce your risk of skin irritation or infection.)

Next, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and clean the injection site with an alcohol swab to ensure hygiene. Wait for the alcohol to dry naturally; do not blow on it.

Make sure the needle is attached to the pen and the dose is dialed according to your provider’s prescription.

Gently pinch an area of skin, and at a 90 degree angle, insert the needle into the skin using a slow yet constant pressure. Press and hold down the dose button and slowly count to six. Remove the needle from the skin.

Discard the needle in a Sharps container. Do not throw away in the regular trash.

Orally Dissolving Tablet

Orally Dissolving Tablets, or ODTs, are uncoated tablets that dissolve under your tongue without water. It may take up to a minute to fully dissolve.

ODTs are intended to enter the bloodstream from the tiny blood vessels located under your tongue, versus a regular tablet that you would swallow down. You should take the tablet on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning. Do not eat or drink anything for a least 30 minutes after taking. This includes coffee, other medications, or brushing your teeth.