GLP-1 pen injection technique (Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro): step-by-step

Before the first injection

Watch your specific drug's manufacturer video. Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, and Mounjaro each have free patient-instruction videos on the manufacturer site. The pens look similar but have small differences (dial vs. click-to-confirm dose, attached vs. removable needle, retraction mechanism). Two minutes spent on the right video prevents most first-time errors.

Take pen out of the fridge 15-30 minutes before injecting. Cold liquid stings more on injection. Room-temperature pens are far more comfortable; the drug is stable for 30 days at room temperature (check your specific drug's label) so brief warming is safe.

Have everything ready: pen, new pen-needle if your drug uses removable ones (Wegovy/Ozempic), alcohol swab, sharps container, the dose dialed correctly. Don't inject through clothing.

Step-by-step (abdominal injection — the standard site)

1. Wash hands with soap and water.

2. Choose a site at least 2 inches from your navel and at least 1 inch from any previous injection scar or recent injection site. Avoid waistband areas where clothing rubs.

3. Clean the site with an alcohol swab. Let it dry completely — wet alcohol stings.

4. Attach a new needle (if your pen uses removable needles). Prime/check flow per your drug's specific label — Wegovy and Ozempic require this; Zepbound and Mounjaro have attached single-use needles.

5. Dial the correct dose. Look at the dose window; don't trust memory.

6. Gently pinch about an inch of skin between thumb and finger.

7. Insert the needle at 90° at full speed (slow insertion is what causes pain — fast is painless).

8. Press the injection button or dial fully until you hear the click.

9. Hold the pen in place for 30 seconds (Wegovy, Ozempic) or per your specific drug's label, then withdraw at the same 90° angle.

10. Don't rub the site. If a small drop of liquid or blood appears, dab gently with the alcohol swab.

11. Recap (if applicable) and discard the needle/pen in a sharps container — not the trash.

Site rotation

Four general areas: abdomen (avoiding 2 inches around navel), front/outer thigh, back of upper arm (harder to reach yourself; partner-assisted), upper buttock area.

Rotate weekly across areas. Within an area, move at least 1 inch from the previous injection site. The goal is to avoid scarring (lipohypertrophy — bumpy thickened tissue) from repeated injection at the same exact spot.

A simple rotation: week 1 left abdomen, week 2 right abdomen, week 3 left thigh, week 4 right thigh, repeat. Some patients prefer a grid on the abdomen and just rotate quadrant.

When things go wrong

You missed a dose (forgot to inject on schedule): if within 5 days of the missed dose, inject as soon as you remember and resume your regular schedule the following week. If more than 5 days, skip that dose and resume next week. Never double up.

You injected the wrong dose (more than prescribed): contact your prescriber. Severe hypoglycemia is uncommon with GLP-1s alone (especially if you're not also on insulin/sulfonylureas) but is possible. Watch for shakiness, sweating, confusion. Monitor blood glucose for 24-48 hours if you have a meter.

Blood or a noticeable lump appears: small bleeding is normal. Persistent bruising or hard lumps suggest you may be hitting the same spot too often or you're injecting too shallowly. Adjust technique and rotation.

Pen seems empty mid-dose / pen jammed: stop, save the pen, contact your pharmacy. Don't try a second dose from a different pen without prescriber input — you may have received a partial dose.

Building safe habits from week 1

Keep a log. Date, dose, site. Phone notes work. Helps with both rotation discipline and detecting any pattern of injection-site reactions.

Store pens correctly. Refrigerator (36-46°F / 2-8°C) for unused pens; in-use pens can be at room temperature for the duration specified on your drug's label. Don't freeze.

Get a sharps container. Pharmacy sells them or your prescriber can prescribe one for insurance coverage. Don't put needles in regular trash — it's a sanitation worker safety issue and in many states it's illegal.

Plan refills. Manufacturer supply has been intermittent; don't wait until your last pen to order the refill.