Key takeaways
- Ozempic can be injected into the stomach, thigh, or upper arm, and will have the same effect as long as it’s injected under the skin and not into a vein or muscle. It’s called a subcutaneous injection.
- When selecting an injection site, avoid areas around the belly button, scars, stretch marks, bruises, or areas that are tender, swollen, or red.
- To ensure the full dose is administered, check the pen before injecting, select the correct dose, wait six seconds after the counter shows 0 mg before removing the pen, and confirm the counter reaches 0 mg during injection.
Overview
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a medication used to help manage blood sugar, reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, and reduce the risk of kidney disease in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Some doctors also prescribe it for weight management in people without T2D.
Ozempic is an injectable medication that comes in the form of a pen, and the pens come in the following strengths:
- 0.25 milligrams (mg) and 0.5 mg in the same pen
- 1 mg pens
- 2 mg pens
You typically have to perform a single autoinjection of Ozempic once per week. It is important to know where and how you can inject this medication into your body for it to provide the desired effect.
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What are the different injection sites for Ozempic?
Ozempic is known as a subcutaneous injection, which means it must be injected under the skin, into the fatty layer below. It can’t be injected into a vein or a muscle.
You have various options when choosing where to inject Ozempic. According to the drug’s prescribing information, it can be injected into:
- the abdomen (your stomach area)
- the thigh
- the upper arm
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Get free cardIs there a best place for an Ozempic shot?
There is not a single best place to receive a dose of Ozempic. As long as you inject Ozempic into your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, the drug will have the same effect. You only need to make sure you are not injecting this drug into a vein or muscle.
Ozempic is part of a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Ozempic imitates the GLP-1 hormone that your body releases into your gastrointestinal tract when you eat. One of the functions of the GLP-1 hormone is to make your body produce more insulin and reduce blood sugar.
Higher levels of GLP-1 trick your brain into reducing your appetite and give you a sense of fullness, which can aid with weight loss. This effect occurs regardless of whether you receive an Ozempic dose in your abdomen, upper arm, or thigh.
The best place to inject Ozempic is the place that is most comfortable and easy for you.
How to choose the best injection site
When choosing where to inject Ozempic, you should keep the following factors in mind:
- Choose an injection site in the upper arm, thigh, or abdomen.
- Inject the medication under the skin’s surface.
- Avoid injecting the drug into veins and muscles.
- Avoid injecting the medication next to the belly button.
- Avoid injecting the medication into areas where you have scars or stretch marks.
- Avoid injecting the drug into bruised, tender, swollen, or red areas of your body.
If you use insulin and decide to inject both Ozempic and insulin into the same area of your body, you should not inject one medication right next to the other. Keeping the injections apart can reduce the risk of any interaction between the two drugs.
People using Ozempic should also perform a regular rotation of the injection site by avoiding administering the drug two consecutive times into the same area of their body. Repeating injections into the same site can lead to skin thickening and the development of lumps of fat tissue under the skin, known as lipohypertrophy.
How to properly inject Ozempic
To properly inject Ozempic into your body, follow these steps:
- Wash your hands.
- Check the name and colored label on the pen to make sure you are using a pen containing Ozempic.
- Remove the pen’s safety cap and check that the medication contained in the pen is clear and colorless.
- Take a new needle, push it straight onto the pen, and screw it until it is on tight.
- Remove the two safety caps that protect the needle. Do not throw the outer safety cap away.
- If you are using a new pen, select the symbol with 2 dots and 1 line on the dose selector to perform a flow check, then press and hold the dose button. A drop of medication should appear out of the needle. If this does not occur, press and hold the dose button up to 6 times. If a drop still does not appear, do not use the pen.
- Turn the dose selector until you find the correct dose prescribed to you by a doctor.
- Use an alcohol swab to clean the skin where you will inject the dose.
- Insert the needle into your skin, making sure you can see the dose counter.
- Press the dose button and hold it until the dose selectors show 0 mg, then wait 6 seconds while keeping the dose button pressed.
- Remove the needle from your skin, take the needle off the pen, and dispose of it right away.
- Put the safety cap back onto the pen.
- Store the pen in your refrigerator or at room temperature. Do not expose the pen to temperatures lower than 36°F or higher than 86ºF. You can store your pen for up to 56 days.
If you have any concerns or queries about how to use or inject Ozempic, read the informative leaflet contained in the drug’s box or speak with a healthcare professional, such as a doctor or pharmacist.
People typically have to receive one injection of Ozempic each week, on the same day, at any time during the day. You can change which day you receive the Ozempic injection as long as you received your last medication dose 2 or more days before picking the new injection day.
Summary
Ozempic is a medication used for managing blood glucose levels and losing weight. You can inject this drug into your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.
The injection needs to be done under the skin and into fat. You must avoid injecting this medication into your muscles or veins.
The best injection site is the one that is most comfortable for you. The drug works the same regardless of the injection site you choose.
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