Semaglutide, marketed under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, is a popular medication that medical practitioners may prescribe to people with diabetes, obesity, or overweight. Semaglutide is a once-per-week injection.
Whether you’ve been taking semaglutide for some time or you’re just starting on it, knowing the basics of injecting it is crucial. This involves priming a new pen, changing your needle every time, and getting the correct dosage. The injection site is also another thing to consider.
This article breaks down everything you should know about injecting semaglutide.
What Is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. This means it works similarly to the GLP-1 hormone, which decreases blood sugar, increases insulin production, and signals the brain that you are not hungry.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved semaglutide in injectable form under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic.
Ozempic has FDA approval to help reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The drug is also approved to lower the risk of stroke and heart attack in people with type 2 diabetes who already have heart disease.
Wegovy is the only semaglutide brand approved primarily for weight management.
Tirazepatide is another medication that has the same purpose and effects as semaglutide. Tirzepatide’s brand names are Mounjaro and Zepbound.
Semaglutide is prescribed to men and women, particularly those with a BMI of 30 or higher. It can also be prescribed to those with a BMI of 27 or higher and with weight-related comorbidities like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.
To help you achieve maximum results, semaglutide is prescribed in combination with a healthy diet and exercise.
Where Should You Inject Semaglutide?
Semaglutide’s manufacturer advises injecting your dose of semaglutide subcutaneously (under the skin)—on your upper arm, thigh, or stomach. Don’t inject it into injured, swollen, or scarred parts of your skin. It simply needs to be in a thick, fatty area of your skin. Don’t inject semaglutide into your veins or muscles.
While some people might rotate body parts, others choose to stick with the same injection site (such as the stomach). However, one of the most crucial things to remember is that, regardless of where you inject, you should always choose different spots within the body area: every injection site should be a new location for every dosage.
This may involve switching between the front of the thigh, the belly, and the upper arm. By rotating injection locations, the drug is dispersed throughout a greater surface area rather than being concentrated in one place.
If you’re using insulin injections, you can administer your Ozempic injection in the same body area. However, avoid injecting them in the same spot or close to each other.
Guidelines for Injection Sites
When administering semaglutide injections, following proper guidelines is essential to ensure safety and efficacy. Here are some general guidelines for semaglutide injection sites:
- Stomach. The stomach is the most common and recommended site for semaglutide injections. It provides easy access and ample subcutaneous tissue for injection. If you choose beneath the skin of your stomach as the injection site, avoid your belly button. Inject it at least 2 inches away. Avoid injecting around your waistline, into scar tissue, bruises, or areas with skin abnormalities.
- Upper arm. Aim for the fleshy outer surface, around 3 inches below your shoulder and 3 inches above your elbow. Injecting Ozempic here may require assistance for certain individuals if the location is difficult to access.
- Thigh. Aim for the outside of your upper thigh, midway between the hip and knee. Keep your injections out of your inner thighs.
Semaglutide Injection Steps
1. Assemble Supplies
Gather all the necessary supplies, including your medication, syringe, an alcohol swab, needle, and sharps container.
2. Prepare the Injection Site
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Choose an injection site, abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab and let it dry.
3. Draw the Medication
- Take off the vial’s top seal and wipe with alcohol.Take off the needle’s orange cap.
- Hold the syringe like you would a pen or dart, and put the needle perpendicularly into the middle of the rubber stopper.
- Turn the syringe and vial upside down together.
- Ensure the needle’s tip is submerged in the liquid.Push up the plunger to the recommended dose.
- Take the syringe out of the vial once you have the right amount of liquid.
4. Inject the Medication
- Hold the pen like a pencil or a syringe, with your thumb on the injection button.
- Remove the inner needle cap.
- Pinch a fold of skin at the cleaned injection site.
- Insert the needle into the skin at a 90-degree angle if you’re injecting into the abdomen or at a 45 to 90-degree angle if injecting into the thigh or upper arm.
- Press the injection button firmly and hold it in place until the dose counter shows “0.” Keep the needle in the skin for a few seconds after injecting to ensure the full dose has been delivered.
- Release the injection button and remove the needle from the skin.
5. Dispose of the Pen and Needle
- Put the outer needle cap back on the pen and unscrew the needle.
- Dispose of the needle in a sharps container according to local regulations.
- Replace the pen cap and store the pen in a safe place, away from children and pets.
Semaglutide subcutaneous injections may cause slight pain because they are injected directly under the skin.
Checking Medication Clarity
It’s important to check semaglutide’s clarity before injecting it into your skin. This helps ensure the drug is safe and efficient to take. Cloudy or discolored medications could mean that they have expired.
The easiest way to check this is by placing a vial against a light source and checking for any particles, color changes, or other visible signs. If you notice anything unusual, such as particles floating in the liquid, clumps visible at the bottom of the container, or an opaque hue rather than a clear one, consult your healthcare provider before administering the medication.
Dosing
The dosing of semaglutide can vary depending on the specific formulation (e.g., Ozempic or Wegovy) and the individual’s medical condition.
It’s important to follow the dosing instructions we will provide to you and the medication’s prescribing information. We may adjust your dose based on your response to treatment, other medications, and any other medical conditions you may have.
Here are some general guidelines for the dosing of semaglutide:
- Ozempic. The recommended starting dose of Ozempic for most adults is 0.25 mg once weekly, injected subcutaneously. After at least 4 weeks, we may increase the dose to 0.5 mg once weekly, depending on your glycemic response. The maximum recommended dose of Ozempic is 1 mg once weekly.
- Wegovy. The recommended starting dose of Wegovy is 0.25 mg, injected under the skin once a week for 4 weeks. Like Ozempic, we may decide to increase your dose every 4 weeks. However, the maintenance is 2.4 mg once weekly.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of semaglutide, taking it as soon as you remember is essential. However, If you missed a dose of Wegovy and the next scheduled dose is 48 hours away (2 days), take the missed dose immediately. Don’t administer missed Wegovy dose if the next scheduled dose is less than 2 days away. Skip the missed dose and take your next dose on your regular dosing schedule.
If you miss a dose of Ozempic, take it as soon as you remember within 5 days of missing a dosage. If your missed dose is more than 5 days, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule.
If you miss doses of semaglutide for more than two weeks, take the following dose on your regular scheduled day or contact your healthcare practitioner to discuss how to resume your medication.
Never double up on doses to compensate for a missed one, as this can increase the risk of side effects. Remember to monitor your blood sugar levels for diabetes or weight management progress and inform your healthcare provider if you encounter any issues or have difficulty adhering to your medication regimen.
If missing doses become frequent, discuss it with us for guidance on improving adherence and managing your treatment effectively.
How Do You Store Semaglutide?
When storing semaglutide, following simple guidelines is important to ensure the medication remains secure and effective. Here are some general guidelines for storing semaglutide:
- Store semaglutide medications in a secure location that is out of reach of children and pets.
- Always check the expiration date on the medication packaging. Do not use semaglutide medications past their expiration date.
- Do not store expired medications.
- Store in the refrigerator. Avoid freezing.
- Keep your new, unused medication pen refrigerated in its original packaging. Avoid freezing. You can store the opened Wegovy pen in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 28 days or the opened Ozempic pen in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 56 days. Discard the pen after using it for 28 days for Wegovy or 56 days for Ozempic, even if it still contains medication.
- Dispose of used needles in a solid, closed container that the needles cannot pierce. Keep the container away from pets and children.
- Keep semaglutide away from heat and light, and avoid leaving it in the car where temperatures can drop or rise too much.
Following these storage rules is essential to ensure your semaglutide medication is effective and safe. If you need to travel with semaglutide medications, you can use a cooler pack to refrigerate them during transit. However, be sure not to freeze the medication. Follow any specific travel instructions provided by your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Is There a Best Place to Inject Semaglutide?
Not really. You should get similar results no matter the semaglutide injection site you choose. There doesn’t seem to be a “best” location for semaglutide injections. Researchers collected data during clinical trials to identify possible factors that could impact Ozempic absorption by the body. They considered Injection sites, age, race, and other factors.
They discovered a slight distinction between Ozempic injections administered to the stomach and thighs. This difference is not considered clinically relevant. However, Ozempic absorption was marginally reduced when injected beneath the skin of the thigh compared to the stomach. An earlier study found no significant variation between injection sites.
Since Ozempic injection sites are considered interchangeable, any slight variations in absorption between them should not impact your treatment. You might, however, discover that you prefer some injection sites more than others.
Remember, other factors may also affect the absorption of semaglutide. People without diabetes, for instance, might absorb semaglutide more quickly than those with diabetes. Additionally, someone with a lower body weight may absorb more semaglutide than someone overweight.
FAQs
Is there a best place for a semaglutide shot?
Currently, no evidence suggests that injecting semaglutide into a specific body area will improve its effectiveness. But, you may prefer injecting the medication into the fattier areas of your stomach or belly, your arm, or thighs. Certain areas of your body may be less painful after an injection.
Are there any side effects associated with semaglutide?
Common side effects of semaglutide include constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and mild itching around the injection site. In rare instances, semaglutide injection may cause low blood sugar or pancreatitis-related symptoms, including back or abdominal pain that spreads to your jawbone area. Consult your physician about any risks before using this product.
Where should I inject semaglutide?
Inject semaglutide subcutaneously (under the skin) into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Rotate injection sites to avoid irritation. Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab before injecting. Follow the healthcare provider’s instructions carefully for proper administration.
Does it matter what time of day I take my dose?
No, but for optimal effectiveness, take semaglutide doses consistently at the same time each day. Choose a time that fits your routine and stick to it, whether morning or evening. Consistency helps maintain steady blood levels and maximizes the medication’s benefits for managing diabetes or promoting weight loss.
How Can I Get Started Using Semaglutide?
For many people, achieving overall well-being and health can be challenging. If you’re struggling to lose weight, semaglutide in Oklahoma can help you shed pounds safely and effectively.
Semaglutide can help you form healthy habits that last with you long after it is no longer a weekly routine by curbing your appetite and promoting a fuller feeling. At NP2GO Weight Loss Clinic in Oklahoma, we prioritize your well-being and provide various treatments to help you overcome obesity.
Our program will help you incorporate this medicine into a comprehensive weight loss plan that includes a personalized food plan and continued support from our team of medical weight loss experts.
The NP2GO team ensures every patient is satisfied. We want you to feel at ease and stress-free when you visit our Oklahoma medical facility, knowing you are getting the best possible individualized care.
Our medical practitioners have decades of experience effectively treating patients with chronic health concerns, including diabetes, obesity, and overweight. We will design a personalized treatment program to produce long-lasting effects.
We will discuss your expectations with you and develop a treatment plan that is safe, healthy, and effective. We are committed to your well-being, so you can count on receiving the best possible care and attention when you visit our clinic virtually or in the office.
We know that every person we treat is unique and should receive fully customized care.
Besides our revolutionary semaglutide weight loss program, we offer several other options, including appetite suppressant medications like Mounjaro and Zepbound.
Schedule a consultation with us today to join our Semaglutide weight loss program and start your journey to a healthier and happier you.