How to Inject Mounjaro in 5 Easy Steps (Plus, Where to Inject It)

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a medication that’s growing in popularity for adults living with Type 2 diabetes. It’s available as a once-weekly injection that you can give to yourself at home.

But where should you inject Mounjaro? And how do you know if you’ve done it properly? It’s common to ask these questions whether you’re new to the medication or have been on it for a while. Below, we review how to inject Mounjaro in five easy steps, plus other tips to set you up for success.

How to inject Mounjaro properly

You can inject Mounjaro in the stomach or thigh. If another person is administering your dose for you, they can also inject it in the back of your upper arm. Once you’ve decided on your injection site, there are five main steps to follow to properly use Mounjaro pens.

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1. Gather your supplies

Make sure you have everything needed to give yourself your injection. This includes:

• A new Mounjaro pen

• Alcohol swabs

• Gauze pads

• A sharps container

Mounjaro pens are best stored in the refrigerator (between 36°F and 46°F). You can take the pen you’ll be using out of the fridge about 30 minutes before your dose. This can help make the injection more comfortable.

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Check your Mounjaro pen before you get started. Make sure the medication in the pen is clear, the expiration date hasn’t passed, and the pen isn’t damaged.

Mounjaro pens are single-use only and come with a needle already attached. So don’t remove the gray safety cover until you’re ready to inject your dose.

2. Clean the injection site

Before cleaning your desired injection site, wash and dry your hands. This helps prevent infection. If soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitizer is a good alternative.

Once your hands are dry, use an alcohol swab to clean the injection area. Allow it to fully air dry. Don’t blow on the area to help dry the alcohol. Blowing on it can contaminate the area with germs that live naturally in your mouth.

3. Remove the gray safety cover

Before removing the gray safety cover from the Mounjaro pen, make sure the pen is in the locked position. That way you won’t accidentally lose any of the medication. You can check this by looking for a closed padlock symbol on the pen by the purple injection button.

Once you’ve confirmed your pen is in the locked position, carefully remove the gray safety cover. Place the pen directly on the desired injection area. Turn the lock ring to unlock the pen (open padlock symbol). Don’t replace the gray safety cover once removed as you may damage the needle on the pen.

4. Inject your dose

Press and hold the purple injection button for at least 10 seconds. You should hear two clicks during this step. The first click happens when the injection starts. The second click happens when the injection finishes. You’ll know your injection is complete if you see a gray plunger in the medication window.

Once the injection is finished, remove the pen from your body. Be careful not to touch the needle with your fingers. It’s common to see a little blood near the injection site. Use a gauze pad to gently dab (not rub) the area. Rubbing the area could irritate the injection site.

5. Dispose of your pen

After your dose has been administered, your Mounjaro pen will be empty. You can safely throw it away in a sharps container. If you don’t have a sharps container, a sturdy plastic container, such as a laundry detergent bottle, would be acceptable to use instead.

How does using Mounjaro vials differ from using Mounjaro pens?

Mounjaro single-dose vials are available in the same doses as the pens. But if you’re using the vials, you’ll need syringes as well. Discuss with your prescriber or pharmacist which size syringe and needles would be best for you.

Similar to Mounjaro pens, you should gather your supplies and clean your injection site first. But after those steps, using the vials are a little different from using the Mounjaro pens.

1. Prepare the vial

Remove the protective cap from the top of the vial. Wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab. To avoid contamination, don’t use the same alcohol swab that you used to clean your skin. Place the vial on a flat sturdy surface to prepare for the next step.

2. Prepare the syringe

Carefully remove the needle shield from your syringe. Hold the syringe with the needle pointing up, and use one hand to pull the plunger down until the plunger tip is at 0.5 mL.

Turn the syringe over and push the needle straight down into the vial’s rubber stopper. Push the 0.5 mL of air into the vial. This makes it easier to draw the medication out of the vial.

3. Prepare the dose

Once you’ve pushed the air into the vial, carefully turn the vial and syringe upside down. Use one hand to hold the Mounjaro vial. With your other hand, slowly pull the plunger of the syringe down until the plunger tip is just past the syringe’s 0.5 mL line.

Gently tap the syringe to help any air bubbles rise to the top. Slowly push the plunger until the tip is at the 0.5 mL line. Turn the vial and syringe back over, and remove the syringe from the vial.

4. Inject your dose

Insert the needle into your chosen injection site, and push the plunger down to inject the dose. Leave the needle in your skin for at least 5 seconds to help you get your full dose.

5. Dispose of your syringe and vial

After 5 seconds have passed, pull the needle out of your skin and throw it away in a sharps container. Do not recap your needle. Doing this can cause you to injure yourself. The empty vial can be thrown away in your regular trash.

You should use a new needle for each dose. Using a fresh needle reduces your chances of infection and irritation of the injection site.

Where can you inject Mounjaro?

You can inject Mounjaro subcutaneously (under the skin) in one of three areas of your body:

• Stomach: Aim for at least 2 inches away from your belly button. Avoid using your waistline and the area around your hip bones.

• Thigh: Aim for the outer thigh area. You shouldn’t inject Mounjaro on the inner thigh.

• Back of the upper arm: Aim for 3 inches below shoulder or above elbow. Most people can’t reach this area when self-injecting Mounjaro. But it can be an option if another person is administering your doses for you.

Be sure to change your injection site with each dose. You can use the same area of the body, but pick a different spot for each dose. For instance, if you inject Mounjaro on the right side of your stomach one week, the next week you should use the left side. Rotating your injection sites increases your chances of getting the full dose, and decreases your risk of injection site reactions.

Does where you inject Mounjaro make a difference?

No, it doesn’t matter where you inject Mounjaro as long as you choose one of the three areas discussed above: your stomach, outer thigh, or back of the upper arm.

Clinical studies haven’t found a significant difference in how well Mounjaro is absorbed based on the injection site. All three injection sites appear to have similar levels of absorption. So the best place to inject Mounjaro is wherever you’re most comfortable.

Tips to make sure you receive your full Mounjaro dose

After you’ve injected Mounjaro, it’s common to wonder if you’ve injected it correctly.

The following tips can help you to receive your full dose of Mounjaro every time:

• Don’t set your Mounjaro pens to the unlocked setting until you’re ready to inject.

• Rotate injection sites with every dose to prevent irritation.

• Inject Mounjaro into healthy skin. Don’t use cut, swollen, or scarred skin.

• Don’t use the same injection site with other injectable medications, such as insulin.

• If you’re using Mounjaro vials, use a new syringe with each dose.

• Keep the needle of your injector pen or syringe in your skin for as long as directed after injecting the dose. Remember, it’s at least 10 seconds for Mounjaro pens and at least 5 seconds if you’re using the vials and separate syringes.

How to save on Mounjaro

There are ways to save on Mounjaro, which is only available as a brand-name medication. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $25 per prescription through the manufacturer’s copay savings program.

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Written by:

Kristina D. Carter, PharmD, MBA, MHA

Kristina D. Carter, PharmD, MBA, MHA, has over 25 years of experience working in healthcare. She is registered as a licensed pharmacist in Georgia, Indiana, and Tennessee.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

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