Where to Inject Ozempic: Does Your Stomach, Arm, or Thigh Make a Difference?
Key takeaways:
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injection for people with Type 2 diabetes. It’s injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of the stomach, thigh, or upper arm.
It shouldn’t make a difference which injection site you choose for injecting Ozempic. And you can stick with the same area of the body or rotate areas each time. But if you’re injecting in the same body area each time, change spots within the area every week.
Be sure to follow the instructions you’ve been given for injecting Ozempic. This can help you make sure that you get your full dose every time you inject. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist if you have questions about injecting Ozempic.
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Table of contents
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injection for Type 2 diabetes in adults. Whether you’re new to Ozempic or have been taking it for a while, it’s important to understand the basics for injecting it. This includes priming your new pen, using a new needle each time, correctly administering your dose, and more. Injection sites are another factor to consider.
There are three areas on your body where you can inject Ozempic — under the skin on your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. But does where you inject Ozempic make a difference? The short answer: No, there doesn’t appear to be a “best” place to inject Ozempic.
We break down what you should know about injecting Ozempic below.
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Where should you inject Ozempic?
According to Ozempic’s manufacturer, you should inject your dose under the skin (subcutaneously) on your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. Avoid injecting it into damaged, swollen, or scarred areas of your skin. Don’t inject Ozempic into your muscle or vein.
Some people prefer sticking with the same injection area (e.g., stomach), while others might rotate body areas. But no matter where you inject, pick different spots within the body area each time. This can help lower the risk of injection site reactions.
If you’re also injecting insulin, you can use the same area of the body for your Ozempic injection. But don’t inject them next to each other or in the same spot.
Stomach: If you choose to inject Ozempic under the skin on your stomach, avoid your belly button. Inject your dose at least 2 inches away from it. Avoid injecting along your waistline as well.
Upper arm: If you choose to inject Ozempic under the skin on your upper arm, aim for the fleshy outer surface — about 3 inches below your shoulder and 3 inches above your elbow. Some people may need assistance with injecting Ozempic here if the area is hard to reach.
Thigh: If you choose to inject Ozempic under the skin on your thigh, aim for the outer side of your upper thigh. Avoid injecting into the inner thigh.
Does where you inject Ozempic make a difference?
No, not really. You should expect similar results regardless of which injection site you use for Ozempic. In other words, there doesn’t appear to be a “best” place to inject Ozempic.
During clinical trials, researchers gathered data to find possible factors that might affect how your body absorbs Ozempic. This included injection sites, age, race, and more.
Researchers found that there was a small difference between thigh and stomach Ozempic injections. This difference isn’t considered clinically significant. But Ozempic absorption was slightly lower when it was injected under the skin of the thigh compared to the stomach. An earlier analysis didn’t find a significant difference between injection sites.
Overall, Ozempic injection sites are considered to be interchangeable, and any small differences in absorption between them shouldn’t affect your treatment. That said, you may find that you prefer certain injection sites better than others.
Keep in mind: There are other factors that may affect Ozempic absorption. For example, people without diabetes may absorb Ozempic faster than people with diabetes. And someone with a lower body weight may absorb more Ozempic compared to someone with a higher body weight. More research is needed to figure out what these differences might mean.
How to inject Ozempic properly
Once you’ve decided where to inject your Ozempic dose, here are the general steps to follow to make sure that you inject it properly. Be sure to follow any specific instructions you’ve been given.
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1. Gather your supplies
The first step is making sure you have all the necessary supplies on hand. This includes:
Your Ozempic pen
A new disposable pen needle
Alcohol swabs to clean the injection site
Gauze pad and small bandage (optional)
A sharps container to throw away used needles and empty Ozempic pens
New, unused Ozempic pens should be stored in the refrigerator before use. If it’s your first time using a pen, remove it from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before you plan to inject. This may help lessen discomfort from a cold Ozempic injection. In-use pens can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 56 days.
Each Ozempic pen comes pre-filled with medication and contains multiple doses. Certain Ozempic pens can give two different doses, while others can only give one specific dose each time. Make sure you have the right pen for your dose.
You should be able to see the injection liquid through a window on the pen. Make sure it’s not cloudy — it should be clear and colorless. If it’s not, don’t use that pen. If you’re out of new Ozempic pens to use instead, let your prescriber or pharmacist know.
2. Attach a new needle
Wash your hands, making sure they’re clean and dry before you start. When you’re ready to inject, you’ll need to attach a new needle to your Ozempic pen. It’s important to do this each time you inject. If you’re attaching a needle to a brand new pen, follow the instructions for how to prime your pen before you inject your dose.
3. Select your dose
To select your Ozempic dose, turn the dose selector until the dose counter shows your dose. Make sure that the milligram amount (e.g., 1 mg, 2 mg) lines up exactly with the dose pointer.
If the dose counter stops before reaching your dose, there’s not enough medication left in your pen. Start the process from the beginning with a new pen.
4. Clean the injection site
Use an alcohol swab to clean the area where you plan to inject your dose. Allow the area to dry before you inject your dose. Don’t blow on the area in an attempt to speed up drying.
5. Inject your dose
Make sure that you can see the dose counter (but don’t touch it) as you insert the needle into your skin. This will tell you once the full Ozempic dose has been injected.
To inject your dose, push and hold down the dose button until you see “0” line up with the dose pointer on the dose counter. After that, keep the needle in your skin until you’ve slowly counted to six, then remove it. If you remove the needle too early, you may not get your full dose.
6. Dispose of the needle
Remove the needle from your pen carefully and place it in a sharps container. If you don’t have an FDA-cleared sharps container, a sturdy plastic container (e.g., empty laundry detergent bottle) is another option.
Tips to make sure you receive your full Ozempic dose
After you’ve injected your Ozempic dose, how do you know if you’ve done it correctly?
Below are a few tips that can help you make sure:
Inject your dose into healthy skin. Injecting Ozempic into damaged, swollen, or scarred skin may affect how you absorb your dose.
Prime your new Ozempic pen. This makes sure that your pen is working to deliver the medication.
Attach a new needle for your dose. Reusing needles can cause them to become blocked, among other risks like contamination. Using a new needle each time helps ensure that you get the right dose.
Make sure the dose counter reads “0” after holding down the dose button. If you’ve been pressing the button and never see “0,” this could mean your needle is damaged or blocked. In this case, you did not get your dose.
Keep the needle in your skin long enough to absorb your dose. If you see a stream of liquid coming out of the needle after removing it, you may have pulled it out too soon. Slowly counting to six first can help stop this from happening.
If you’re unsure if you’ve injected Ozempic correctly, reach out to your prescriber or pharmacist. They can offer guidance to make sure you’re getting the proper dose.
Frequently asked questions
Not usually. The needles that come with Ozempic pens are designed for a subcutaneous injection. They’re very thin and short (32G, 4 mm), so you should not be able to inject the medication too deep.
But if you’ve been prescribed compounded semaglutide injections that you draw out of a vial with a syringe, the needle size you receive may be different. Check with your pharmacist for more information about your prescription.
There are a few reasons why you may notice a lump in the areas where you inject Ozempic. Examples of these include:
Using improper injection technique
Using the same spot to inject each time
Reusing needles
To minimize lumps, be sure to rotate where you inject Ozempic and use a new needle each time you inject. Your pharmacist can ensure that you know how to inject Ozempic properly.
It depends on the individual and your specific product. If you’re using an Ozempic pen, the needles are very thin and small, so the injections generally aren’t painful. But if you’re using compounded semaglutide, the injections may be more painful if you’re using a larger needle.
Some people may find the stomach area to be less painful for Ozempic injections because there’s more fat tissue. But others may prefer the upper arm or thigh. Since it’s recommended to rotate injection sites, you can try different areas to see if there’s one you prefer. It also helps to remove your Ozempic pen from the refrigerator 30 minutes before your dose to lessen discomfort.
The bottom line
To get the most from your Ozempic treatment, it’s important to inject the medication correctly. This includes priming your new pen, using a new needle each time, and making sure you’ve gotten the full dose.
There’s no “best” place to inject Ozempic. You can choose between three injection sites — under the skin on your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. Reach out to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about how or where to inject Ozempic.
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References
MedlinePlus. (2021). Subcutaneous (GQ) injections.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. (2020). How to give yourself a subcutaneous injection using a prefilled syringe.
Novo Nordisk. (2022). OZEMPIC- semaglutide injection, solution [package insert].
Overgaard, R. V., et al. (2019). Population pharmacokinetics of semaglutide for type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Therapy.
Petri, K. C. C., et al. (2018). Semaglutide s.c. once-weekly in type 2 diabetes: A population pharmacokinetic analysis. Diabetes Therapy.
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