Getting Started
How to Inject a GLP-1, Step by Step
Almost everyone is nervous about the first one and almost everyone reports afterwards that it was anticlimactic. This is a subcutaneous injection — into the fat layer just under the skin — with a very short, very fine needle. Here is the whole thing.
7 min read · Updated · Published by CoreAge Rx
What you need
- Your medication — a vial, or a pre-filled pen.
- A syringe with needle, if you are using a vial. Your pharmacy supplies the right size.
- Alcohol swabs.
- A sharps container. Needles do not go in the household bin — most pharmacies supply one.
- Somewhere clean and well lit, with a flat surface.
Before you start
- Take the medication out of the fridge a few minutes early. Cold medication stings noticeably more. Room temperature is more comfortable and does no harm over a few minutes.
- Check it. It should be clear and free of particles. If it is cloudy, discoloured, or has anything floating in it, do not use it — contact your provider.
- Check the date and the dose. Confirm you are drawing the dose your prescriber specified this week, which may have changed — see GLP-1 Dosing and Titration, Week by Week.
- Wash your hands.
Drawing from a vial
Compounded medication often comes as a vial with syringes rather than a pen. It takes about a minute once you have done it twice.
- Wipe the rubber top of the vial with an alcohol swab and let it dry.
- Remove the syringe cap. Pull the plunger back to draw in a volume of air equal to your dose.
- Push the needle through the centre of the rubber top and inject that air into the vial. This equalises pressure and makes drawing much easier.
- Turn the vial upside down, keeping the needle tip below the liquid line, and pull the plunger slowly to your dose marking.
- Clear the air. Keep the needle in the vial, point it up, tap the barrel so bubbles rise to the top, then push the plunger gently until they are gone and you are back at your dose marking.
- Withdraw the needle. Do not let it touch anything.
Using a pen
- Check the window — the medication should be clear.
- Attach a new needle. A new one every time, without exception.
- Prime if your pen requires it. Follow the specific instructions; not all devices do.
- Dial your dose, and check the number twice.
- Inject as below, then hold for the count your instructions specify — usually five to ten seconds — before withdrawing.
Choosing a site
Abdomen
The most common choice. Stay at least two inches from the navel. Easy to reach and generally the least sensitive.
Outer thigh
The front-outer part, midway between hip and knee. Easy to see, easy to pinch.
Back of upper arm
Effective, but awkward to do one-handed. Better if someone else is helping.
Rotate every week. Injecting repeatedly into the same spot can cause tissue changes over time that affect absorption. A simple approach: quarter your abdomen and work around it, week by week.
The injection
- Wipe the site with alcohol and let it dry completely. Injecting through wet alcohol is the single most common cause of stinging.
- Pinch a fold of skin between thumb and forefinger.
- Insert the needle at 90 degrees — straight in. It is short; it will not reach muscle.
- Push the plunger steadily. Do not rush it.
- Count to five, then withdraw at the same angle.
- Release the pinch. Press gently with a clean swab if there is a spot of blood. Do not rub.
- Needle straight into the sharps container. Note the date.
Talked through it the first time
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Storage
- Refrigerated, at the temperature your instructions specify, out of direct light.
- Do not freeze. Frozen medication is discarded, not thawed and used.
- If it arrives warm, do not use it — contact your provider for a replacement. A compromised cold chain is not a judgement call for you to make.
- Travelling? Carry-on, insulated bag, cold pack. Full guidance in Travelling With GLP-1 Medication.
When something goes wrong
| What happened | What to do |
|---|---|
| A drop leaked out after withdrawing | Normal. Do not re-dose — the amount is negligible. |
| A little blood at the site | Common. Press gently, do not rub. |
| You injected into a bruise | Not harmful, may sting more. Rotate away from it next week. |
| The needle bent or you dropped it | Discard it in the sharps container and use a new one. |
| You are not sure whether the full dose went in | Do not re-inject. Contact your provider and wait for advice. |
| A red, itchy bump appears | Common and settles in a day or two — see Managing GLP-1 Side Effects. |
| Spreading redness, warmth or pus | Contact your provider. This is different from a normal site reaction. |
Common questions
Does it hurt?
Most people describe a brief pinch or nothing at all. Room-temperature medication, dry alcohol and a steady push make the difference.
Do I need to aspirate — pull back to check for blood?
No. Aspiration is not recommended for subcutaneous injections and is no longer standard practice.
Same time of day every week?
Roughly, though it is not critical. Pick a consistent day and stick to it — many people choose Sunday evening so any side effects land midweek.
Can I inject through clothing?
No. Skin, cleaned, every time.
Can someone else do it for me?
Yes, and many people find the back of the upper arm much easier that way.
What if I miss a week?
Within four days, take it and resume your normal day. Longer than that, skip it. Never double up — GLP-1 Dosing and Titration, Week by Week.
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