Ozempic (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injection that can help you manage your blood sugar and lower HbA1c. It can also help you lose weight and control your blood pressure.
Ozempic is injected under the skin of the stomach, thigh, or upper arm. There is no one “best” site to inject ozempic.
Stomach
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a once-weekly medication for people with type 2 diabetes that can help control blood sugar, lower HbA1c, and lose weight. It comes in an injector pen that makes it easier to self-inject.
It is injected under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. It shouldn’t make a difference which injection site you use for each dose, but you should rotate the area every week.
If you have trouble injecting in your stomach or thigh, ask your doctor for help. If you inject in the upper arm, aim for the fleshy outer surface of your arm about 3 inches below your shoulder and above your elbow.
In studies with rodents, medicines that work like Ozempic (semaglutide) caused thyroid tumors in some animals. It’s not known if these same side effects occur in people taking Ozempic.
Stop using Ozempic and get medical help right away if you have any serious side effects. These include: pain in your stomach or upper abdomen; fever; yellowing of your skin or eyes (jaundice); clay-colored stools; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; and trouble breathing.
Thigh
If you are taking Ozempic in your stomach, try to inject it at least 2 inches away from your belly button. Injecting it along your waistline can cause pain and discomfort, and may reduce the drug’s effectiveness.
You can also inject ozempic in the outer thigh or upper arm. It’s a good idea to aim for the fleshy surface of these areas, which are easier for some people to reach than other parts of the body.
To prepare the injection site, wipe it with a 60-70% alcohol-based solution on a single-use swab or cotton ball. Let the skin dry completely before you start your injection.
Once the area is clean, insert the needle into your skin at the injection site (stomach or thigh or upper arm). Press down on the center of the dose button until 0 mg lines up with the dose pointer.
Keeping your thumb on the dose button, slowly count to six seconds to ensure a full dose is injected. Afterward, remove the needle carefully and throw it away in an FDA-approved sharps container.
Upper Arm
Injecting ozempic is a simple process that can be done quickly with minimal discomfort. It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.
Ozempic is a once-weekly injection for people with Type 2 diabetes. It works by helping to lower blood sugar levels and may also help reduce appetite.
Your doctor starts you on a low dose of Ozempic and gradually increases your dosage over the course of 4 weeks to 30 days. Depending on your condition and how well you control your blood sugar, your doctor may increase your dosage to 1 or 2 mg once weekly.
During your first few injections, it’s recommended to use a new pen and needle for each dose. It’s also important to follow your doctor’s dosing instructions carefully.
To give an injection, insert the needle into your skin in the stomach (abdomen), thigh or upper arm, and turn the dose selector until 0 mg lines up with the dose pointer. Keep the needle pressed down, and count to 6 slowly to make sure you’ve given the full dose.
Other Injection Sites
In addition to your stomach, you can also inject ozempic in the thigh or upper arm. This is an option for people who find the injection process in their stomach difficult. However, it’s important to change your injection site every week.
Ozempic is a once-weekly injection of semaglutide, which helps control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes (CADTH, 2019; Chamberlin, 2019). It comes as a liquid solution in a pre-filled injector pen that’s easy to use.
If you’re using a new pen, make sure to prime it by attaching a fresh needle. Using a fresh needle each time reduces the risk of blockage, contamination and other problems.
The best place to inject ozempic is on your skin that’s thick and fatty, away from veins or muscles. If you use the same injection site each time, it can lead to lipohypertrophy—a lump of fat under the skin that affects how your body absorbs the medication.