How To Inject Ozempic (Semaglutide)? 6 Steps for Success

Semaglutide injectable medications including Ozempic and Wegovy are quite popular. And, for many semaglutide users, this may be the first time they ever try to use a medication that they self-inject.

Injecting a medication can seem like a scary endeavor. But, with a little know-how and a step-by-step guide, you can get over your needle hesitation in no time. 

When done right, your semaglutide injection should go smoothly and cause minimal pain at the injection site.

Below, we will outline the step-by-step guide on how to inject semaglutide medications (specifically focused on Ozempic), to help you feel more informed and confident about giving yourself semaglutide injections.

1. Get your supplies together

Step one is making sure that you have everything you need ready to go and within arm’s reach. You don’t want to be sitting there needling a cotton ball or a place to put an uncapped needle, and not have it available quickly.

Collect the following items and have them ready:

• Your semaglutide delivery device
• A NEW needle to attach to the injector (every time!)
• An alcohol swab
• A cotton ball or gauze pad
• A sharps container for the used needle

2. Place a new needle on your pen

Next, you need to attach the new needle to your pen device.

These are normally covered by a peel-off paper cover which you need to remove. Then, you will push the needle container onto the pen device and twist to attach.

The outer cover will then pull off, revealing an inner cover covering the needle. Carefully, remove this inner cover to see the needle point.

3. Check your pen needle flow

Checking the flow on your pen needle is important to make sure everything is working and attached properly.

Depending on your exact pen device, these exact steps may vary, so follow the instructions for checking the flow in your paperwork.

For the Ozmepic pen, you will press and hold the dose button in the bottom until the dose counter shows “0”. This should also produce a small drop of liquid onto the tip of the needle, showing that the flow is working. No drop may mean that the flow is blocked or the needle is damaged or not attached properly.

4. Choose your injection dose

Next, you need to make sure your correct dose for the day is dialed in. For Ozmepic, your dose will be either 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, or 2mg. If you aren’t sure what your dose should be, check with your paperwork or contact your doctor for more information.

To set your dose, you will turn the dial on the bottom of the Ozempic pen until the dose window displays the dose you want.

5. Inject your Semaglutide dose

Choose your injection site (upper arm, upper thigh, or belly avoiding your navel by at least 2 inches), and prep the injection area by wiping with an alcohol swab.

Make sure you hold the pen so you can see the dose counter, and then insert the needle straight into your injection site and push down the dose button. Hold the dosing button while the needle is inserted for at least 6 seconds to allow the full dose to inject.

After the 6 seconds is up, your dose counter should be back down to “0”. Gently remove the needle by pulling straight up out of your skin.

If you see a small drop of blood form, you may lightly dab the area with a clean cotton pad or gauze, but do not rub vigorously.

6. Remove the needle and discard properly

To remove and discard the used needle, you do not need to replace the needle cap back on the exposed needle – this may increase the risk of sticking yourself. Instead, carefully twist off the plastic area underneath the needle, and the needle should easily be removed. 

Immediately transfer the used needle to your sharps container for disposal.

Then, you can recap your pen device with its cap, if it still has doses left in it.

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