How to inject your Zepbound single-dose vial

1. Inspect

Make sure it is clear to slightly yellow, and not cloudy or crystallized.

2. Refrigerate

Pop the original carton with the medication vial inside into the fridge.

1. Remove the vial from the refrigerator and wash your hands with soap and water

2. Get organized

Make sure you have everything in one spot: 

• 1 Vial of medication 

• 1 Sterile syringe with needle 

• 2 Alcohol wipes

3. Double-check

Make sure the expiration date and the dose on the vial are correct. If your dose is 2.5 mg per week, your vial should say 2.5 mg/0.5 mL. If your dose is 5 mg per week, your vial should read 5 mg/0.5 mL.

*Discard if not used within 21 days after removing it from the refrigerator.

1. Gently shake and clean the vial

Pull the plastic cap off the top of the vial, but don’t remove the rubber stopper. Then clean the top of the rubber stopper with an alcohol wipe.

2. Separate the syringe

Remove the caps from both the plunger and the needle. Don’t touch the needle (it’s important to keep it sterile).

1. Hold the syringe with the needle pointing up, and pull the plunger down to fill it with air up to the 0.5 mL line.  Note: Your syringe may also have markings for units. Only use the 0.5 mL marking.

2. While the vial is on a flat surface, insert the needle into the vial and inject all of the air you just added. This makes the next step easier!

3. Turn the vial upside down with the needle still inside. Make sure the needle tip is surrounded by liquid!

4. Pull the plunger a little past the 0.5 mL line.

5. Flick the syringe with your finger to remove any air bubbles.

6. Push the plunger back up to the 0.5 mL line.

7. Remove the syringe from the vial. You can put the syringe down by resting it on the needle cap so the tip of the needle doesn’t touch anything.

8. Apply a new vial seal sticker to the cap of the vial after each use, pressing firmly on the sticker. This helps prevent contamination.

1. Choose your spot

You can inject in your abdomen (at least two inches away from your belly button), thigh (front or outer thigh), or upper arm. Make sure to choose a spot that’s at least one finger’s width from the last injection spot. 

Moving injection spots is important to minimize the formation of permanent, fatty nodules that can arise and decrease the efficacy of your treatment. 

2. Clean your skin 

Wipe your skin with an alcohol wipe and let it dry. 

3. Remove air

Hold the syringe with the needle facing up. Push the plunger slightly until a drop of liquid forms at the end of the needle. 

4. Pinch, push, inject 

Pinch your skin and quickly push the needle into the tissue, making sure to insert the full length of the needle. Then, slowly push the plunger to inject all of the medication. 

If someone else is helping, you can do the pinching while they do the injecting. Teamwork! 

5. Remove needle

Pull the needle out. It’s normal to see a drop of blood at the injection spot. If there is, press gently on the site with an alcohol wipe for a few seconds for the bleeding to stop.

Whew! You did it. 

Make sure to dispose of the syringe in a sharps container or a heavy plastic container with a tight-fitting lid (like an empty detergent bottle). Once your container is full, bring it to a local pharmacy – they usually have an area for safe disposal.

You may discard your used vial in either your sharps container or your household trash. Keep all vials away from children and pets.