How to inject Zepbound
Reviewed by Yael Cooperman, MD, Ro,
Written by Health Guide Team
last updated: Apr 11, 2024
2 min read
Key takeaways
Zepbound is injected once weekly in the thigh, belly, or upper arm.
Inject Zepbound by taking off the cap, placing the flat end of the pen at the injection site, unlocking the top, and clicking and holding the button until you hear a second click.
Zepbound injections are typically not painful but may be a little bit uncomfortable until you get used to them.
Here's what we'll cover
Zepbound (tirzepatide) is a once-weekly injection prescribed for weight management in combination with diet and exercise. It can take a few weeks to get used to giving yourself an injection, but the process is straightforward and easy to learn. We spoke with Dr. Yael Cooperman, MD, about how to inject Zepbound. Learn more.
Zepbound Important Safety Information: Read more about serious warnings and safety info.
Weight loss
Get Zepbound
Lose up to 20% body weight in a year, if prescribed.
Weight loss claims apply to branded medications. Limited availability of some doses of Zepbound. See Important Safety Information
How to inject Zepbound
There are a few simple steps for injecting Zepbound, and your healthcare provider can walk you through those steps before you take your medication the first time.
Inspect your Zepbound pen.
Select an injection site.
Remove the cap from your injection pen and place the flat end of the pen against the injection site you’ve chosen.
Depress the button on the injection pen until you hear a click, and keep the button depressed until you hear a second click.
Zepbound injection sites
Zepbound can be injected into the skin of your belly, thigh, or upper arm. Choosing the site depends on your personal preference. You can select the same site each week, but don’t inject the medication at the exact same spot at that site each time to avoid irritation.
People who inject the medication for themselves often find the thigh or belly region to be easier, whereas if someone in your home is helping you inject the medication, the upper arm might be a more comfortable spot.
Do Zepbound injections hurt?
Zepbound injections can cause a little bit of discomfort, but some people report that they don’t feel it at all. That’s because the needle in the Zepbound pen is very small. Zepbound, like other GLP-1 medications, is a subcutaneous injection (rather than the intramuscular injections you may be used to from the flu shot, for example). That means that the medication goes just under the surface of your skin, so the needle can be much smaller, making it less painful for most people than a typical injection.
Since it takes a few seconds between clicking the button on the pen and completing the infusion of the medication using the pen, it’s important to wait until you hear the second click from the pen to take it off your skin, even if you don’t feel anything.
If you have any additional questions about your Zepbound injections, you can check out Eli Lilly’s website, where they have a video with more guidance, or speak with your prescribing healthcare provider for more information.
DISCLAIMER
If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
How we reviewed this article
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Health Guide Team
Yael Cooperman, MD
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