Where and how to inject Ozempic

If you’ve recently been prescribed Ozempic, or you’re thinking about asking your healthcare provider if it’s right for you, you may be wondering about how and where to inject Ozempic. 

It’s common to feel a little nervous about self-injections, but Ozempic—a prescription drug that’s approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for controlling blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, among other uses, and often prescribed off-label for weight loss—comes with tiny needles (4 millimeters long) that most barely feel. 

Ozempic is injected in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Keep reading to find out more about how you’ll inject this medication if it’s prescribed to you.

Before we dive into how and where to inject Ozempic,  let’s back up for just a second. In case you’re still learning about Ozempic, here’s what you need to know:

• Ozempic is FDA-approved for controlling blood sugar in people who have type 2 diabetes and for reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events in those with diabetes and heart disease. As of January 2025, Ozempic is also FDA-approved for reducing the risk of kidney disease progression, kidney failure, and cardiovascular death in people who have type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

• Even though it’s gained popularity for its powerful weight loss results, it’s not actually FDA-approved for that purpose; many providers prescribe it off-label for weight loss, though. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, is also available under the brand name Wegovy, which is FDA-approved for weight loss. 

Ozempic (semaglutide) comes in pre-filled injection pens intended to be self-injected by patients once a week, into the stomach, thigh, or upper arm. 

The needle you use is tiny, and the drug gets injected subcutaneously, meaning just under the skin, rather than into a muscle or vein. Subcutaneous injections with tiny needles tend to be relatively painless.

The three best injection sites for Ozempic are the abdomen, thigh, and upper arm, just under the skin, not into a muscle or vein. With each weekly injection, the manufacturer recommends using a different site from the week before. If you choose the same area, be sure to use a different spot in that area. This prevents bruising and irritation at the injection site. 

If you give yourself insulin shots, you can inject Ozempic in the same part of your body you use for insulin, such as your abdomen. Just don’t inject them right next to each other (give those injections a little room to breathe!).

The best place to inject Ozempic typically comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer to inject the medication in a less visible area (such as the upper thigh or abdomen) in case of minor reactions, while others may find that the upper arm is less painful. 

Overall, Ozempic injections aren’t typically very painful because they are subcutaneous injections that go just below the surface of the skin (compared to many vaccines and other shots that get injected deeper into the muscle). Whichever site you pick, rotating injection sites each week is an important way to prevent complications like reactions or infections.

As long as you’re sticking to the recommended spots—your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm—it doesn’t really matter where you inject. You’ll get the same amount of Ozempic in your body, regardless of whether you inject your dose under the skin of your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. It can be any part of those injection sites, as you can see in this illustration:

Novo Nordisk (Ozempic’s manufacturer) recommends those sites likely because we tend to have more layers of fat under the skin in those areas. This makes them perfect spots for a shot that needs to be injected just under the skin, as opposed to an intramuscular injection that needs to go past layers of skin and fat to get deep into a muscle.

It’s best not to inject exactly the same spot each week. Rotating injection sites can help you avoid irritation or infections. Consider making a note of the date and specific injection site to help you keep track, since it can be tough to remember a week later. 

Ozempic should be self-injected weekly, on the same day each week. So, for example, if you take your first dose on a Sunday, you may want to set yourself a reminder to inject every Sunday. 

Your healthcare provider can show you how to use your Ozempic pen the first time. You should also read the manufacturer’s instructions that come with your medication before your first injection. Here’s how to inject Ozempic: 

1. Prepare your hands

• Wash your hands with soap and water, and dry them thoroughly on a clean towel.

2. Prepare your pen

• Look at the medicine in your pen. It should be clear and colorless. If you notice any particles or cloudiness, do not use the pen and contact your pharmacy. 

• Attach a new needle to your pen. This should be done with each injection. 

• Remove the outer and inner needle caps.

3. Prepare your dose

• If this is your first time using a new pen, check the Ozempic flow, as follows. Otherwise, proceed to the next step. 

  • Dial the dose selector to the flow check symbol. 

  • With the needle pointing up, press and hold the dose button until it goes to 0. 

  • You should see a drop at the tip of the needle. 

  • If you don’t see a drop, repeat up to six more times until you do. If you don’t see a drop at the tip of the needle for that, use a new pen or contact Novo Nordisk at (888) 693-6742.

  • Dial the dose counter so the desired dose lines up with the dose pointer. Follow the dosing instructions from your provider to select the correct dose.

4. Inject your dose

• Use an alcohol swab to clean the skin where you will inject. Let your skin air dry.

• Angle the pen so you can see the dose counter.

• Put the Ozempic needle into your skin at the injection site (belly, thigh, or upper arm). 

• Press the dose button until 0 mg lines up with the dose pointer.

• With the button still pressed and the needle still inserted, count for six seconds to allow a full dose of Ozempic to inject. 

• Keeping your thumb on the dose button, remove the needle from your skin.

5. Dispose of your needle and store your pen

• Remove the needle from the pen and throw it away in an FDA-approved sharps disposal container. 

• Put the pen cap back on your pen and store it at room temperature, away from light, until your next dose.

If you’ve never injected yourself with a medication before, and you don’t have a medical background, it may feel intimidating. But, don’t worry! There really isn’t any special technique you need to follow to inject correctly. 

As you can see in the graphic above, you can inject anywhere in the general injection sites recommended. Just follow the instructions above to attach a new needle and prepare your pen with the correct dose, then pick a spot to inject and follow the above instructions. 

You don’t need to time your Ozempic injection separately from your other medications. While Ozempic can interact with certain drugs, in most cases, you can inject it at the same time as your other medications without any issues. Always check with your healthcare provider if you’re unsure.

Ozempic injection site reactions are relatively rare. In placebo-controlled trials, only 0.2% of the participants using Ozempic experienced injection site reactions. These included discomfort or redness at the injection site.

When you remove the needle after injecting Ozempic, you may notice some blood at the injection site. This is nothing to be concerned about; simply press on it gently with a cotton ball or gauze.

Other potential Ozempic side effects

Some people may experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea when using Ozempic. These side effects are more common when the dose is increased. Less common side effects include abdominal pain or constipation.

Using Ozempic may increase your risk of gallbladder disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Ozempic should not be used for weight loss by children or people who:

• Have pancreatitis

• Have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer

• Have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)

• Are currently pregnant or breastfeeding

The FDA has issued a “black box” warning for Ozempic, which appears in the medication's insert. This is the most serious advisory they issue for a medication. Animal studies have found that Ozempic increases the risk of thyroid tumors in rodents. While it is not known if it has the same effect in humans, people with a personal or family history of thyroid cancer or who have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2) should not use Ozempic.

If you have an allergic reaction to Ozempic, you may experience swelling at the injection site or elsewhere, trouble breathing, rash, dizziness, fainting, or a fast heartbeat. If you believe you are having an allergic reaction, seek medical attention immediately. 

Also, speak with a healthcare professional if you experience any of the following:

• Severe stomach pain, with or without vomiting, that persists

• Blurred vision or vision changes

• Lightheadedness

• Sweating

• Mood changes

• Shakiness

• Confusion

• Slurred speech

• Rapid heartbeat

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions about your Ozempic pen or notice side effects. Your provider can demonstrate how to use the Ozempic pen at the appropriate injection sites. While Ozempic is safe and generally well-tolerated, you should regularly check in with your doctor and let them know if you experience any side effects and monitor your response to the medication for dosage adjustments.

Injecting Ozempic is easy and relatively painless. 

• If you’re prescribed Ozempic, you’ll inject it once a week, using a small pen and injecting subcutaneously (just under the skin). 

• The best places to inject the medication are your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. 

• It’s recommended to rotate injection sites each week, so you never inject the same spot two weeks in a row. This prevents irritation or infection. 

• Injecting the medication requires no special technique. Just follow the instructions on how to prepare your pen and ensure you’re injecting your full dose.

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Current version

February 19, 2025

Written by

Amelia Willson

Fact checked by

Patricia Weiser, PharmD

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About the medical reviewer

Patricia Weiser, PharmD

Patricia Weiser, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist, health content writer, and medical reviewer with more than a decade of clinical experience in community and hospital pharmacy.