Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a medication that’s growing in popularity for adults living with Type 2 diabetes. It’s available as a once-weekly injection that you can give to yourself at home. But where should you inject Mounjaro? And how do you know if you’ve done it properly? It’s common to ask these questions whether you’re new to the medication or have been on it for a while. Below, we review how to inject Mounjaro in five easy steps, plus other tips to set you up for success.
Choosing the Right Mounjaro Injection Site
You can inject Mounjaro subcutaneously (under the skin) in one of three areas of your body: Stomach: Aim for at least 2 inches away from your belly button. Avoid using your waistline and the area around your hip bones. Thigh: Aim for the outer thigh area.
You shouldn’t inject Mounjaro on the inner thigh. Back of the upper arm: Aim for 3 inches below shoulder or above elbow. Most people can’t reach this area when self-injecting Mounjaro. But it can be an option if another person is administering your doses for you. Be sure to change your injection site with each dose.
You can use the same area of the body, but pick a different spot for each dose. For instance, if you inject Mounjaro on the right side of your stomach one week, the next week you should use the left side. Rotating your injection sites increases your chances of getting the full dose, and decreases your risk of injection site reactions.
Mounjaro Injections: A Step-by-Step Guide
Mounjaro Injection Sites: Where to Inject
You can inject Mounjaro in the stomach or thigh. If another person is administering your dose for you, they can also inject it in the back of your upper arm. Once you’ve decided on your injection site, there are five main steps to follow to properly use Mounjaro pens.
Preparing for Your Mounjaro Injection
Make sure you have everything needed to give yourself your injection. This includes: A new Mounjaro pen Alcohol swabs Gauze pads A sharps container Mounjaro pens are best stored in the refrigerator (between 36°F and 46°F). You can take the pen you’ll be using out of the fridge about 30 minutes before your dose. This can help make the injection more comfortable.
Check your Mounjaro pen before you get started. Make sure the medication in the pen is clear, the expiration date hasn’t passed, and the pen isn’t damaged. Mounjaro pens are single-use only and come with a needle already attached. So don’t remove the gray safety cover until you’re ready to inject your dose.
Cleaning Your Injection Site
Before cleaning your desired injection site, wash and dry your hands. This helps prevent infection. If soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitizer is a good alternative. Once your hands are dry, use an alcohol swab to clean the injection area. Allow it to fully air dry. Don’t blow on the area to help dry the alcohol. Blowing on it can contaminate the area with germs that live naturally in your mouth.
Preparing and Injecting Your Mounjaro Dose
Before removing the gray safety cover from the Mounjaro pen, make sure the pen is in the locked position. That way you won’t accidentally lose any of the medication. You can check this by looking for a closed padlock symbol on the pen by the purple injection button.
Once you’ve confirmed your pen is in the locked position, carefully remove the gray safety cover. Place the pen directly on the desired injection area. Turn the lock ring to unlock the pen (open padlock symbol). Don’t replace the gray safety cover once removed as you may damage the needle on the pen. Press and hold the purple injection button for at least 10 seconds. You should hear two clicks during this step. The first click happens when the injection starts.
The second click happens when the injection finishes. You’ll know your injection is complete if you see a gray plunger in the medication window. Once the injection is finished, remove the pen from your body. Be careful not to touch the needle with your fingers. It’s common to see a little blood near the injection site. Use a gauze pad to gently dab (not rub) the area. Rubbing the area could irritate the injection site.
Safely Disposing of Your Mounjaro Pen
After your dose has been administered, your Mounjaro pen will be empty. You can safely throw it away in a sharps container. If you don’t have a sharps container, a sturdy plastic container, such as a laundry detergent bottle, would be acceptable to use instead.
