GLP-1 instructions, start to finish.
How to inject, how to read your dose, what to keep on hand and how to store your medication. Your prescription, vial label and provider instructions are always the final word.
How to inject, step by step.
Wash your hands. Set out your vial, a new syringe, an alcohol pad and your sharps container.
Confirm the medication name, concentration (mg/mL) and your prescribed dose in your patient portal.
Wipe the vial top, draw up your dose in units, and tap out any air bubbles.
Belly (2 inches from the navel), thigh or back of the upper arm. Rotate sites each week.
Wipe the skin, pinch gently, insert at 90 degrees, press the plunger slowly, then remove.
Do not recap. Drop the syringe straight into your sharps container.
Your dose is on your label.
Your prescription and your patient portal tell you exactly what to draw. Your vial label shows the medication name and concentration. If those three things match, you are set. If anything looks different from your last vial, message your care team before you inject.
Not sure what concentration, dose or units mean? Our dose guide explains each one in plain English with a visual syringe.
Know what you are reading.
How much medication your provider prescribed for you, written in milligrams (mg). It lives in your patient portal.
How strong the liquid in the vial is, written as mg per mL on the pharmacy label. It can differ between refills.
The tick marks on your syringe. Your care team gives you your dose in units, so you never have to do the math yourself.
Message your care team through your portal before you draw. That is always the right move.
What to keep on hand.
1 mL, 29 to 31 gauge, half inch or similar. Available at any pharmacy.
One for the vial top, one for your skin, every time.
From a pharmacy, or a heavy plastic container with a lid that closes securely.
Your current dose, instructions and messages with your care team live there.
Needles go in the container. Always.
Recapping is how most needle sticks happen. Drop the whole syringe in.
A sharps container or a heavy plastic bottle with a tight lid, like a detergent bottle.
Seal it when it is three quarters full and keep it away from children and pets.
A sealed container goes in the regular trash, never the recycle bin. Some pharmacies take them back.
Keep it cold, keep it clean.
Store at 36 to 46 F (2 to 8 C). Do not freeze.
Heat and direct light can reduce potency. Keep it in its box in the fridge.
If it looks cloudy, discolored or has particles, do not use it. Message your care team or pharmacy.
Vials and syringes stay out of reach.
If something feels off.
Mild nausea, constipation or lower appetite are common when you start or step up a dose and often ease with time. Small meals, water and slower eating help.
Get emergency care for severe belly pain that will not go away, signs of an allergic reaction, or thoughts of self-harm. For anything else, message your care team through your portal. Full details are on our product safety information page.
Good questions.
Kind answers.
Where do I inject a GLP-1?
Most people inject just under the skin of the belly, at least 2 inches from the navel, or in the front of the thigh or the back of the upper arm. Rotate sites each week so the same spot is not used twice in a row, and avoid areas that are bruised, scarred or tender.
How do I know how many units to draw?
Your care team gives you your dose in units in your patient portal, matched to the concentration on your vial. Check that the medication name and concentration on the label match what the portal shows. If they do not match, or your new vial looks different, message your care team before injecting. Our dose guide shows a visual syringe so you can see exactly where your units line up.
What if I miss a dose?
It depends on how many days have passed and which medication you take, so check your patient portal instructions or message your care team before taking it. Do not double up to make up for a missed dose.
How long does a GLP-1 vial last in the fridge?
Follow the beyond-use date printed on your pharmacy label. Compounded vials are made for you and have their own dating. Keep the vial refrigerated at 36 to 46 F, out of direct light, and do not use it if it looks cloudy or discolored.
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Ready when
you are.
A few quick questions, then a licensed provider reviews your intake in 24 hours or less. If treatment is not appropriate, you are not charged for treatment.