How to Inject Mounjaro

Mounjaro is a self-injectable weight loss medication that contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. Because you can inject it yourself at home, it is important to understand the correct injection technique and the best places to safely inject the medication to ensure proper effectiveness.

Here we explain how to inject Mounjaro, the best injection sites on the body, and what to do if you need further support.

Before you inject Mounjaro, you need to choose an injection site. It can be injected under the skin of your:

• stomach (abdomen)
• upper thigh
• upper arm

Although you can inject in the same area each week, you will need to rotate the injection site in that area to avoid swelling and irritation.

Alternatively, you may choose to change the injection site location each time you inject Mounjaro. For example, you might inject into your stomach in week 1, your upper thigh in week 2 and so on.

After you have injected Mounjaro a few times, you’ll find which injection site or sites are best for you.

Recommended injection sites

The recommended Mounjaro injection sites are the:

Abdomen

The abdomen or stomach is a common area and arguably the easiest for most people to self-inject.

Upper thigh

The upper thigh is a good alternative injection site to the abdomen, particularly if you are giving yourself the injection.

Upper arm

The upper arm is a common injection site if someone else is going to administer the injection for you.

Where to avoid

Mounjaro cannot be injected into most parts of the body. You should avoid injecting it into:

• or near the belly button – stay at least 2 inches away from the belly button when injecting Mounjaro
• scarred, bruised, or irritated skin

any muscles – Mounjaro is a subcutaneous (under the skin) and not an intramuscular injection

Before using a Mounjaro pen for the first time, it is essential to prime the pen before injecting it into your body.

It is important to do this before your first injection with each new pen and you must not inject the priming dose into your body.

How to prime the Mounjaro pen:

1. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water and dry thoroughly.
2. Pull the pen cap straight off and inspect the pen to make sure it is the correct medication and dose strength. You should also make sure the expiry date has not passed, that the pen does not look damaged, and the medication is colourless to slightly yellow and has not been frozen.
3. Wipe the red inner seal with a swab.
4. Select a new needle and pull off the paper tab from the outer needle shield.
5. Push the capped pen needle straight onto the pen and twist the pen needle on until it is tight.
6. Pull off the outer needle shield and keep to one side as you will need this later. Then, pull off the inner need shield which you can throw away in your household rubbish.
7. Slowly turn the dose knob until you hear 2 clicks and the [- –] extended line is displayed in the dose window. This is the prime position. It can be corrected by turning the dose knob in either direction until the prime position lines up the dose indicator.
8. Hold your pen with the needle pointing up and gently tap the cartridge holder to collect air bubbles at the top.
9. Release some of the medication into the air by pushing the dose knob until it stops, then slowly count to 5 while holding the dose knob. The [-0] icon must be shown in the dose window. Do not inject into your body.

Priming the pen is essential to remove any air from the cartridge and make sure the pen is working correctly. If a small amount of medication comes out of the tip of the pen, your pen has been primed.

If you do not see any medication at the tip of the pen:

• repeat steps 7 to 9, no more than 2 more times
• if you still do not see any medication, change the pen needle and repeat steps 7 to 9 one more time
• if you still do not see medication, contact your doctor for advice

Once you have primed your Mounjaro pen, you are ready to inject it.

Prepare your supplies

Gather all your supplies to make sure you have everything you need to inject Mounjaro, such as the:

• Mounjaro prefilled pen
• alcohol swab
• cotton ball or gauze
• sharps disposal container

Wash your hands

Before injecting Mounjaro you must wash your hands to reduce the risk of infection. The best way to do this is with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds and then dry them thoroughly.

Next, choose your injection site by selecting the abdomen, upper thigh, or upper arm. Making sure you rotate your injection site weekly to prevent irritation.

Clean the skin

• Use an alcohol swab to clean the injection site.
• Prepare the pen.
• Remove the cap.
• Check the medication for clarity and correct dosage.
• Check the expiry date.

Inject the medication

1. Choose your injection site.
2. Turn the dose knob until it stops and the [–1] icon is shown in the dose window.
3. Insert the needle into your skin, so the pen is at a 90 degree angle to your skin.
4. Inject the medication by pushing the dose knob until it stops then slowly count to 5 while holding the dose knob down. The [-0] icon must be shown in the dose window before removing the needle.
5. Remove the needle from your skin. A drip of medication may be visible at the needle tip. This is normal and won't affect your dose. Make sure the [-0] icon is displayed in the dose window. The [-0] icon means you have received the full dose. If you do not see this icon in the dose window, insert the needle back into your skin and finish the injection. Do not redial the dose. If you still do not see the [-0] icon, do not repeat the injection, contact your doctor for advice.
6. If there is blood present at the injection site after you remove the needle from your skin, lightly press the site with a cotton ball or gauze but do not rub.
7. Carefully replace the outer need cap.
8. Unscrew the capped needle and put the needle in a sharps container.
9. Replace the pen cap – do not store the pen without the cap on.
10. Monitor the injection site for any side effects like redness or swelling.

Injecting yourself with Mounjaro can be daunting at first, but there are a few things you can do to ensure a smooth experience, like:

• injecting at the same time each week for consistency
• storing Mounjaro properly – stored in the fridge but not frozen
• allowing the pen to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before injecting to minimise discomfort (if the pen has been stored in the fridge)
• rotating the injection site each week to prevent any irritation or reaction

Here, we answer some of the common Mounjaro frequently asked questions related to self-injecting.

Why does the injection hurt?

Mounjaro is an injection under the skin, so it can cause some discomfort or pain. However, it should feel like a small pinching sensation when the needle enters the skin rather than severe pain.

Unlike most injections you receive from a doctor or nurse, Mounjaro doesn’t enter the muscle, so it should be more comfortable than those types of injections.

Why is my injection site red or swollen?

It is common to experience some redness, swelling, bruising, or itching around the Mounjaro injection site, but these effects should settle down or go away once your body gets used to the medication.

Try alternating the injection site to see if your skin reacts differently in another area. You can also take a non-drowsy antihistamine tablet or local antihistamine cream if you are finding these side effects bothersome.

Should I pinch my skin when injecting Mounjaro?

No, there is no need to pinch or squeeze the skin where you are going to inject Mounjaro.

How often should I rotate injection sites?

You should rotate injection sites each week. You can either:

• alternate the areas of the body you inject weekly, such as the abdomen on week 1, the upper thigh on week 2, and so on or
• divide the injection area into 4 and rotate around the 4 sites weekly, so you are not injecting in exactly the same place each time

What if I miss a dose?

If you forget a Mounjaro dose and it has been:

• 4 days or less since your missed dose, use it as soon as you remember, then inject your next scheduled dose as usual
• more than 4 days since you should have injected Mounjaro, skip the missed dose and then inject your next dose as usual on your usual scheduled day

If you find you keep forgetting your Mounjaro dose, try setting an alarm on the day and time you are scheduled to take it.

What if I have overdosed?

If you have used more Mounjaro than you should, speak to your doctor straight away. Taking too much Mounjaro can cause low blood sugar levels and may make you feel or be sick.

How long should I hold the dose button down for?

When injecting Mounjaro, you should push the dose knob in until it stops and then count to 5 while holding the dose knob to make sure you have received the full dose.

Should you let Mounjaro warm up before injecting?

Yes. If you are starting a new pen or have stored your used pen in the fridge between doses, it is a good idea to take your pen out of the fridge and leave it at room temperature (not above 30oC) for 30 minutes. This is because when Mounjaro is cold, it may sting a little more when it enters your skin.

Can I reuse the injection pen?

Each Mounjaro KwikPen contains 4 doses, so will last for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, you must dispose of the pen. However, you must not reuse the needles, you will need to replace the needle each time you use the Mounjaro pen.

What side effects should I expect?

The most common Mounjaro side effects are:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• diarrhoea
• stomach pain
• constipation
• low blood sugar (symptoms include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, hunger, confusion, irritability, sweating, fast heartbeat)

Most of these side effects will go away once your body gets used to the medication you are taking. However, if you are finding them difficult to manage, speak to your doctor for advice.

How do I know if I injected Mounjaro correctly?

You will know if you have used Mounjaro correctly if:

• the dose counter turns from 1 to 0
• the pen clicks when the dose has been injected
• there is no significant leak of medication from the injection site

You also shouldn’t feel any severe pain when injecting Mounjaro. You may feel a sharp sting, but that should go away within a few seconds to minutes.