You should inject Ozempic (semaglutide) into your stomach, upper arm, or thigh. Your doctor will show you how and where to inject the drug. Read on to learn other instructions and precautions.

Ozempic is a prescription medication given by injection under the skin for people with type 2 diabetes. Your doctor may prescribe Ozempic along with diet and exercise to help lower your blood sugar. Ozempic also helps reduce your risk of certain heart conditions if you also have known heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide.

This article discusses where to inject Ozempic and other information about injection sites. To learn more about Ozempic, you can refer to this article.

You’ll inject Ozempic under the skin once weekly using a prefilled Ozempic pen. Your doctor will show you how to use your pen before your first dose. This includes where and how to inject Ozempic.

Using an Ozempic pen allows you to inject it subcutaneously (under your skin). Doing so allows the medication to absorb into your body slowly over a long time. You should not inject Ozempic into a muscle or a vein. (These methods are also called intramuscular or intravenous injections.)

Injection sites you can use are:

  • abdomen (between your chest and groin)
  • thigh
  • upper arm

The drugmaker shows recommended sites in the Instructions for Use of Ozempic’s prescribing information. Another source recommends injecting Ozempic in your upper arm or at the front of your abdomen or the front of your thigh.

If you use Ozempic and insulin, inject them as separate injections. You should not mix them.

Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions for using Ozempic. Let them know if you have questions as you start treatment.

Person with light skin using an injector to inject a drug into the abdomenShare on Pinterest
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You should rotate your injection site with each injection. This means to choose a site that you didn’t use for your last injection. For example, if you used your right thigh last time, your next injection could be in your left thigh or another recommended site.

If you inject in the same body region, always use a different spot in that area each week.

If you use Ozempic and insulin, you can inject them in the same body region. But do not inject them next to each other.

Research doesn’t suggest that Ozempic will work better by injecting it into specific body areas. Ozempic absorbs into your body whether you inject it into your stomach, thigh, or abdomen.

You should always follow the injection instructions from your doctor. If you’d like to know ways to minimize any discomfort during Ozempic injections, ask your doctor.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Ozempic for weight loss. Even so, when taking it as approved, it’s possible that you may lose some weight.

Ozempic is approved to help treat type 2 diabetes. It does so by lowering your blood sugar levels. Doctors prescribe it along with diet and exercise. Ozempic is also approved to help lower your risk of certain heart conditions if you also have known heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

But doctors might prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss. Off-label use is when doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved to treat or help prevent.

If you have questions about weight loss, you can ask your doctor about treatment options, such as Wegovy. The FDA has approved Wegovy for weight management in combination with diet and exercise. It’s also approved to help manage the risk of some heart conditions. Wegovy contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic, which is semaglutide. If your doctor prescribes Wegovy, they can help you choose the best injection site.

You should not use Ozempic in combination with other medications that contain semaglutide, such as Wegovy. And follow your doctor’s instructions for using any medication.

You can learn more about the differences between Ozempic and Wegovy here.

You should always follow your doctor’s instructions on where to inject Ozempic. They’ll instruct you on how to inject it into your thigh, upper arm, or abdomen. You can also ask your pharmacist how to inject Ozempic if you have questions.

Rotate your injection site with each injection. You can inject Ozempic at any time of day, but inject it on the same day each week.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions for taking Ozempic.

Ozempic is not FDA approved for weight loss, although your doctor may prescribe it for weight loss off-label. Wegovy is a prescription injectable medication that also contains semaglutide. It’s approved for weight management along with diet and exercise for people with certain conditions.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.