How To Inject Mounjaro: Best Injection Sites

Mounjaro is one of the most effective GLP-1 weight loss treatments available, which makes it a popular choice for people starting their weight loss journey. However, you must take it correctly to maximise your results and prevent side effects. We’ve put together this step-by-step guide to walk you through how the Mounjaro Kwikpen works and how to self-inject at home.

Article Summary:

• Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a medication used for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, helping control blood sugar and reduce appetite.
• It’s injected once a week into the fatty tissue that lies just under your skin. It’s a good idea to take it at the same time of day each time so it becomes part of your routine.
• Follow these steps to take your injection safely: check your medication, wash your hands, prepare and inject the pen, then dispose of the needle.

How does Mounjaro Work?

Mounjaro has the active ingredient tirzepatide. It works by copying two natural gut hormones, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Mimicking these hormones helps you lose weight by regulating your blood sugar levels, preventing cravings, slowing the rate at which food leaves your stomach, and suppressing your appetite to increase feelings of fullness.

When combined with a balanced diet and increased physical activity, Mounjaro could help you lose an average of 21% of your body weight, with some people achieving up to 25% (based on results from a 72 week trial). [1]

How to Store Mounjaro

When you order with MedExpress, your medication will arrive in wool cool packaging to keep your medication at the right temperature. Store unopened pens in your refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C before use. If opened, your pen can be stored at room temperature (up to 30°C) for up to 30 days.

The Mounjaro Pen

The Mounjaro Kwikpen is a pre-filled pen, so you don’t need to measure out your doses yourself. You take it as a once-weekly injection, and it’s a good idea to take it at the same time of day each time so it becomes part of your routine.

How to Use Mounjaro

It’s important to familiarise yourself with your patient information leaflet and the injection process before injecting your medication for the first time.

Below, we’ve included a step-by-step written guide and video tutorial to help you feel confident using your medication.

How to Inject Mounjaro

Check Your Pen

Inspect your pen to make sure the medicine name and dose match your prescription, and that the expiry date hasn’t passed. If your medication has expired or has the incorrect name, don’t use it.

Check that the medicine is clear or slightly yellow in colour. If your medication is frozen, cloudy, discoloured, or contains any particles, don’t use it.

Wash Your Hands

Wash your hands thoroughly with hot water and soap. If someone else is helping you take your dose, make sure they wash their hands too. Injecting your dose with clean hands helps to reduce the risk of infection.

Choose an Injection Site

When choosing an injection site, remember to choose one where you can see the pen window and to pick a different injection site each time you take a dose.

Mounjaro is administered as a subcutaneous injection, that means you inject it just below the skin. You can choose to inject it in the following areas:

• Stomach: at least two inches away from your belly button.
• Upper arm: you should inject into the back of your arm, so you may need someone to help you.
• Thigh: choose a different spot each time to reduce the risk of infection and scar tissue.

Use the diagram below to help you choose an injection site.

Recommended Injection Sites

Prepare the Pen

1. Pull off the pen cap.
2. Check your pen for any signs of damage and check that the medication is clear and colourless to slightly yellow in the window of the pen.
3. Do not use medication if the pen has signs of damage or if the medication is cloudy or discoloured.
4. Wipe the red inner seal of the pen with one of the alcohol wipes.
5. Select a needle to use for your injection and check the paper tab and the outer needle cap for damages. If you see any damage, dispose of the needle in a sharps bin as this could affect sterility.
6. Tear off the paper tab from the needle, then push the needle onto the pen and twist until it's secure.
7. Remove both caps from the needle, keeping the outer cap for later to safely dispose of your medication.

Prime the Pen

1. Slowly turn the dose knob until you hear 2 clicks and the extended line is shown in the dose window. This is the prime position.
2. With the needle pointing upwards, tap the cartridge holder gently to collect air bubbles at the top.
3. Release some medicine into the air by pushing the dose knob in until it stops, then slowly count to 5 while holding the dose knob. A small amount of medicine should come out the tip of the needle and the ‘0’ icon must be shown in the dose window.
4. If a small amount of medicine is not released, repeat these steps an additional 2 times. After 2 failed priming attempts, replace the needle and try once more.
5. A visible droplet at the needle tip confirms success. If absent after 3 total attempts (2 with the original needle and 1 with a new needle), contact MedExpress.

Inject the Medication

1. Turn the dose knob until it stops and the ‘1’ icon is shown in the dose window.
2. Position the pen at the injection site at a 90-degree angle.
3. Insert the needle into your skin and inject the medication by pressing and holding the dose button until "0" appears, then continue holding for 5 seconds to ensure full delivery.
4. Remove the needle from your skin.
5. If blood appears at the injection site, press on it lightly with a clean tissue, but do not rub the area.

Dispose of the Needle

Carefully replace the outer needle shield and twist to remove the capped needle from your pen. You must dispose of the used needle in a sharps container.

Put the pen cap back on your pen and store it at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. If it’s your final dose from that pen, you can dispose of it (without the needle) in your regular household bin.

Things to Avoid When Taking Mounjaro

• Never reuse a needle. Used needles can carry bacteria and increase the risk of infection. They also become damaged with every use, which can cause pain and scarring when you inject.
• Your pen has glass parts. If you drop it on a hard surface, don’t use it.
• You can’t give yourself more than one dose at once. However, if you don’t wait the full five seconds while your needle is in the skin, you won’t receive the correct dose. If this happens, don’t inject again as you may overdose.

Injection Site Reactions

Injection site reactions are localised skin responses that occur after an injection. Symptoms often present within 24 to 48 hours of injection and may include pain, redness, swelling, warmth, itching, bruising or tenderness at the injection site. They are common and can occur in up to 1 in 10 people taking Mounjaro.

Rotate your injection site each week and make sure you’re correctly injecting your medication. You can alternate between different areas such as your lower stomach, thigh, arm, and buttocks. This helps prevent irritation.

If you experience difficulty breathing or swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat. These could be signs of a severe allergic reaction (also called anaphylaxis), which can be life-threatening. In an emergency, you should seek urgent medical attention by going to A&E or calling 999.

You receive a patient information leaflet with each pen, which also contains detailed injection instructions. If you have any other questions or concerns about taking your Mounjaro doses, don’t hesitate to reach out to our clinical team for support.

Ready to Start your Weight Loss Journey?

Find out what treatment is suitable for you by starting your consultation on MedExpress.

References

1. Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, Wharton S, Connery L, Alves B, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2022 Jun 4;387(3). Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038