You should inject semaglutide subcutaneously, that is, just under the surface of your skin. You can rotate injections between your stomach, upper arm, and thigh.

Semaglutide is a prescription type 2 diabetes medication. It’s sold under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic. You’ll need to inject these forms of semaglutide once weekly.

But first, you’ll need to know how to inject it.

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It mimics your GLP-1 hormone, which:

  • causes your body to produce more insulin
  • lowers your blood sugar
  • suppresses your appetite

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved semaglutide in an injectable form under two brand names: Wegovy and Ozempic.

Yes. Here are some of the basics about injecting semaglutide:

DO

  • inject it just under your skin’s surface, ideally into fat, such as into your stomach, upper arm, or thigh
  • rotate injection sites, changing the site for each dose
  • inject it at least 2 inches away from your belly button (navel) when injecting into your stomach

AVOID

  • injecting it into your veins or muscles
  • injecting it into areas that are red or have other color changes, bruised, or tender
  • injecting it into areas with stretch marks or scars

If you use insulin, you may inject semaglutide into the same area of your body as insulin, but you should not inject one right next to the other. Semaglutide is not a replacement for insulin.

It’s typically recommended that you rotate injection sites after each injection to help prevent skin irritation.

Wegovy’s manufacturer says you can use the same area of your body each week as long as you change the actual injection site.

Rotating injection sites may help avoid scar tissue buildup. Scar tissue may prevent the medication from absorbing into your body effectively.

Any time you’re injecting a medication into your body, infection at the injection site is possible. Possible symptoms of infection may include:

  • redness or other color changes
  • swelling
  • pain
  • warmth
  • drainage

You should report any of these symptoms to a healthcare professional immediately.

There’s currently no research that indicates semaglutide will work better if injected into any particular part of your body.

The manufacturers of both Wegovy and Ozempic recommend injecting into your:

  • abdomen
  • thigh
  • upper arm

You may find that injection is less painful in certain fattier areas than in others.

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Semaglutide may work quickly.

In a 2021 clinical trial, some participants lost more than 2% of their body weight within 4 weeks. The weight loss pattern continued, and participants lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight after 68 weeks.

You may experience a different weight loss rate than others else when using semaglutide. A variety of factors may affect how much weight you might lose.

Although semaglutide may work quickly for weight loss, it may wear off if not taken consistently over time.

A 2022 study found that people who stopped taking semaglutide and making lifestyle changes for 1 year regained two-thirds of the weight they had lost.

For the best weight loss results, try combining semaglutide with a low calorie diet and increased exercise. It may also be beneficial to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption (if you drink).

A warning about weight loss drugs

The FDA has approved Ozempic to assist in lowering blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It’s also approved for reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke in those with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease.

Wegovy is the only brand of semaglutide specifically approved for weight management.

If you take semaglutide for other purposes or use compounded forms, you may not experience the full benefits. You may have a greater risk of serious health complications.

Your healthcare team can help you make any decisions before you start.

Semaglutide is an injectable and prescription type 2 diabetes medication sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. Only Wegovy is specifically labeled for weight loss.

Inject semaglutide under your skin (avoiding muscles and veins) in fattier areas like your upper arm, stomach, or thigh. Rotating the injection site for each dose may help reduce your risk of skin irritation or infection.

Follow your doctor’s or pharmacist’s directions for using semaglutide. Do not stop taking it without talking with your doctor first, as this may have health consequences.

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