Understanding Mounjaro Injection Sites
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an exciting new injectable prescription medication used to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It works by helping the body produce more insulin when blood sugar levels are high, while also decreasing appetite to potentially aid in weight loss.
As with similar injectable diabetes medications, it is important to use proper injection technique when self-administering Mounjaro. Choosing appropriate injection sites and understanding how to correctly inject this medication under the skin can help ensure proper absorption and optimal effects.
Approved Injection Sites for Mounjaro
The prescription information for Mounjaro states that it should only be injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach area (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm. These areas have enough fatty tissue under the skin to properly absorb the medication.
Some key points about Mounjaro injection sites:
- You should avoid injecting into areas with scar tissue or damaged skin
- You should inject at least 2 inches away from your belly button
- You should regularly rotate where you inject each week, such as from one thigh, to the next thigh, to your stomach, to your upper arms
- Do not inject into a vein, muscle, or in the same exact spot every time
Preparing for a Mounjaro Injection
Before injecting your dose of Mounjaro, be sure to properly prepare both your medication and your injection site:
- Take the medication out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before injecting to allow it to reach room temperature
- Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water
- Clean your chosen injection site with an alcohol wipe and let the skin air dry
- Carefully prepare your dose of Mounjaro according to the instructions provided
- Pinch some skin at your cleaned injection site to make a raised area for easier injection
How to Properly Inject Mounjaro
Once you have selected and prepared an appropriate injection site, follow these steps to self-inject your dose of Mounjaro:
- With one hand, use your thumb and index finger to pinch a fold of skin at the injection site
- With your other hand, hold the syringe like a pencil or dart above the raised skin, at a 90° angle
- With a quick dart-like motion, insert the entire needle into the skin fold
- Push down on the plunger to slowly inject all of the medication
- Leave the needle under the skin for 5-10 seconds once injected
- Pull out the needle quickly at the same angle it was inserted
Be careful not to rub or touch the injection site after the injection. A small amount of bleeding is normal. If needed, you can press a small piece of gauze over the site.
Storing Mounjaro Properly
Like other injectable diabetes medications, Mounjaro must be stored correctly to maintain its effectiveness:
- Store unopened Mounjaro pen or syringes in a refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
- Do not freeze Mounjaro or store near the cooling elements in the refrigerator.
- Protect Mounjaro from light by storing in the carton until ready to inject.
- Mounjaro can be kept at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C) for up to 56 days.
- Write the date removed from refrigeration on the carton.
- If expired or left unrefrigerated too long, safely dispose in a sharps container.
Troubleshooting Mounjaro Injection Issues
While Mounjaro is designed to be a straightforward self-injected medication, some injection issues can occur. Being aware of the most common injection problems can help troubleshoot any difficulties.
Pain or Discomfort When Injecting
Some pain, stinging, or discomfort is common when injecting medications like Mounjaro. However, there are some tricks to help minimize injection discomfort:
- Allow Mounjaro to reach room temperature before injecting to avoid cold liquid stinging skin
- Inject slowly over 5-10 seconds rather than quickly
- Rotate injection sites each week to give areas time to heal
- Use an ice cube on the skin for 1 minute before cleaning the area to numb it
If you experience bruising, swelling, irritation, or lumps under the skin where you inject, be sure to consult your healthcare provider.
Medication Leaking Out From Injection Site
It’s important to correctly inject Mounjaro under the skin (subcutaneously), rather than too shallow or into the muscle. Leaking medication from the injections site typically means it was not injected properly under the skin.
To help prevent leaking, be sure to:
- Firmly pinch up skin when inserting the needle at 90 degree angle
- Inject slowly over 5-10 seconds once needle is fully under skin
- Don’t remove needle right away once plunger is pressed
- Wait 5-10 seconds before pulling out needle to allow medication to absorb into tissue
Forgetting To Take or Inject Mounjaro
As with any new medication regimen, it can be easy to accidentally forget to self-inject your weekly dose of Mounjaro. Tips to help avoid forgetting doses:
- Set a recurring alert on your phone or smartwatch
- Place sticky note reminders where you store your medication
- Pair your injection routine with another weekly activity
- Mark injections on a paper or digital calendar you check often
If you miss taking your scheduled dose and remember within 3 days, simply inject the missed dose as soon as possible.
If more than 3 days have passed, skip the missed dose and inject your next scheduled dose when appropriate. Do not double up injections to try to ‘catch up’. doubling medication doses can increase side effects.
Difficulty Preparing or Injecting Dose
The Mounjaro pen and syringes are designed for simple self-injection after easy preparation steps. However, difficulties can sometimes occur:
- If you struggle attaching injection needles or priming Mounjaro pens, carefully review included instructions and injection training videos online to ensure you understand proper technique
- Call your healthcare team if needles seem damaged, pen or syringe malfunctions, or doses seem incorrect
- Ask a trained family member or friend to observe your prep and injection technique and provide feedback
Seeking help early for any administration struggles can help identify technique issues to ensure you properly inject doses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mounjaro Injections
When starting a new injectable medication like Mounjaro, it’s normal to have lots of questions about properly administering and storing the drug. Here are answers to some of most common questions.
Does Injection Site Matter for How Well Mounjaro Works?
No, Mounjaro has been shown clinically effective regardless of which approved injection site you rotate between. As long as shots go into fatty tissue under the skin of the abdomen, thighs, or arms, absorption should be similar.
How Long Do Mounjaro Injection Needles Need to Be?
Needle length depends partially on your body composition. Standard injection needles are 4mm to 8mm long. Use longer 6mm-8mm needles if injecting into thicker tissue of stomach or thighs. Leaner arms may do better with shorter 4mm-5mm needle lengths.
Can Mounjaro Be Injected Through Clothes?
No, you should always directly clean injection site skin and inject into pinched areas of bare skin for proper administration. Injecting through clothing can block full needle insertion, lead to incorrect dosage, and increase infection risks.
Should I Aspirate When Injecting Mounjaro?
Aspiration is pulling back the syringe plunger slightly to check for blood before pushing medication into tissue. However, aspiration is no longer recommended or necessary with modern subcutaneous injectable medications like Mounjaro
How Long Does an Injected Dose of Mounjaro Last in the Body?
Mounjaro reaches peak absorption around 1-3 days after dosing and remains effectively active in the body helping regulate blood sugar levels for an entire week before another maintenance dose is needed.