How to Administer GLP-1 Injections

Starting a GLP-1 medication is a big step toward better health—and if you've never given yourself an injection, it's completely normal to feel unsure the first time.

The good news: it's a quick, simple process, and you don't have to figure it out alone.

In the video below, Dr. Richard Miller of Marshall Medical Group demonstrates each step.

This guide supports your provider's instructions—it should never be used to replace them. Your medication and prescribed dose are personal to you, and as a Marshall patient, you can reach your care team any time a question comes up with 24/7 concierge care.

  How To Administer GLP-1 Injections

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    "Hey everyone, Dr. Miller here with Marshall Medical Group, and today I want to go over how to administer GLP-1 medications. Before we get started, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly to avoid contamination. First, we need to gather our supplies: you will need a sharps container, sterile syringes, the vial of your medication, and an alcohol swab.


    First, prepare your syringe. Remove the bottom cap, which will reveal your plunger, and then remove the top cap, which will reveal your needle. Now that your syringe is prepared, take one of your alcohol swabs and clean the top of your medication vial. Next, draw your prescribed dose of the medication — notice that your syringe has tick marks, and each tick mark represents one volume unit.


    After you draw up the medication, prepare the site where you're going to inject. Take your alcohol swab and clean the site. We recommend the abdomen, but you can also inject in the upper arm or the thigh. Then pinch at least two centimeters of skin and lift it away from the muscle tissue. Simultaneously, take your syringe, angle it at 45 degrees, insert the needle all the way into the skin, and press the plunger completely to fully administer your medication.


    Now that you've successfully administered your medication, be sure to dispose of your syringe in your sharps container. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to your Marshall provider. I'm Dr. Miller, with Marshall Medical Group."

What You'll Need for GLP-1 Injections at Home

Wash your hands thoroughly before you begin—it's the simplest and most effective way to avoid contamination.

Then gather your supplies:

  • Your vial of medication, prescribed by your provider
  • A sterile syringe
  • Alcohol swabs
  • A sharps container for safe disposal (ask your team if you need one)

Check the vial before every injection: confirm it's your prescribed medication, check the expiration date, and make sure the liquid is clear. If anything looks off, contact your care team.

If your medication was dispensed as a pre-filled pen instead of a vial, the principles are the same, and your provider will walk you through your specific device.

As part of Marshall's weight management and metabolic support program, your GLP-1 therapy is monitored and adjusted over time. You're never managing it alone.

How to Give Yourself a GLP-1 Injection, Step by Step

GLP-1 medications are subcutaneous injections. This means that they go into the fatty tissue just under the skin, not into muscle. Here's the process:

  1. Prepare your syringe. Remove the bottom cap to reveal the plunger, then the top cap to reveal the needle.
  2. Clean the vial. Wipe the top of your medication vial with an alcohol swab.
  3. Draw your prescribed dose. Your syringe has tick marks. Draw the medication to the dose your provider prescribed. If you're ever unsure of your dose, stop and contact your care team before injecting.
  4. Clean your injection site. Swab the skin and let it dry. We recommend the abdomen, though the upper arm and thigh also work.
  5. Pinch and lift the skin. Pinch at least two centimeters of skin and gently lift it away from the muscle underneath.
  6. Inject at a 45-degree angle. Insert the needle all the way with one confident motion and press the plunger completely to administer the full dose.
  7. Dispose of the syringe in your sharps container. Never reuse or share needles.

Most patients are surprised how routine it feels by the second or third shot.

A patient injecting themselves with a GLP-1 prescription at home

Choosing and Rotating Your GLP Injection Site

Marshall recommends the abdomen (staying about two inches away from your navel) with the front of the thigh and the back of the upper arm as alternatives. Avoid injecting the exact same spot week after week—this can irritate the tissue, so shift to a different area within the site, or alternate sides. Many patients do left side one week, right side the next.

Aftercare

A little redness, a small bump, or mild soreness at the injection site is common and usually fades within a day or two.

What's not typical: significant pain, spreading redness or warmth, or a reaction that worsens. If you notice any of those or side effects that concern you, contact your provider.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What if I miss a GLP-1 dose?

    Don't guess—contact your care team for guidance based on your medication and schedule. 

  • How should I store my medication?

    GLP-1 medications are typically refrigerated. Follow the storage instructions that came with your prescription, and never use medication that has been frozen. Traveling? Keep it cool until it can be refrigerated or ask your accomodations if they can provide cold storage for medications. If not, insulate and carry it with you rather than storing in checked luggage. Ask our team about travel planning before a long trip.


  • Do I have to do my first injection alone?

    No—and we'd rather you didn't. Our team will walk you through your first injection at any of our offices, or through a video chat with Marshall Connect, or 24/7 remote concierge service.

  • Is GLP-1 therapy right for me?

    GLP-1 medications are one tool within a physician-supervised metabolic program — learn ways we approach GLP-1 therapies in Weight Loss in Kentucky with Precision Medicine and 15 Benefits of Microdosing a GLP-1, then talk with a provider about whether it fits your health picture.

Questions About Your Injections? Marshall Is Here 24/7

At Marshall Medical Group, you never have to go without care alone or wait months and months to see your provider.

Contact our team with any question about your medication, or if you're new to Marshall, book a complimentary Meet & Greet or visit our locations in Louisville at Norton Commons, across Lexington, in Georgetown, or from anywhere via Marshall Connect, our nationwide virtual office.