GLP-1 Injection Site Rotation: Where to Inject and How to Rotate

By Jack Wallner. Updated October 12, 2026.

Where the labels say you can inject

Both makers of the common once-weekly GLP-1 injections list the same three body areas, with small differences in who may use which. This table summarizes the instructions for use that come with each medicine.

Wording taken from each product's instructions for use and Medication Guide. Check the version that came with your pen or syringe, because devices differ.

The prescribing information for both Ozempic and Zepbound also notes that similar exposure was achieved when the medicine was given in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. That means the choice among these sites is mostly about comfort, reach and rotation. Your prescriber or pharmacist can tell you which site suits you.

Where not to inject

• Skin that is tender, bruised, red or hard. The Wegovy pen instructions say not to inject into these areas.
• Skin with pits, thickening or lumps, scars, or damaged skin. This is from Lilly's instructions for the vial.
• Within 2 inches of the belly button. Novo Nordisk's instructions say to keep that distance on the stomach.
• Muscle or a vein. Novo Nordisk's Medication Guide says these medicines go under the skin.
• The same site you use for other medicines. Lilly's instructions say not to inject into it.

Why rotate at all

Novo Nordisk says only that you should not use the same site for each injection. Lilly's instructions give a reason: they say to rotate within the area you choose for each dose to reduce your risk of lipodystrophy (pits in skin or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites. If you see changes in the skin where you inject, tell your prescriber.

A simple rotation you can follow

Both makers allow the stomach and thigh, so one workable plan is a repeating loop of four spots. This is an example, not a prescription, and your prescriber's guidance comes first.

Each time you come back to a spot, choose a different point inside it rather than the exact place you used last. Add the back of the upper arm only if someone else gives that injection, as both sets of instructions say. The plan only works if you know where the last shot went, so record the site every time.

Mistakes that break a rotation

• Defaulting to the same easy spot every week because it is convenient.
• Forgetting where the last injection went, then guessing.
• Injecting too close to the belly button.
• Using the back of the arm alone, when both makers say another person should give that injection.

How Simple GLP helps

Simple GLP is a dose log for GLP-1 weekly shots and daily pills. When you log a shot you can record the injection site (abdomen, left or right thigh, left or right arm), and the Home screen shows where the last shot went, so you know which spot is next without relying on memory. You can leave the site as not recorded and edit entries later. The app does not tell you which site to use, does not suggest doses and is not medical advice. It keeps a log, and your prescriber and the instructions for your medicine decide the rest.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I inject Ozempic or Wegovy?

Novo Nordisk's instructions list the stomach area at least 2 inches from the belly button, the thighs, and the back of the upper arm, with the arm only when someone else gives the injection. Your prescriber can help you choose the best site for you.

How often should I rotate injection sites?

Novo Nordisk's instructions say to change your injection site with each injection and not use the same site each time. Lilly's instructions for Mounjaro and Zepbound say to change your injection site each week.

Can I inject in the same area every week?

Lilly says you may use the same area of your body as long as you choose a different injection site within that area. Novo Nordisk says to avoid using the exact same spot as last time.

Does the injection site change how well the medicine works?

The prescribing information for Ozempic and Zepbound reports similar exposure after injection in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. For anything about your own results, ask your prescriber.

What should I do if an injection site is bruised, red or hard?

The Wegovy pen instructions say not to inject into skin that is tender, bruised, red or hard, so use a different spot. If skin changes such as lumps or pits appear, tell your prescriber.

Sources

1. Novo Nordisk: Ozempic prescribing information, Medication Guide and instructions for use
2. Novo Nordisk: Wegovy prescribing information, Medication Guide and instructions for use
3. Eli Lilly: Mounjaro prescribing information
4. Eli Lilly: Zepbound prescribing information
5. Eli Lilly: Zepbound instructions for use and Medication Guide
6. Eli Lilly: Mounjaro instructions for use and Medication Guide

This page is general information, not medical advice. It summarizes manufacturer instructions and gives no dosing guidance. Follow the instructions that came with your medicine and talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. Simple GLP is an independent app and is not affiliated with Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly.