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Mounjaro is an injectable medication used to treat blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
If you’re new to the medication, it may be your first time ever taking an injectable drug and you may have questions about where and how to give an injection.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about injecting Mounjaro.
Get to know your Mounjaro pen, prescription, and dose
Before you inject your medication, you should be familiar with the pen and pen needle, your prescription, and your dose.
Mounjaro comes in a single-dose injectable pen, which many people simply refer to as a “pen”.
Mounjaro pens are about six inches long with a hidden pen needle on one end and a small plunger button on the other end that will automatically inject the medication.
There are six different pens available, depending on your prescribed dose.
Each pen only delivers one dose, so it is impossible for you to overdose on the medication.
Throw away the pen after a single use.
If you’ve never used a pen, your doctor’s office or pharmacist can describe to you how to safely use a Mounjaro pen.
The manufacturer, Eli Lilly, also maintains a website about how to safely inject the medication.
What does a dose look like?
Your dose will vary depending on your weight, height, lifestyle, and health goals.
Mounjaro is administered subcutaneously (under your skin) once per week.
The different dosing options available are:
- 2.5 milligrams per week (for the first four weeks as a starting dose)
- 5 milligrams per week
- 7.5 milligrams per week
- 10 milligrams per week
- 15 milligrams per week
Maintenance doses can range anywhere from 5 mg per week to 15 mg per week.
Your dose will be decided on by you and your doctor.
Never take more Mounjaro than you’re prescribed, especially when you first start taking the medication.
Read more: Mounjaro Dosing Guide: How Much Should You Take?
Where is the best place on my body to inject Mounjaro?
Always rotate your injection sites to prevent the buildup of scar tissue.
Mounjaro is best injected into fatty tissue, such as areas around the abdomen, upper arms, upper thighs, and hips.
It’s not recommended to inject into lean or mostly muscular parts of the body.
These injections tend to be painful, may bleed more than normal, and can cause the medication to be less effective.
Mounjaro should never be injected into a vein or artery.
How to inject Mounjaro
You should inject the amount of Mounjaor prescribed by your doctor under the skin into fatty tissue no more than once per week, ideally on the same day at the same time.
The time of day for your injection usually does not matter.
The steps to follow for injecting Mounjaro are outlined below.
Get your supplies ready
Get your Mounjaro pen and an alcohol swab ready.
Check your dose to make sure you have the correct pen.
Remove the cap from the front part of your pen and look through the pen’s plastic window to make sure the liquid inside the pen is clear.
If the liquid is cloudy or frozen, do not use it.
Find a good spot on your body and prepare the site for the shot
Choose an area on your body with fatty tissue, such as your stomach, hips, upper thighs, or upper arms.
Prepare the site on your skin by quickly rubbing it with an alcohol swab and letting it air dry.
Injecting while the alcohol is still wet may cause stinging.
Injecting Mounjaro
Make sure your pen is locked and do not unlock your pen until you are ready to inject.
To unlock your pen, remove the gray cap by pulling it away from the clear base. You will then throw away the gray cap.
Now the needle will be exposed. Do not touch the needle or you will contaminate it.
Place the clear base against your skin, and unlock the pen by turning the lock ring.
Press the top of the pen. This will release the medication.
The first click you’ll hear is when the injection is starting, followed by a second click a few seconds later. This lets you know that the injection has finished.
Hold the pen against your skin for up to 10 seconds to make sure all of the medication has been dispersed.
You will know the injection is complete when you can view the gray plunger through the glass.
Remove the pen from your skin.
Wipe away any blood or medication that has bubbled to the surface of your skin with a clean alcohol swab.
Discard the Mounjaro pen safely
Since Mounjaro pens are single-use, you will then discard the pen in a sharps container.
Do not throw the pen away with regular trash. Do not recycle your pen.
How do I know if I injected Mounjaro correctly?
You will know if you’ve injected your medication correctly if you hear two clicks (one at the beginning of your injection and one at the end.)
Do not remove the pen until you hear the second click. These clicks are loud and detectable to most people.
Some people may hear a soft click right before the second loud click. That is normal.
Do not remove the pen from your skin until you hear the second loud click.
You will also see the gray plunger if your dose was administered correctly.
If you do not see the gray plunger, contact Lilly at 1-800-Lilly-Rx (1-800-545-5979) for further guidance.
What is the best time of day to inject Mounjaro?
The best time of day to take Mounjaro is when you’ll remember to take it!
There is no best time, but people usually pair their Mounjaro shot with other activities—such as eating breakfast or making their morning coffee.
You can take your weekly dose at any time of day, but you should plan to take it on the same day each week.
What do I do if I miss a dose of Mounjaro?
This is okay! Missing one dose will not drastically increase your insulin resistance or make you gain weight.
However, the medication works best when it’s taken consistently.
You can also take your dose a few days late, just make sure to then change the day of the week that you routinely take your shot.
For example, if you always take your Mounjaro on Sundays but didn’t take your shot until Tuesday morning, you’ll have to wait until the following Tuesday to take your next dose.
However, if you missed your dose more than four days (96 hours) ago, just skip that week’s dose and take your regularly scheduled dose on time.
How do I properly store Mounjaro?
Store your pen in the refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
You may also store your pen at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C) for up to 21 days.
Never freeze your pen. If the pen has been frozen, throw the pen away and use a new one.
Store your pen in the original carton to protect it from light exposure and heat.
The pen has glass parts. Handle it carefully.
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