GLP-1 Injection Site Rotation Guide (Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound)

If you're using Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Mounjaro®, or Zepbound®, proper injection site rotation is part of the official administration guidance — not just a good habit.

This guide pulls together official advice from the FDA, medical best practices, and practical tips — including how Dosio can track your rotation for you automatically.

Official Injection Sites for GLP-1 Medications

According to their FDA-approved prescribing information, GLP-1 medications — semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) — are administered as injections just under the skin (subcutaneous) in three areas:

• Abdomen — avoid the 2 inches (5 cm) directly around the navel
• Thigh — outer/front thigh
• Upper arm — back of the upper arm

All four FDA labels (Ozempic¹, Zepbound², Mounjaro³, Wegovy⁴) explicitly state that patients should rotate injection sites with each dose.

Why Injection Site Rotation Matters

1. Reducing the Risk of Lipohypertrophy

Repeated injections in the same spot can cause lipohypertrophy — a medical term for fatty lumps or thickened areas that form just under your skin. While this is most common in people who use insulin, medical experts recommend rotating injection spots for any medication injected under the skin.⁵,⁶

2. Preventing Local Injection Site Reactions

FDA labels for both semaglutide and tirzepatide report injection site reactions as a known side effect, including redness, swelling, and discomfort. Rotating sites reduces repeated trauma to the same tissue, lowering the likelihood and severity of these reactions.

3. Supporting Consistent Results

Injecting repeatedly into the same spot — especially if the area has become hard or lumpy — can change how the medication is absorbed. Rotating sites helps ensure your medication works exactly as intended every time.⁵

Recommended Rotation Pattern

A practical, structured 6-zone rotation covers all approved sites:

1. Left abdomen
2. Right abdomen
3. Left thigh
4. Right thigh
5. Left upper arm
6. Right upper arm

Within each region, aim to move at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the previous injection point. This approach aligns with injection technique recommendations from the ADA and the Mayo Clinic Proceedings guidelines referenced above.

Common Rotation Mistakes

• Injecting in the exact same spot every week
• Only occasionally switching sides
• Not tracking injection history over time
• Injecting into hardened or irritated tissue

These patterns can lead to skin issues and may make your medication work less consistently.

How to Automate Injection Site Tracking with Dosio

Manually remembering your last injection zone across months of weekly therapy is unreliable. The Dosio app provides structured rotation support:

• Set up your Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Zepbound schedule
• Enable automatic injection site rotation
• See your recommended next injection zone before each dose
• Visually track last-used and recently-used areas

This helps you implement FDA-recommended rotation principles without relying on memory or manual tracking.

Ready to take control of your GLP-1 journey?

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