Injection site rotation for weekly GLP-1 shots: a simple system

Short answer

Prescribing information for GLP-1 pens lists three areas — abdomen, thigh, upper arm — and recommends changing the injection site with each dose. The simplest system is a fixed order and a record: write down where the last shot went, and the next one goes to the next spot. A tracker can hold the order and suggest the next site.

Who this guide is for

People injecting weekly who notice tenderness or bruising at the usual spot, or who simply cannot remember where last week's shot went.

Step-by-step

Pick your areas. The prescribing information names abdomen (staying away from the navel), front of the thigh, and back of the upper arm. Use the ones you can reach comfortably.
Fix an order. For example: left abdomen → right abdomen → left thigh → right thigh. Why: an order removes the decision each week.
Record the site with the dose. Marker on the box, note in the calendar, or the site field in a tracker. Why: after a few weeks the skin itself does not tell you.
Next week, take the next spot in the order. EvenDose suggests it automatically from the last logged site.
If a spot is sore or bruised, skip it in the rotation and note that. Persistent reactions are something to mention to your prescriber.

Common mistakes

Using the same easy spot every week because it is convenient.
Rotating within a spot by a centimetre and counting it as a new site.
Not recording the site, then guessing.

Tools that help

A marker and the pen box; a body diagram printed from the manufacturer's site; EvenDose (site recorded with each dose, next site suggested); other trackers with a site field.

FAQ

Where can GLP-1 pens be injected?

The prescribing information lists abdomen, thigh, and upper arm. Follow the Medication Guide for your pen.

Does the site change how the medication works?

The prescribing information for these pens states the listed sites may be used; it does not instruct patients to prefer one. Ask your pharmacist if you have a specific concern.

How does EvenDose rotate sites?

It records the site with each injection and proposes the next one in a fixed order. You can override it.

What if I forgot where I injected last week?

Check your log. If there is none, pick any area you did not obviously use and start recording from now.

Sources

Medication Guides / Instructions for Use:

This page is general information about keeping records. It is not medical advice. Decisions about doses belong to your prescriber or pharmacist.