Ozempic is injected once a week using a prefilled, dial-a-dose pen. Before using an Ozempic pen for the first time, you should be shown how to use it by a healthcare professional and read the Instructions for Use supplied with your specific pen.
The basic process involves checking the medicine, attaching a new needle, checking the flow when starting a new pen, selecting the prescribed dose and injecting under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. The needle should be removed and safely discarded after every injection.
This guide explains the main steps using current US Ozempic Instructions for Use. Pen presentations and instructions can differ between countries, so the leaflet supplied with your own medicine takes priority.
Watch the official pen demonstration: Novo Nordisk provides a video showing how to prepare, check, select and inject a dose using the Ozempic pen. Watch the official Ozempic pen instructions video.
Before using an Ozempic pen for the first time
Your healthcare professional should show you how to use the pen before your first injection. The current US Instructions for Use specifically advise patients not to use an Ozempic pen without proper training.
Ozempic contains semaglutide and is supplied as a prefilled pen designed for use by one patient. Different Ozempic pens deliver different dose strengths, so checking the label before injecting is important.
You will need the Ozempic pen, a new compatible disposable needle, an alcohol swab, gauze or a cotton ball, and an appropriate sharps-disposal container.
Never share your Ozempic pen with another person, even if you replace the needle. Sharing a pen can transmit serious infections.
How to use an Ozempic pen step by step
1. Check the pen and medicine
Check the label to make sure the pen contains Ozempic and that you have the correct pen for your prescribed dose.
Look through the pen window. The medicine should appear clear and colourless. Do not use the pen if the solution appears cloudy, coloured or contains particles.
Also check the expiry date and do not use a pen that has been frozen or stored outside the conditions described in its instructions.
2. Attach a new needle
Use a new needle for every injection.
Remove the paper tab from the needle, push the needle straight onto the pen and turn it until it is securely attached. The needle has an outer cap and an inner cap; both need to be removed before injecting.
Keep the outer needle cap because it can be used when removing the needle after the injection. The inner cap should be discarded.
Using a new needle each time reduces the risk of contamination, infection, blocked needles and inaccurate dosing.
3. Check the flow when starting a new pen
The flow check is performed before the first injection with each new Ozempic pen. It is not a step that needs to be repeated before every injection from the same pen unless the instructions for your particular pen tell you otherwise.
Turn the dose selector until the flow-check symbol appears in the dose counter. Hold the pen with the needle pointing upwards, then press and hold the dose button until the counter returns to 0.
A drop of medicine should appear at the needle tip.
If no drop appears, follow the troubleshooting procedure in the official Instructions for Use. Do not simply assume the pen is delivering medication correctly.
4. Select your prescribed dose
Turn the dose selector until the dose counter displays the dose you have been prescribed.
Use the dose counter and dose pointer to select the dose. Do not try to set a dose by counting clicks.
Ozempic pens are available in different presentations and do not all deliver the same doses. Only select a dose that your particular pen is designed to deliver and that has been prescribed for you.
If you are uncertain about the dose or have a different pen from the one you were shown how to use, check with your pharmacist or prescriber before injecting.
5. Insert the needle under the skin
Ozempic is injected subcutaneously, meaning into the fatty tissue immediately beneath the skin. It should not be injected into a vein or muscle.
The recommended injection areas are the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. Choose an appropriate site and insert the needle into the skin as you were shown by your healthcare professional.
6. Inject the dose and slowly count to 6
Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter reaches 0.
Keep the dose button pressed with the needle still in your skin and slowly count to 6. This helps ensure that the full dose has been delivered.
After counting to 6, remove the needle from your skin.
If blood appears at the injection site, press it lightly with gauze or a cotton ball. Do not rub the area.
7. Remove and dispose of the needle
Carefully remove the needle from the pen after every injection and place the used needle in an appropriate sharps-disposal container.
Do not store the Ozempic pen with a needle attached. Leaving a needle attached can contribute to leakage, contamination, blocked needles and inaccurate dosing.
Replace the pen cap after removing the needle.
Where should you inject Ozempic?
Ozempic can be injected under the skin of the:
- abdomen
- thigh
- upper arm
Rotate the injection site rather than repeatedly injecting into exactly the same spot. If you use the same general body area from week to week, choose a different location within that area.
The image above is illustrative rather than a substitute for hands-on injection training or the Instructions for Use supplied with your pen.
If you also inject insulin, Ozempic and insulin can be injected in the same general body region, but they should be given as separate injections and should not be injected next to each other. The medicines should not be mixed together in the same injection.
Do you need to pinch the skin when injecting Ozempic?
The official US Ozempic Instructions for Use focus on inserting the needle into the skin using the technique demonstrated by your healthcare professional rather than giving a universal instruction that every patient must pinch the skin.
Body composition, injection site and needle technique can differ between people. Follow the technique demonstrated by your healthcare professional rather than using an online image as a precise guide to needle angle or skin-fold technique.
Do you need to prime an Ozempic pen every time?
No. For current US Ozempic pens, the manufacturer’s instructions call this a flow check and instruct patients to perform it with each new pen before the first injection.
You do not normally repeat the flow check before every subsequent injection from the same pen.
If the expected drop does not appear during the flow check, follow the troubleshooting instructions supplied with the pen.
How often do you change the Ozempic needle?
Use a new needle for every Ozempic injection.
After injecting, remove the needle and dispose of it safely. Do not leave a used needle attached between weekly doses and do not reuse needles.
What if the Ozempic dose counter stops before your dose?
If the dose counter stops before reaching your prescribed dose, the pen does not contain enough medicine for the full dose.
The current Instructions for Use advise using a new Ozempic pen rather than trying to create the prescribed dose by guessing how much medicine remains.
If you are unsure how to proceed, ask your pharmacist or healthcare professional before injecting.
How often is Ozempic injected?
Ozempic is normally injected once a week on the same day each week, exactly as prescribed.
It can be taken at any time of day and with or without food.
The day of weekly administration can be changed if necessary, provided there are at least 48 hours between two doses.
Your prescribed dose may change during treatment. Do not increase, reduce or otherwise alter the dose simply because another person uses a different Ozempic strength. See our tirzepatide dosing guide if you are researching how the dosing approach differs for tirzepatide medicines.
What should you do if you miss an Ozempic dose?
If you miss a dose, current US prescribing information says to take it as soon as possible if it is still within 5 days of the missed dose.
If more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and take the next dose on your regularly scheduled day.
Do not take an extra dose simply to compensate for one that was missed.
How should you store an Ozempic pen?
Before first use, current US instructions say unused Ozempic pens should be refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F).
Do not freeze Ozempic and do not use a pen that has been frozen. Keep the medicine away from excessive heat and light.
After first use, the current US pen can be stored for 56 days either:
- at room temperature between 15°C and 30°C (59°F to 86°F), or
- in a refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C (36°F to 46°F).
Keep the cap on the pen when it is not being used and store it without a needle attached.
Storage instructions can differ between markets and presentations, so check the leaflet supplied with your own pen.
How should you dispose of Ozempic needles and pens?
Used needles should be placed in an appropriate sharps-disposal container immediately after use.
In the United States, FDA guidance recommends an FDA-cleared sharps container where available. If one is not available, FDA-approved patient instructions describe characteristics required of an appropriate heavy-duty household container, including a puncture-resistant lid and leak-resistant construction.
Local disposal rules differ. Pharmacies, healthcare providers or local waste authorities can advise how filled sharps containers and used medication pens should be handled where you live.
Common Ozempic pen mistakes to avoid
- Using the wrong pen or dose: check the label and dose counter before injecting.
- Reusing a needle: attach a new needle for every injection.
- Leaving the needle attached: remove it after the injection before storing the pen.
- Skipping the flow check on a new pen: check the flow before the first injection from each new pen.
- Counting clicks to estimate a dose: use the dose counter and only select a dose the pen is designed to deliver.
- Removing the needle too quickly: after the counter reaches 0, keep the needle in the skin while slowly counting to 6.
- Repeatedly using exactly the same injection spot: rotate injection sites.
- Injecting cloudy or discoloured medicine: Ozempic should appear clear and colourless.
- Sharing a pen: an Ozempic pen must never be shared, even if the needle is replaced.
What if your Ozempic pen looks different?
Ozempic is sold in different pen presentations and packaging, and products supplied in different countries may not look identical.
Do not assume that instructions for one pen presentation apply exactly to another. Read the leaflet and Instructions for Use supplied with your own medicine and confirm the dose shown on its label.
This distinction is particularly important when medication has been obtained across borders. Our guide to Ozempic from Canadian pharmacy providers discusses product origin, prescription requirements and provider listings separately from injection technique.
Products marketed as generic semaglutide, “generic Ozempic” or compounded semaglutide should also not automatically be assumed to use the same device or instructions as a branded Ozempic pen. See our generic Ozempic and semaglutide guide for the distinctions between these product categories.
Ozempic pen instructions: common questions
How do you use an Ozempic pen for the first time?
Check that you have the correct Ozempic pen and that the medicine is clear and colourless, attach a new needle and perform the flow check for the new pen. Select your prescribed dose, inject under the skin as instructed, keep the needle in place while slowly counting to 6 after the counter reaches 0, then remove and safely dispose of the needle.
Where is the best place to inject Ozempic?
Ozempic can be injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. The official instructions do not designate one of these three areas as universally “best”. Rotate the injection site and use the technique demonstrated by your healthcare professional.
Do you inject Ozempic into muscle?
No. Ozempic is intended for subcutaneous injection under the skin. It should not be injected into a muscle or vein.
Do you need a new needle every time you use Ozempic?
Yes. A new needle should be used for every injection and removed from the pen immediately afterwards.
Do you prime Ozempic before every injection?
The current US instructions call for a flow check before the first injection with each new pen, not before every injection from the same pen.
How long do you hold an Ozempic pen in your skin?
After pressing the dose button and the dose counter reaches 0, keep the needle in your skin and slowly count to 6 before removing it.
Can you inject Ozempic cold from the refrigerator?
Current US storage instructions allow an in-use Ozempic pen to be kept refrigerated or at permitted room temperature. Follow the storage and administration instructions supplied with your pen; if you are unsure about using a refrigerated pen immediately, ask your pharmacist or healthcare professional.
Can you reuse an Ozempic pen needle?
No. Use a new needle for every injection. Used needles should be removed and disposed of safely after use.
Can two people use the same Ozempic pen with different needles?
No. Ozempic pens are for single-patient use and should never be shared, even when the needle is changed, because doing so can transmit serious infections.
Continue your research
- Ozempic medication reference
- Ozempic side effects
- Ozempic vs Wegovy comparison
- Ozempic vs Mounjaro comparison
- Ozempic from Canadian pharmacy providers
- Generic Ozempic and semaglutide
Reviewed by: Dr Mattias Hagman, PhD
Editorial review: MediSearcher checks medication-use guidance against current manufacturer Instructions for Use, prescribing information and regulatory sources. Device instructions can differ between products and markets, so patients should also follow the instructions supplied with their own medicine.
Last reviewed: 3 November 2026
How this guide was checked
This guide was checked against current US Ozempic prescribing information and Instructions for Use, together with current Novo Nordisk pen guidance available on 3 November 2026. The official instructions supplied with your particular Ozempic pen take priority if its presentation or instructions differ.
- Ozempic Prescribing Information and Instructions for Use — US Food and Drug Administration / Novo Nordisk
- Ozempic Pen Dosing and Instructions — Novo Nordisk
- Official Ozempic Pen Instructions Video — Novo Nordisk
This article provides general information and does not replace the Instructions for Use supplied with your medicine, hands-on injection training or individual medical advice. Ozempic is a prescription medicine. Use the dose prescribed for you and ask an appropriate healthcare professional if you are uncertain how to use your pen.