You inject compounded GLP-1 under the skin (a subcutaneous injection) in your belly, the front of your thigh, or your upper arm, usually once a week. The amount you draw up comes from your prescription and the pharmacy label on your vial, not from a chart online.
This guide walks through the basics so you know what to expect. Your pharmacy label and your clinician's instructions always come first. If anything here differs from what they told you, follow them.
Where on my body do I inject?
Compounded GLP-1 is injected under the skin, not into a muscle or vein. There are three usual areas:
- Belly (abdomen)
- Front of the thigh
- Upper arm
Rotate your sites. Use a different spot each time, even within the same area. This helps avoid irritation. Skip skin that is bruised, tender, red, scarred or hard.
How many units do I inject?
This is the most important part of injecting a compounded GLP-1. Compounded vials come in different concentrations, so the same dose can mean a different number of syringe units depending on the vial. That is why you should:
- Follow your prescription and the pharmacy label exactly.
- Never convert milligrams to units yourself, and never use a unit number from a website, a friend, or an old vial.
- Check the label again whenever you get a new vial, since the concentration can change.
- Ask your clinician before your first dose if anything on the label is unclear.
Your clinician picks the medication and the dose, and adjusts it over time. You can read about that choice in can I choose semaglutide or tirzepatide?
What are the basic steps?
Your pharmacy and clinician may give you more detail. In general:
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Check the vial. Confirm the name and the beyond-use date on the label, and look at the liquid. If it looks different from usual or the label is past its date, do not use it; ask first.
- Wipe the vial top and your injection spot with an alcohol swab and let them dry.
- Draw up the amount on your label with a new, sterile syringe. Never reuse or share needles or syringes.
- Inject under the skin at the site you chose, the way your pharmacy or clinician showed you.
- Put the used syringe straight into a sharps container.
- Put the vial back where your label says to store it. See how to store compounded GLP-1.
How do I get rid of used needles?
The FDA advises putting used needles and syringes in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right after use. Do not throw loose needles in the trash or recycling, and follow your state or local rules for disposing of a full container.
What if I made a mistake or have a reaction?
If you are not sure you injected the right amount, do not take an extra dose to make up for it. Message your clinician through your My VevaMD page, and tell them what you injected and when. Do the same for mild redness or irritation at the injection site, which the brand-name labeling lists as a common side effect.
Call 911 or go to an emergency room if you have:
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, or feeling faint
- Severe stomach pain that won't go away, especially if it spreads to your back
- Signs of severe dehydration, such as being unable to keep fluids down or very little urine
For more on what is common and what is not, read what if I have GLP-1 side effects?
Who helps me if I have questions?
Your clinician is an independent licensed clinician in the Beluga Health network, and your medication comes from a licensed US pharmacy. VevaMD is a technology company, not a medical provider or a pharmacy, so injection and dosing questions go to your clinician. Members can also use their My VevaMD page for dose reminders and shipping updates. For account help, call +1 (888) 275-1703 or email info@vevamd.com.
Next step
If you have not started yet, take the free online assessment. It takes a few minutes, and a licensed clinician in your state reviews it before deciding whether treatment is appropriate. To see the full process, read how VevaMD's process goes.
VevaMD is a technology platform, not a medical provider. Educational content only, not medical advice. All prescriptions are written by independent licensed clinicians. Individual results vary.