How to use and inject an Ozempic pen

A Step-by-Step Guide to Injecting Ozempic Safely

Northwell Health, one of the largest health systems in the northeastern United States, produced this injection tutorial that has become one of the most-watched Ozempic how-to videos on YouTube at 1.9 million views. The popularity makes sense. Every person who gets prescribed an Ozempic pen faces the same moment of uncertainty: the pen is in your hand, the needle is attached, and you are not entirely sure you are doing this correctly. This video answers that uncertainty with clear, clinical-grade instruction.

If you have never given yourself an injection before, the idea can feel intimidating. That reaction is completely normal. The good news is that Ozempic pens are designed for self-administration by people with no medical training. The needles are thin (typically 32-gauge), the injection is subcutaneous (just under the skin, not into a vein or muscle), and the pen handles the dosing mechanics for you. Once you have done it two or three times, it becomes routine.

Before You Inject: Preparation Steps

The Northwell team walks through preparation carefully because skipping steps here is where most errors happen. First, check the pen itself. The medication should be clear and colorless. If it looks cloudy, discolored, or contains particles, do not use it. This could indicate the medication has degraded, often from being left outside the refrigerator for too long or being exposed to extreme temperatures.

New pens should be stored in the refrigerator (36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit) until first use. Once you start using a pen, it can be kept at room temperature (up to 86 degrees Fahrenheit) or in the refrigerator for up to 56 days. After 56 days, discard the pen even if medication remains. This shelf life is about potency and sterility, not a suggestion.

Wash your hands thoroughly before handling the pen and injection site. Attach a new pen needle for each injection. Reusing needles increases the risk of infection and makes the injection more painful because needle tips dull after a single use. The pen needle is a separate component that screws or clicks onto the pen tip.

The Prime Step Most People Forget

With a new pen, you need to prime it before your first dose. Priming clears air bubbles and ensures the medication is flowing through the needle correctly. The video shows this process clearly: dial the dose selector to the flow check symbol, hold the pen with the needle pointing up, and press the dose button until a drop of medication appears at the needle tip.

This step is only necessary for the first use of a new pen, not before every injection. But it is the step that new users most commonly skip, which can result in getting a smaller dose than intended on the first injection. A small detail, but one that matters for consistent dosing.

Choosing and Preparing the Injection Site

Ozempic is injected subcutaneously, meaning into the fatty tissue just beneath the skin. The three recommended sites are the abdomen (at least two inches from the belly button), the front of the thigh, and the upper arm. The abdomen tends to be the most popular site because it has the most accessible subcutaneous fat for most people and is easy to reach.

The video emphasizes rotation. Do not inject in the same exact spot every time. Repeated injections in one location can cause lipodystrophy, a condition where the fat tissue hardens or develops bumps. Rotate between sites and within each site. A simple approach is to think of your abdomen as a clock face and move to a new position with each injection.

Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab and let it air dry. Do not blow on it or fan it, just wait a few seconds. Injecting through wet alcohol can sting and may irritate the tissue.

The Actual Injection Process

The Northwell clinician demonstrates the injection on a practice pad and then describes the real-world experience. Dial your prescribed dose on the pen. Pinch a fold of skin at your injection site. Insert the needle at a 90-degree angle (straight in, not at an angle). Press the dose button and hold it down. Keep the needle in your skin for at least 6 seconds after the dose counter returns to zero. This hold time ensures the full dose is delivered.

The 6-second hold is important and often rushed. If you pull the needle out immediately after the dose counter hits zero, a small amount of medication may leak out of the injection site. Six seconds lets the medication disperse into the subcutaneous tissue. Some clinicians recommend counting to 10 for extra assurance.

After removing the needle, you may see a small drop of blood or medication at the injection site. This is normal. Press a clean cotton ball or gauze against the site gently. Do not rub. Rubbing can increase bruising and irritation.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The video addresses several common errors that new users make. Injecting too shallow is one, particularly in areas with less subcutaneous fat like the thigh. If the needle is not deep enough, the medication may pool just under the surface of the skin rather than absorbing properly. Using the pinch technique and inserting at 90 degrees prevents this.

Forgetting to check the dose window after injection is another. The counter should read zero after you inject. If it does not, the full dose was not delivered. This can happen if the pen is nearly empty and does not contain enough medication for a complete dose.

Storing the pen with the needle attached is a mistake the video specifically warns against. Leaving the needle on between uses can cause air bubbles to enter the cartridge and medication to leak out, both of which affect dosing accuracy. Always remove and safely dispose of the needle after each injection.

Needle Disposal and Safety

Used needles go into a sharps container, not the regular trash. The video shows proper sharps disposal technique. If you do not have a commercial sharps container, a heavy-duty plastic container with a secure lid (like a laundry detergent bottle) works as an acceptable alternative according to FDA guidance. Once the container is full, check your local regulations for disposal options. Many pharmacies accept sharps containers for free.

Never recap a needle by pushing the cap straight onto the tip with your other hand. This is the most common cause of needlestick injuries. If you need to recap temporarily, use the one-handed scoop technique where you lay the cap on a flat surface and scoop it onto the needle using only the hand holding the pen.

Making Injections Less Stressful

For people with needle anxiety, the video offers a few practical tips. Let the medication come to room temperature before injecting, as cold medication can sting more. Choose an injection site with more subcutaneous fat, which tends to be less sensitive. Distract yourself during the injection by watching TV or listening to music. And remember that the needles used for Ozempic pens are among the thinnest available in medicine. Most patients report that the injection is far less painful than they expected.

After your first few injections, the anxiety typically fades and the process becomes as routine as brushing your teeth. The video closes by reinforcing that millions of people self-inject GLP-1 medications safely every week, and the learning curve is short for virtually everyone.

When to Contact Your Doctor

The video briefly covers warning signs that warrant a call to your prescriber. Persistent redness, swelling, or warmth at the injection site that lasts more than a day. Any signs of allergic reaction such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face. And situations where the pen appears to malfunction, such as the dose button being stuck or the dose counter not moving correctly. These situations are rare but worth knowing about.

Traveling With Your Ozempic Pen

The video includes practical guidance for patients who travel with their medication. Ozempic pens can be kept at room temperature for up to 56 days, which covers most trips. For longer travel or hot climates, a medical-grade cooling case or insulated pouch with a cold pack protects the medication. Do not put the pen in checked luggage because cargo holds can reach temperatures that degrade the medication.

For air travel, carry your Ozempic pen in your carry-on bag. TSA allows injectable medications and associated supplies (needles, sharps container) through security with no special documentation required, though having your prescription label visible can speed the process. A letter from your prescriber is helpful for international travel where regulations may be different.

Sharps disposal while traveling requires planning. Bring a small travel sharps container or use a thick plastic bottle. Most hotels will dispose of a sharps container if you ask the front desk. Never put loose needles in hotel trash cans. If you are traveling internationally, research the destination country's sharps disposal regulations before you go, as they vary by country.