GLP‑1 injections and pens
From choosing an injection area to disposing of a used pen, these guides cover the practical questions around injections. Pen types and doses differ, so each guide names the medicines and devices its sources describe.
A place to start
Choosing an area?
See the injection areas shown in the medicine leaflets.
Where to inject, and how to rotatePlanning your supply?
Compare pens, boxes and the number of doses each contains.
How long does a pen last?At home or away?
Find the storage information for your particular pen, before and after first use.
Storing your pen
Find a guide
Search by medicine, symptom or question.
8 guides in injections & pens
Your first weeks on a GLP-1
What the leaflets say about starting: the low first dose, the side effects most likely early on, and the pen.
Checked against 10 sources on 12 October 2026
Read the guideWhere to inject, and how to rotate
Stomach, thigh or upper arm: where each leaflet and label says to inject, and how to rotate the spot each week.
Checked against 6 sources on 12 October 2026
Read the guideRed, itchy or sore where you inject
How often the leaflets say reactions where you inject happen, what they look like, and the serious signs to know.
Checked against 5 sources on 12 October 2026
Read the guideHow long does a pen last?
Four doses per pen or box: when your next pen is due, and how long each one keeps once it’s started.
Checked against 4 sources on 12 October 2026
Read the guideStoring your pen
Where the leaflets say to keep your pen, what they say about freezing, and what to check before you use it.
Checked against 4 sources on 12 October 2026
Read the guideTravelling with your pen
Hand luggage, paperwork and storage: what official guidance says about taking your pen on a trip.
Checked against 8 sources on 20 October 2026
Read the guideDisposing of pens and needles
Used needles, empty pens and sharps bins: the UK disposal guidance for Mounjaro and Wegovy.
Checked against 5 sources on 20 October 2026
Read the guideWegovy 7.2mg: three injections
Wegovy’s 7.2mg dose: three 2.4mg injections on one day, at least 5cm apart, with a new needle each time.
Checked against 1 source on 12 October 2026
Read the guide