Compounded semaglutide: Preparing and taking your medication

August 17, 2023

Video guide: How to prepare your injection

First time giving yourself a self-administered injection? Check out this video on how to check your dose and draw your medication.

Full instructions

1. Gather your supplies.

Pull out your supplies and put them on a clean surface, where you plan to take your medication.

You will need:

  • Medication
  • Syringe
  • Alcohol wipes
  • Gauze and/or adhesive bandage
  • Sharps disposal container (see here for more information)

Double-check the label to make sure you have the correct medication.

2. Wash your hands thoroughly.

Wet your hands with clean, warm running water, turn off the tap, and apply soap. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds, including the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. Air dry your hands or dry them using a clean towel.

3. IMPORTANT: Check how much medication to draw. This amount will vary as your dose changes.

Check the dosage on your prescription, and use the table below to determine how much to draw in your syringe.

Your dose will depend on what you are prescribed.  Take the prescription amount – do not take more or less. To discuss dosage in more detail, please reach out to your Sunrise affiliated physician.

Note: Injection volume decreases from week 12 to 13 because the strength of the compounded solution increases.
Note: Next dose is requested at findsunrise.com/refill

4. Draw your medication.

Step One

1) Remove the cap on your medication vial. Wipe the top of the exposed vial with an alcohol wipe.

Step Two

2) Remove the syringe caps and draw back your syringe to the dosage line. This is the amount of medication you will draw from the vial.

Step Three

3) Insert your needle into the vial and turn the vial upside down. Push the air into the vial. Pull on the plunger to draw the medication.

Remove the needle from the medication vial and check the dosage. Gently tap the syringe and push the plunger up to clear any air bubbles.

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5. Choose your injection spot and wipe it down with an alcohol swab.

Sites on the body where subcutaneous injections can be given

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Double-check the dosage you drew in your syringe.

Use the chart on the left to choose a spot on your body for your injection. Subcutaneous injections go to the fatty layer under the skin. You’ll want to inject in an area with body fat, like your abdomen, thigh or arm.

Wipe down a large area on your injection site with an alcohol wipe. Give it 5-20 seconds to dry.

‍Note: Change your injection site regularly. Injecting the same spot repeatedly may cause irritation, or may impact the effectiveness of your medication.

6. Inject your medication. After injecting, hold for 5 seconds!

Pinch an inch of skin on your injection site with the thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hand.

Insert the needle at a 90-degree angle into the injection site, and press the plunger on your syringe. Hold for 5 seconds.

Insert at 90-degree angle and hold for 5 seconds.

Release the skin and remove the needle.

7. Clean up. Dispose of your syringe/needle and put your closed medication back in the fridge.

Immediately throw away your needle and syringe in your needle disposal container. Do not recap the needle.

Apply pressure to your injection site with sterile gauze. Put on an adhesive bandage if you are bleeding.

Place medication back into the refrigerator until your next dose.

Record the date and time of each dose, so you know when to take your next one. You can write this down on paper or a calendar, or use your phone to track when you took your medication.

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