Zepbound injection sites: map and rotation logbook

Where to inject Zepbound

Zepbound goes under the skin (subcutaneously) in one of three areas: the stomach (abdomen), the thigh, or the back of the upper arm. Lilly's instructions say you or another person can inject the abdomen or thigh, but another person should give the injection in the back of the upper arm.^{[1, 5]}

When you use the abdomen, stay at least 2 inches from the belly button.^{[2, 4]} The map shades this area so you can see it.

"Change (rotate) your injection site each week. You may use the same area of your body but be sure to choose a different injection site in that area."Zepbound single-dose pen Instructions for Use^[1]

By device

Zepbound comes in three US formats: the single-dose pen, the single-dose vial and the KwikPen. The labeled sites are the same for all three.^[4]

Each row is taken from that product's Instructions for Use or prescribing information, listed under Sources below.

Where to inject tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound)

Zepbound and Mounjaro are both tirzepatide, and their labels list the same sites: the abdomen or thigh, or the back of the upper arm if another person injects for you. Both say to rotate injection sites with each dose.^{[5, 7, 6]}

If your tirzepatide comes from a compounding pharmacy, it has no FDA-approved label or Instructions for Use. Ask the prescriber and pharmacy that supplied it how to inject it. This logbook follows the approved products' instructions.

Wegovy and Ozempic injection sites

Both semaglutide pens are labeled for the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, and neither label limits the arm to a helper.^{[8, 10]} Novo Nordisk's Wegovy guidance adds that you should keep 2 inches away from your belly button, and that you may use the same body area each week but not the exact same spot.^[9] If you also use insulin, the Ozempic instructions say both can go in the same body area but not right next to each other.^[10]

The Wegovy pill is taken by mouth, so it has no injection site.

Does the site change how well it works?

According to the labels, no meaningful difference is described. The Zepbound and Mounjaro prescribing information states that "similar exposure was achieved with subcutaneous administration of tirzepatide in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm."^{[5, 7]} The Wegovy prescribing information says the same for semaglutide.^[8]

Why rotation matters

The Zepbound vial instructions explain the reason directly: rotate "to reduce your risk of getting lipodystrophy (pits in skin or thickened skin) and localized cutaneous amyloidosis (skin with lumps) at the injection sites."^[3] That is what the logbook helps with: keeping track of where you went last time so you do not keep returning to the same spot.

How the logbook works

• Zones are a bookkeeping aid. The labels name areas (abdomen, thigh, upper arm), not exact spots. The map splits them into zones so you can see where you have been. The zones themselves are not part of any label.
• "Least recently used" is simply the available zone you have not used for the longest, and never the one you used last. It is a memory aid, not a medical recommendation.
• Arm sites switch on for Zepbound and Mounjaro only when you choose "Someone helps me", matching Lilly's instructions.
• Your data stays with you. Everything is saved in your browser on this device. "Copy backup link" puts your whole log inside a link you can keep or email to yourself, and opening it restores the log on any device. Use "Export CSV" or "Print" if you want to show your prescriber.

Common questions