The A subcutaneous injection is an injection given into the fatty tissue just under the skin. It is also written SQ or sub-Q. Wegovy injection and Zepbound are given this way, and so are the compounded semaglutide, tirzepatide, NAD+ and glutathione injections that BrightSide providers prescribe.
How does a subcutaneous injection apply to compounded GLP-1 treatment?
Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are injected under the skin once a week, and with a vial the patient measures each dose. Wegovy comes in pens and syringes that hold a set dose, and Zepbound comes in pens and vials. A compounded prescription usually arrives as a vial, and the dose is drawn into a syringe. Our compounded tirzepatide ships with injection supplies. Your pharmacy label shows your dose, and you can message your provider in your patient portal or book a video visit at no extra cost.
Where is a subcutaneous injection given?
A subcutaneous injection goes into a part of the body with a layer of fat under the skin. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, lists three areas: the upper arms, the outer side of the upper thighs, and the belly area. On the arm, the site is on the side or back, at least 3 inches below the shoulder and 3 inches above the elbow. On the belly, it is below the ribs and above the hip bones, at least 2 inches away from the belly button. The Wegovy label names the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. The Zepbound label names the abdomen and thigh, and the back of the upper arm when another person gives the injection. Both labels say to rotate injection sites with each dose. MedlinePlus advises moving at least 1 inch from the last site and choosing skin with no redness, swelling, scarring or bruising.
What should a patient check before injecting?
Check the label, the supplies and the skin. MedlinePlus advises checking the medicine label to confirm the medicine and the dose, and checking the date on the label. Use a new needle and syringe every time. Wash your hands, clean the site with an alcohol pad and let it dry. Pinch about an inch of skin and fatty tissue, insert the needle at a 90 degree angle, or 45 degrees if there is not much fatty tissue, push the plunger in, then put the needle in a sharps container. Some soreness at the site is expected. MedlinePlus says to contact your health care provider if you see signs of an infection, such as redness, swelling, red streaks and a fever. Your provider's directions and your pharmacy label come first. Our pharmacy network page covers how we choose the pharmacies that ship your medication and supplies.
| Site | MedlinePlus | Wegovy label | Zepbound label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdomen | Yes, at least 2 inches from the belly button | Yes | Yes |
| Thigh | Yes, the outer side of the upper thigh | Yes | Yes |
| Upper arm | Yes, the side or back | Yes | Yes, the back of the upper arm, given by another person |
| Rotate sites | Yes, at least 1 inch apart | Yes, with each dose | Yes, with each dose |
Common questions
Does a subcutaneous injection go into the muscle?
No. It goes into the fatty tissue between the skin and the muscle. MedlinePlus describes pinching an inch of skin and fatty tissue, not the muscle, and inserting the needle into the pinched skin. The needles made for subcutaneous injection are very short and thin.
Can you inject in the same spot every week?
Change the spot each time. The Wegovy and Zepbound labels both say to rotate injection sites with each dose. MedlinePlus advises moving at least 1 inch from the last site, which keeps the skin healthy and helps the body absorb the medicine well. You can stay in one area, such as the abdomen, and move within it.
Related terms
- Bacteriostatic water and reconstitution: the liquid used to mix a powdered medication before it is injected.
- Lyophilized vial: a vial of freeze-dried medication.
- Beyond use date (BUD): the date after which a compounded vial must not be used.
- Titration: how the weekly dose changes over time.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, Subcutaneous (SQ) injections, review date October 19, 2025: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000430.htm
- Wegovy (semaglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, revised 6/2026, on DailyMed: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ee06186f-2aa3-4990-a760-757579d8f77b
- Zepbound (tirzepatide) prescribing information, Eli Lilly, revised 8/2026, on DailyMed: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=487cd7e7-434c-4925-99fa-aa80b1cc776b
Compounded medications are not FDA approved. They are prescribed by a licensed clinician and filled by a licensed 503A pharmacy.
