The short answer
- The leaflets for Mounjaro, Zepbound, Wegovy and Ozempic list the same three areas: the abdomen, the thigh and the upper arm.
- Mounjaro and Zepbound add a condition: the back of the upper arm should only be used if someone else gives the injection.
- The labels ask you to change where you inject each time. The UK Mounjaro and Wegovy leaflets say you can stay in the same area as long as you use a different spot.
- The easiest system is a fixed cycle of six spots, left and right in each area, with a log that tells you where you went last week.
- JabKeeper shows the next site in its rotation automatically, based on the sites you used for your last five doses.
Injection site rotation sounds technical, but for a weekly GLP-1 pen it comes down to one question: where did I inject last time? Seven days is just long enough to forget. Without a record, many people keep returning to the same comfortable patch of skin.
This guide summarises what the official leaflets say about injection sites, sets out a simple rotation plan, and compares ways to keep track. We make the tracker app JabKeeper, but paper and spreadsheets work too. The goal is a system you'll stick with. Your nurse, pharmacist or prescriber's instructions always come first.
What the leaflets say about injection sites
We checked the current UK and US product information for each medicine. The sites are the same across all four, but the wording on rotation and on the upper arm differs:
| Medicine | Areas listed | Rotation advice | Upper arm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro (UK, US) | Abdomen, thigh, back of upper arm | Rotate with each dose. The UK leaflet says the same area is fine if you use a different spot. | Only if someone else injects |
| Zepbound (US) | Abdomen, thigh, back of upper arm | Rotate with each dose | Only if someone else injects |
| Wegovy (UK, US) | Abdomen, thigh, upper arm | US label: rotate with each dose. Pen instructions and the UK leaflet: the same area is fine, but not the same spot as last time. | No restriction in the pen instructions |
| Ozempic (UK, US) | Abdomen, thigh, upper arm | US label: use a different site each week. The UK leaflet lists the sites without a specific rotation instruction. | No restriction in the pen instructions |
Two practical points follow from this. First, if you inject Mounjaro or Zepbound yourself, your personal rotation will usually be the abdomen and thighs only. Second, "rotation" doesn't have to mean a different body area every week. Moving to a new spot within the same area is consistent with the UK leaflets for Mounjaro and Wegovy. Always check the diagram in your own pack's instructions for use, which shows exactly where to inject.
Why rotating sites is worth the effort
The leaflets ask for it, and that's reason enough. There are practical benefits too. Changing the spot means no single patch of skin takes every injection. It also makes a reaction easier to interpret. Redness or itching at one site is simple to link to a particular injection when your log says where each one went. If a spot feels sore, bruised or lumpy, choose another one and mention it to your nurse or pharmacist.
A simple six-spot rotation plan
The easiest plan to remember is a fixed cycle that alternates body area and side, so consecutive injections are never close together. This is the order JabKeeper uses:
| Week | Site | If you don't use your arms |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abdomen, left | Abdomen, left |
| 2 | Thigh, right | Thigh, right |
| 3 | Abdomen, right | Abdomen, right |
| 4 | Thigh, left | Thigh, left |
| 5 | Upper arm, left | Back to abdomen, left (a new spot) |
| 6 | Upper arm, right | Thigh, right (a new spot) |
Each time you come back to an area, use a new spot within the parts of it shown in your leaflet's diagram. The cycle only helps if you know where you are in it, which is where a log comes in.
Three ways to track your injection sites
| Paper body map | Spreadsheet column | JabKeeper | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shows last week's site | If you check it | If you scroll to it | In your dose history |
| Shows the next site | No | With a formula | On Today and when logging |
| Links sites to reactions | Manual notes | Manual columns | Site reaction in the side-effect diary |
| Works offline | Yes | Depends on the app | Yes |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free for two dose records, $9.99 once for everything |
A paper body map is a simple outline of the front of a body with the six spots numbered. Tick one each week and start a fresh sheet when the cycle ends. It's visual and private, but it can't remind you.
A spreadsheet just needs a "site" column next to the date. You can add a formula that looks up the last entry and shows the next site in your cycle. That works well if you already keep an injection spreadsheet. We compare these approaches in more depth in app vs spreadsheet vs paper diary.
How JabKeeper's site rotation works
JabKeeper keeps six sites: the left and right abdomen, thigh and upper arm. When you log a dose, it looks at the sites from your last five doses. It then pre-selects the first site in the rotation above that isn't among them. The next site also appears on the Today screen before injection day, so you can plan ahead.
It's a reminder of your rotation, not a rule. If you don't inject into your arms, or a spot is bruised, tap a different site. The next site shown is based on the sites you actually used. If you notice a reaction, log it as a site reaction in the side-effect diary, part of the lifetime unlock. JabKeeper shows how many days after your last dose it started, which is useful context for your pharmacist.
Never wonder where you injected last
JabKeeper remembers your last sites and shows the next one in your rotation, alongside dose reminders and your full injection history. Free to start, $9.99 once for everything.
Tips for a rotation habit that sticks
- Decide before you uncap the pen. Check your log first, so you're not choosing a site while holding a needle.
- Log straight after injecting. Entries made "later" are the ones that get forgotten. Logging immediately takes seconds.
- Keep the same injection day. A consistent day makes a missed dose or a skipped site obvious. If you need to change your day, check the leaflet's minimum gap between doses first.
- Bring your history to appointments. Your prescriber or nurse can look at your sites alongside any reactions and advise you directly.
For the complete weekly routine, including dose strengths and pen notes, read our Mounjaro tracker guide. If you're weighing up apps, see the best GLP-1 tracker apps.
Sources
- Mounjaro KwikPen Patient Information Leaflet and Summary of Product Characteristics, electronic medicines compendium (UK), checked 14 September 2026.
- Zepbound prescribing information and Mounjaro prescribing information, DailyMed (US), checked 14 September 2026.
- Wegovy FlexTouch Patient Information Leaflet (UK) and Wegovy prescribing information (US), checked 14 September 2026.
- Ozempic Summary of Product Characteristics (UK) and Ozempic prescribing information (US), checked 14 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I change my GLP-1 injection site?
The Mounjaro, Zepbound and US Wegovy labels say to rotate injection sites with each dose, and the US Ozempic label says to use a different site each week. Follow the leaflet for your medicine and the technique you were taught.
Can I inject into the same area every week?
The UK Mounjaro and Wegovy leaflets say you can use the same body area as long as you choose a different spot from last time. Check the instructions for your own medicine.
Can I inject Mounjaro into my arm myself?
The Mounjaro and Zepbound product information says the back of the upper arm should only be used if someone else gives the injection. Your abdomen and thighs are the areas listed for injecting yourself.
Does JabKeeper have an injection site body map?
JabKeeper uses six site buttons, left and right for the abdomen, thigh and upper arm, rather than a drawn body map. It shows the next site in its rotation, based on the sites from your last five doses.