How to Use a Liraglutide Pen: A Step-by-Step Guide

Made by the pharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk, liraglutide is sold under the brand names Saxenda® and Victoza®. It belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 receptor agonists, which are used as diabetes and weight loss medications.

Liraglutide is a once-a-day, self-administered injection that can come in a pre-filled pen. As scary as that might sound, using a liraglutide pen is quick, easy, and practically pain-free.

Scroll down for step-by-step instructions on how to use a liraglutide injection pen. We’ll also cover where to inject it and how to store the pen, then answer some FAQs to leave you feeling confident and comfortable with this medication.

Liraglutide injector pens are easy to use — and it gets even easier with practice. Take your time, especially if this is your first injection. Once you get the hang of things, liraglutide pens only take a few minutes to administer.

Here’s a walk-through of how to use a liraglutide pen.

1. Wash Your Hands

Wash your hands with soap and water, and make sure the area around you is clean.

2. Check Your Medication

Take off the liraglutide pen cap and look through the pen window to check the medication.

Make sure the solution is clear, colorless, and doesn’t contain any particles. It also shouldn’t be frozen. Discard the pen if you notice any of these signs and use a different one.

3. Attach a New Needle

You’ll use a new needle for each injection. This helps prevent contamination, leakage, and blocked needles from delivering the wrong dose.

Once you’re ready to take your injection, here’s how to attach a new needle:

• First, swipe an alcohol swap on the pen stopper.

• Remove a new needle from its outer packaging, taking off the tab.

• Push the needle onto the pen and twist until it’s on tight.

• Remove the outer needle cap.

• Remove the inner needle cap.

Don’t use the needle if it’s bent or damaged. Safely discard it in a sharps container and open a new one if that’s the case.

Needle-phobe? Don’t panic. The needle on a liraglutide pen is very small. Many people can overcome their fear of needles and go on to use injectable medications for successful weight loss. With a little bit of practice, you might become more comfortable with it.

4. Check the Flow

If it’s your first injection with this liraglutide pen, check the pen’s flow to make sure the needle isn’t blocked or damaged.

Here’s how:

• Turn the dose selector on the end of the pen until the dose counter shows the flow check symbol.

• Hold the pen with the needle pointing up.

• Press and hold the dose button (the button on the end of the pen) until the dose counter shows zero.

• You should see a drop of liraglutide at the top of the needle.

• If you don’t see a drop, repeat these steps: returning the dose counter to the flow check symbol before pressing the dose button. Repeat up to six times.

• If a drop still doesn’t appear, remove the needle and safely discard it. Open a new needle and check the flow once more. If you can’t see a drop, don’t use the pen.

Skip this step if you’ve already administered an injection with this liraglutide pen.

5. Select Your Dose

Turn the dose selector on the pen until the dose counter shows your dose.

Your prescribing healthcare provider will tell you what liraglutide dose to take. If you’re taking Saxenda, for instance, you’ll probably start with a dose of 0.6 milligrams (mg) that increases in weekly intervals until you reach 3 milligrams. You’ll then stay on the 3-milligram dose.

Saxenda for excess weight or obesity is available in these doses:

• 0.6 milligrams

• 1.2 milligrams

• 1.8 milligrams

• 2.4 milligrams

• 3 milligrams

If you’re taking Victoza for weight loss or type 2 diabetes, the dosage options are:

• 0.6 milligrams

• 1.2 milligrams

• 1.8 milligrams

You can also get generic and compounded liraglutide in a pre-filled pen. Your healthcare provider will let you know the dose to take here, too.

Line up your dose with the dose pointer — that’s the little arrow next to the dose counter window. You can turn the dose selector backward and forward until you find the required dose.

6. Inject Your Medication

Inject liraglutide into your upper arm, thigh, or stomach. Make sure you’re not covering the dose counter with your fingers, as this could stop the injection.

Here’s how to inject a liraglutide pen:

• Insert the needle into clean, bare skin.

• Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter shows zero. Make sure the zero lines up with the dose pointer. You may hear or feel a click when the dose counter reaches zero.

• Keep the needle in your skin and slowly count to six. The dose of liraglutide is still being administered during this time, so take care not to remove the needle too early.

• After you’ve counted to six, carefully remove the needle from your skin.

Don’t worry if you see a drop of medication on the end of the needle after injecting. This doesn’t affect your dose.

7. Remove and Discard the Needle

Once you’ve injected your medication, remove the needle from the pen.

Depending on the type of liraglutide pen you have, you may need to twist the top or twist and pull the top away from the pen. Either way, remove the needle carefully to avoid pricking yourself.

Don’t try to put the cap back on the needle — you may accidentally poke yourself.

Safely discard the needle in a sharps container. No sharps container? No problem. Use a container made of hard plastic that can be closed with a tight-fitting lid. This could be an empty laundry detergent canister or protein powder container, for example.

Replace the pen cap to protect your medication from light exposure. Place the pen back in the fridge or a safe, climate-controlled storage space.

We’ve got more on how to store your liraglutide pen below.

Inject liraglutide into your upper arm, stomach, or thigh. Liraglutide is a subcutaneous injection, meaning the medication is injected under the skin. Don’t inject the medication into a vein or muscle, and — this should go without saying — don’t inject it through clothing.

Before use, store liraglutide pens in the fridge between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit. You can keep them until their expiration date.

After the first use, store liraglutide pens in the fridge or at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid excessive heat or sunlight, and keep them out of reach of pets and kids.

Throw away the liraglutide pen 30 days after opening, even if there’s still medication in the pen.

When storing pens in the fridge, take care to avoid the cooling element so you don’t accidentally freeze the medication. Frozen liraglutide can’t be used — toss out the pen if this happens.

Remember to keep the pen cap on and store your medication without a needle attached.

It’s normal to have questions when using a new type of medication. Here are answers to frequently asked questions to help you get to grips with liraglutide pens.

How Many Doses of Liraglutide Is in Each Pen?

Each injector pen contains 18 milligrams of liraglutide. The number of doses in each pen will depend on which dose of liraglutide you’re taking. For instance, if you’re on a 3-milligram dose of liraglutide, each pen will contain six doses.

What Time of Day Should I Inject Liraglutide?

You can take liraglutide at any time of day, with or without food. The most important thing is that you take it consistently.

So, choose a time that fits your schedule and stick with it. That might be first thing each morning before your coffee or right before bed.

How Often Should You Rotate Liraglutide Injection Sites?

Rotate your injection site with each injection.

Changing injection sites can help you avoid discomfort and ensure your body can absorb the medication well. Rotating injection sites can also help reduce the risk of cutaneous amyloidosis, when proteins build up in the skin, changing skin color and texture.

With each injection, you can either:

• Rotate between body parts (i.e., upper arm, then thigh, then stomach or left side, then right side)

• Inject in the same area at least one inch away from the previous injection site

Essentially, just don’t inject liraglutide in the exact same spot each day.

When Does a Liraglutide Pen Expire?

Each liraglutide pen has its own expiration date. Don’t use the pen after this date.

After the first use, a liraglutide pen is good for 30 days. After that, toss it out, even if there’s still medication inside.

What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of Liraglutide?

If you miss a dose of liraglutide, take your next scheduled dose as normal. Don’t take two doses in one day or double your dose to try and catch up. For instance, if you miss Tuesday’s dose, skip it and take Wednesday’s dose as usual.

If you miss more than three days, you’ll have to change your dose. Restart with a 0.6-milligram daily dose of liraglutide and increase it in weekly intervals.

Here’s the dosing schedule for Saxenda, for example:

• Week 1. 0.6 milligrams daily

• Week 2. 1.2 milligrams daily

• Week 3. 1.8 milligrams daily

• Week 4.  2.4 milligrams daily

• Week 5 onward. 3 milligrams daily

Slowly increasing your dose like this can reduce the chances of common side effects of liraglutide cropping up (like constipation, stomach pain, or indigestion). Reach out to a healthcare professional for guidance on missed doses.

What If I Need More Liraglutide Than What’s in My Pen?

If you don’t have enough liraglutide in your current pen to meet your dose, you can split your dose between the current pen and a new pen. For example, if you’re taking 3 milligrams of liraglutide and your current pen only has 2 milligrams left, you can take 2 milligrams in the current pen and 1 milligram from a new pen.

However, you should only split your dose between two pens if a healthcare provider has explained how to do this. Reach out to your prescribing healthcare provider for advice here.

You need to be very careful not to administer too much liraglutide. If you’re unsure, set up a new pen and inject the full dose from there — no splitting required.

Using a liraglutide pen can feel a little nerve-wracking, especially if you’ve never used an injectable medication before. But these pre-filled pens are easy once you get the hang of them.

Here are some final pointers to help:

• Take your time. Liraglutide pens only take a few minutes to administer, but there’s no need to rush. Read through the instructions a few times and get all your ducks in a row before you start. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough.

• Reach out to a healthcare provider if you’re unsure. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or get a refresher on how to inject liraglutide pens when you need it. Follow any instructions from your healthcare provider and the medication guide that came with your liraglutide.

• Don’t forget to check the flow of each new injection pen. If you have a blocked needle, the dose counter will go down, but the needle won’t be delivering any medication. Checking the flow ensures you’re always getting the right dose of liraglutide.

• Don’t forget about the other weight loss fundamentals. If you’re taking liraglutide for weight loss, focus on eating a reduced-calorie diet full of nutritious foods, doing more physical activity, and getting enough sleep. These lifestyle changes can help you make the most of your medication and reach your weight loss and weight management goals.

If you’re considering liraglutide pens, you can take our free online weight loss assessment. A licensed healthcare provider will go over your answers and let you know if you’re a good candidate for liraglutide — based on your BMI (body mass index) and other factors — or if another weight loss drug could be better for your body.

Some weight loss meds are available in vials and syringes. Check out our guide to how to inject semaglutide for insight into the process. If suitable for you, you can also get oral weight loss medication if needles aren’t your thing.