How to Take Mounjaro With Vial & Syringe In India

Key takeaways:

Mounjaro, a once-weekly injection that comes with a vial and syringe, is injected into the skin.
Always maintain basic hand hygiene, ensure your dose is accurate, and rotate injection sites.
Safe storage and disposal of Mounjaro are as important as the injection to protect you and those around you.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know:

How to prepare your dose?
How to choose the right injection site?
Where not to inject Mounjaro?
How to store and dispose of Mounjaro?

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro has tirzepatide as its main ingredient. The compound acts similarly to GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) hormones in the body. These hormones work together to control your blood sugar levels and appetite. Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection that helps overweight and obese patients lose weight.

Launched in India in March 2025

Mounjaro is available in India in 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials, which can be self-injected or taken with the help of a healthcare professional.

It may initially seem complex, but it will be easier once you understand the steps. And that's exactly what we'll walk you through next.

How to prepare for the injection?

Things you must do before injecting yourself

Here is a quick checklist for you so everything is in place before you inject yourself:

Place the vial on a flat surface.
Wash your hands properly with water and soap. This lowers the chances of any infection.
Make sure the vial label mentions the right medicine and dose.
Double-check the expiry date.
The solution in the vial should be clear to slightly yellow in colour.
Before you proceed with the injection, you must get a sharps disposal container to safely discard the used vial, syringe, needle, and alcohol/cotton swabs.

Please note:

If the medicine looks cloudy, frozen, or has particles, discard the solution and use a new vial.

What’s inside a Mounjaro package?

One single-dose Mounjaro vial:

Comes pre-filled with your prescribed dose.

A syringe with a needle:

Single-use and disposable.

An alcohol swab/gauze:

For cleaning and sterilising the skin.

How to take Mounjaro?

Let’s go step by step:

Step 1:

Take the vial and gently remove the protective plastic cap. Leave the rubber stopper in place.

Step 2:

Use an alcohol gauze/swab to clean the top portion of the rubber stopper.

Step 3:

Now open the syringe packaging and take the syringe out.

Step 4:

Unwrap the needle. If your syringe already has a needle attached, you can skip to Step 6.

Step 5:

Attach the needle to the syringe. Line it up straight and twist or push on it firmly.

Step 6:

Take off the needle shield by pulling it straight off. Don't let the needle touch anything; it needs to stay clean.

Step 7:

Hold the syringe upright (the needle should point up), and pull the plunger down until you see 0.5 mL of air inside.

Step 8:

Pierce the rubber stopper of the vial with the needle.

Step 9:

Push the plunger and inject all the air from the syringe into the vial. This introduces air inside and helps draw the liquid.

Step 10:

Flip/invert the vial and syringe upside down:

Ensure the needle tip is inside the liquid.
While doing so, slowly pull the plunger until it just crosses/is just past the 0.5 mL mark.
If air bubbles are present, gently tap the syringe on the side so they can move to the top.

Step 11:

Now push the plunger back up slowly until the plunger tip meets the 0.5 mL line. The syringe should now be filled with the medicine and no air.

Step 12:

Carefully remove the syringe from the vial. Keep the needle straight and avoid touching anything with it.

Step 13:

Choose a spot with enough soft tissue for the injection. Mounjaro is injected in the subcutaneous (fatty) tissue.

The best sites for this injection are:

In the front part of the thighs (upper legs).
Abdomen (the stomach region, but not too close to the belly button). In this case, keep a distance of 5cm (2 inches) from the navel.
Back of the upper arms (if someone can assist with the injection).

Important:

Clean your skin with an alcohol swab and let it dry. Always remember to change the injection site. You can choose the same area, but inject at a different spot.

Step 14:

Hold the syringe like a pencil and insert the needle into the skin in one smooth motion. The needle should be at an angle of 45 to 90 degrees to the skin.

Step 15:

Slowly press down on the plunger and go all the way until it stops. The entire dose should go in.

Keep the syringe steady for at least 5 seconds to ensure the complete dose is given.

Step 16:

Take the needle out of your skin. Avoid recapping the needle, as it increases the chances of an accidental injury.

Step 17:

After this, discard the syringe and needle in the sharps bin container (more on that later).

How to take Mounjaro: A video guide

You can also watch this video to understand how to self-administer Mounjaro for weight loss.

What to do after injecting yourself?

A small amount of blood is often seen at the point of needle entry. This is normal and can be easily taken care of by following these steps:

Gently press the area with a clean cotton swab.
Try not to rub the spot.
Sometimes the area may appear bruised with mild redness or a bump. This usually fades away in a few hours or a couple of days.
If you feel any pain, cold compresses, ice-packs, or over-the-counter medications (antihistamine creams and painkiller tablets) can help relieve soreness in the area.

When to seek help?

Sometimes, the bruising may not subside and show signs like swelling, pus, oozing, or a spreading rash. These might be accompanied by fever.

If this happens, contact your doctor at the earliest. It could be an infection or an allergic reaction.

Where not to inject Mounjaro?

Now that we understand how and where to inject Mounjaro, it is equally important to know which sites to avoid. This helps us avoid causing any further harm to the skin or delicate structures in that area.

Skin that is scaly, bruised, swollen, inflamed, burned, or hardened.
Skin that is injured because of a previous injection.
Areas where varicose veins are prominent.
Lumpy or bony areas.
Areas below the waistline.
In the same injection site used for other medicines.

Critical safety note

Do not inject Mounjaro into your vein or muscle as it might harm your health. Contact your doctor immediately if such a scenario arises.

How to store Mounjaro?

Medicines like Mounjaro are sensitive to heat, light, moisture, and extreme temperatures. To ensure they have a better shelf life, you can follow these tips:

Keep unopened vials in the fridge anywhere between 2°C to 8°C.
You can store Mounjaro at room temperature (below 30°C), but only for up to 21 days.
Never freeze the vial. If it's frozen, avoid using it.
Use the original box to store the vial to protect it from light.
And of course, ensure your vials, syringes, and needles are out of sight and reach of children and pets.

Pro tip:

Designate one drawer or shelf for storing Mounjaro. This way, you can always find it easily when needed.

How to safely dispose of Mounjaro?

When you are done with the injection, follow these steps to dispose of Mounjaro safely:

Always remember, the vial should never be thrown in the household trash.
Used needles and glass vials should be immediately placed in a sharps disposal container.
The sharps container must be sturdy, leak-proof, and puncture-resistant. Label it properly to avoid any confusion.
Once your sharps container is nearly full (up to 3/4th level), it's time to dispose of your sharps.
Always discard opened vials after one use, even if there's some medicine left inside.
Avoid recycling used sharps disposal container.
Different places may have different rules for disposing of used needles and syringes. Check your local guidelines for how to do so safely.

Ensuring a safe experience

Whether this is your first injection or your tenth, you're doing this to take charge of your health, which deserves credit.

Taking Mounjaro from a vial may initially seem daunting, but it becomes easier with practice.

The important things are to follow safe practices, maintain hygiene, and be receptive to your body if something feels off.

If anything feels unclear, you can always contact our customer service team for guidance or demo.

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FAQs

Does Mounjaro injection hurt?

You may feel a slight pinch or pressure while injecting Mounjaro. But that feeling lasts for a very short time and is manageable.
What if I see air bubbles in the Mounjaro syringe?

It is okay if you see tiny air bubbles in the syringe. They are normal and safe. You can simply tap the syringe gently with your finger till they break.
What happens if I accidentally freeze Mounjaro?

If you accidentally freeze Mounjaro, discard it safely and use a new one. Do not use a vial with frozen solution in it.
What if I miss a dose of Mounjaro?

Sometimes life gets a bit busy, you might miss taking your Mounjaro injection.

If it has been four days or less since your last missed dose, take it as soon as you remember.

But if more than four days have passed, you can skip the dose and continue with your next scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose to ‘make up’ for the missed one.
Do I need to pinch the skin before injecting Mounjaro?

When you use a syringe and needle to inject yourself, you will need to pinch your skin gently. This way, the injection goes into the subcutaneous (skin’s fat layer), not the muscle.
Can I inject Mounjaro right after taking it out of the fridge?

Yes, you can inject Mounjaro straight from the refrigerator, as it remains safe and effective when stored between 2°C and 8°C.

However, some people find injecting cold medication uncomfortable or slightly painful due to a stinging or burning sensation.

To make this comfortable, let the Mounjaro vial sit at room temperature (up to 30°C) for about 20-30 minutes before injecting.

But never heat the vial artificially (e.g., with a microwave or warm water), as this can damage the medication.
What is the shelf life of Mounjaro?

Mounjaro remains safe, stable, and effective for 2 years from the date of manufacturing.

This is valid for unopened vials/pens when stored in a refrigerator and protected from heat and light.

On opening, the vial can be stored for upto 21 days at room temperature (maximum 30°C).
How do I know how much to draw from the Mounjaro vial?

Your vial will come prefilled with the prescribed dosage. You just need to ensure you empty the vial into the syringe before injecting yourself.
Can I inject Mounjaro into a muscle or a vein?

No. Mounjaro is a subcutaneous injection. It can only be used in the fatty layer under the skin.

Injecting it into a muscle or vein may harm your health. If this happens, contact your doctor immediately for further assistance.
What are the signs of an injection site infection?
Such reactions may happen when bacteria or other harmful microbes enter the skin at the injection site. It usually manifests as:
- Redness or warmth at the site.
- Pain and soreness that is persistent.
- Yellowish-green or cloudy fluid oozing from the site.
- Red streaks emerging from the site.
- Itching or rash.
- Fever.
If you notice these signs, reach out to your doctor immediately.

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How to take Mounjaro with vial & syringe