Injecting yourself for the first time feels daunting for almost everyone. By the second or third injection, most patients barely think about it. The Mounjaro KwikPen is specifically designed to be simple. You don't need to draw up a dose from a vial: you screw on a small pen needle, dial your dose and press the button.
What you'll receive
Each Mounjaro KwikPen is a prefilled pen containing four weekly doses at your prescribed strength. Needles are not in the Mounjaro pack, so every Solira order includes the pen needles you need: attach a new one for each injection. Check the packaging is intact before using.
Before your first injection
Read the patient information leaflet supplied with your pen. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Gather: pen, one supplied needle, antiseptic wipe. Allow the pen to come to room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes before injecting, cold medication from the refrigerator is more likely to cause temporary stinging.
Choosing your injection site
You can inject yourself in the abdomen (stomach area, at least 5cm from the navel) or the front of the thigh. The back of the upper arm can also be used, but someone else should give that injection for you. Rotate your injection site each weekly dose, abdomen one week, thigh the next, for example. Within each site, choose a slightly different area each time to prevent lipohypertrophy (localised fat build-up from repeated injections). Avoid areas where skin is bruised, red, tender, scarred, or has stretch marks. Never inject into a vein or muscle, inject into the subcutaneous fat just beneath the skin surface.
Step-by-step injection guide
- Remove the pen cap and check the solution. It should be clear and colourless to slightly yellow. Do not use if cloudy, discoloured, or contains particles.
- Remove the paper tab from the outer needle cover. Screw the needle onto the pen until secure. Do not overtighten.
- Remove the outer needle cover and keep it nearby. Remove the inner needle cover and discard it.
- Dial the dose: turn the dose knob until you hear two clicks and the extended line appears in the dose window (prime position).
- Prime the pen: hold with the needle pointing upward, tap the cartridge holder gently to move air bubbles to the top, then press the dose button until it stops, counting slowly to five. A small amount of liquid should appear at the needle tip. This confirms the pen is working correctly. The dose window will show zero after priming.
- Wipe the injection site with the antiseptic wipe and allow to dry fully.
- Turn the dose knob until it stops, the "1" icon should be visible in the dose window.
- Insert the needle into the skin at approximately 90 degrees. Push the dose knob firmly until it stops. Count slowly to five while holding the button. The zero icon must be visible in the dose window before removing the needle.
- Remove the needle from the skin. Do not rub the injection site.
- Replace the outer needle cover on the needle. Unscrew the needle from the pen and dispose of it safely in a sharps bin. Replace the pen cap.
After your injection
A small amount of blood or fluid at the injection site is normal. Mild redness, itching, or bruising typically resolves within a few days and is more common in the first few weeks of treatment.
Storing your Mounjaro pen
In the fridge: store between 2°C and 8°C. Keep away from the freezer compartment. Do not freeze. Keep away from direct light. Can be stored until the expiry date on the label.
Out of the fridge: once in use, the pen can be kept for up to 30 days at a temperature not above 30°C, and must then be discarded even if medicine remains. Avoid direct sunlight and heat. You can return it to the fridge within that period if you need to.
After use: always remove and safely dispose of the needle after each injection. Do not store the pen with a needle attached.
What to do if you miss a dose
If fewer than 4 days have passed since your usual day, take it as soon as possible.
If 4 days or more have passed, skip it and take your next dose on your usual day. Never take two doses in one week. If unsure, contact your prescribing pharmacist.
Disposing of used needles
Used needles must be disposed of safely in a sharps bin, never in household rubbish. When your bin is full, seal it and arrange disposal through your GP practice or your local council's sharps collection service.
Common injection concerns
"I can't see the needle going in, is that normal?"
Yes. The KwikPen uses a very fine, short needle (typically 4mm to 6mm). Most patients cannot feel it entering after the first few injections. If the dose window does not show zero after injection, contact your pharmacist.
"I saw a bubble in the pen, is that a problem?"
Air bubbles are common in prefilled pens and do not affect the dose or safety. Priming the pen (step 5) removes air from the needle before injection.
"The injection site is painful, what should I do?"
Mild transient stinging is normal, particularly if the medication was cold. Allowing the pen to reach room temperature and using the antiseptic wipe correctly minimises this. Persistent or worsening pain at an injection site should be assessed by your pharmacist or GP.