Short answer: The simplest way to track injection site rotation is to record the site with the date at every dose and pick a different one next time. The right and left sides of the abdomen, thigh and upper arm make six sites; a paper chart or a tracker app such as Haftra remembers the last one you used. Which sites suit you is set by your medicine's instructions and your prescriber.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Your prescriber or pharmacist shows you the injection technique.
Six-site rotation table
The US prescribing information (FDA labels) for Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy lists the abdomen, thigh and upper arm as injection sites and says to rotate the site with each dose. Counting right and left separately gives six sites:
| Area | Right | Left |
|---|---|---|
| Abdomen | Right abdomen | Left abdomen |
| Thigh | Right thigh | Left thigh |
| Upper arm | Right upper arm | Left upper arm |
With a weekly shot, using the six sites in turn brings you back to the same site only after six weeks. On the abdomen, stay away from the area around the navel; see GLP-1 injection sites for details.
Ways to track it
| Method | Pro | Con |
|---|---|---|
| Paper chart | Simple, no phone | Gets lost or forgotten |
| Phone note | Always with you | No automatic next site |
| Tracker app | Shows the next site | Needs setting up |
If you use paper, put a chart on the fridge door next to your pens and write the date and site at every dose. Whatever you choose, the key is to record it at the same time as the dose.
How Haftra tracks rotation
- When you log a dose, you pick the site from the six-site map.
- The map shows how many days have passed since each site was last used.
- For the next dose it moves through a fixed order: left abdomen, right abdomen, left thigh, right thigh, left upper arm, right upper arm. It suggests the site after the one you used last; the suggestion is only a reminder and you choose the site.
- On iPhone the suggested site also shows on the home screen widget.
The rotation map is free, works without an account and is available on iPhone and Android.
What to watch for
- Do not inject into skin that is red, swollen, hard or tender.
- If a site stays hard, or redness spreads or hurts, talk to your prescriber.
- Your own medicine's instructions come before the general information on this page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I track injection site rotation?
Record the site with the date at every dose and choose a different one next time. You can do this with a paper chart or with a tracker app that remembers your last site.
How many injection sites are there?
The product information lists the abdomen, thigh and upper arm. Counting right and left separately gives six sites.
When can I go back to the same site?
The US prescribing information says to rotate the site with each dose. Someone using six sites in turn on a weekly shot returns to the same site after six weeks; ask your prescriber about your own case.
Is there a free app for tracking injection sites?
Yes. Haftra's six-site rotation map is free and works without an account.
Sources
- FDA, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) US prescribing information, section 2
- FDA, Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide) US prescribing information, section 2
