💉Your First Injection | Yucca Health Help Center

Starting your first injection can feel like a big step, but you’ve got this! We’ll walk you through how to give your injection, understand your dose, and know what’s normal to expect as treatment begins.

How to Administer Your Injection

It’s normal to feel a little nervous before your first injection. The good news is, the needle is very small and short, and the injection only goes just under your skin, not into your muscle. It’s quick and over before you know it.

Here’s a quick tutorial how to give yourself a shot.

Subcutaneous Injection Guide

Clean the vial top with an alcohol swab and prepare your sterile syringe
Check your prescription and draw up the exact dose, using the syringe markings as your guide
Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab
Pinch the skin and insert the needle at a perpendicular angle (about 90°) — it only needs to go just under the skin
Inject slowly, then safely dispose of the syringe in a sharps container

✅ Wash your hands thoroughly or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before you begin.

Best practices:

Inject your medication subcutaneously (under the skin) into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, rotating injection sites weekly.
Injections are given once a week on a regular schedule.
Try to take it on the same day each week, at a time that’s easy to remember. Some people prefer mornings because it helps them stay consistent with their routine, while others find evenings more comfortable if they notice mild side effects.
You can take it with or without food, whenever it best fits your routine.

Understanding Your Dose

Depending on the pharmacy that prepares your medication, the number of units you inject may typically stay the same each week or may change every 4 weeks. As you progress through your treatment plan, what most often changes is the concentration of the medication in your vial.

This means:

Typically, patients inject the same number of units while the medication becomes more concentrated over time.
Some patients may see the number of units change as part of their dosing plan.
In both cases, your provider adjusts dosing carefully to support safety and effectiveness.

💡 Always refer to your prescription instructions. These are specific to you and should be followed as prescribed by your provider.

You can also check your medication label for injection amount (units or mL), frequency (e.g. once weekly), and duration (4 weeks).

If anything is unclear, please contact your provider or Support via the Patient Portal.

How your titration works:

Your treatment starts at a low dose and is gradually increased — this process is called titration. Providers use this strategy to help your body adjust safely while reducing the chance of side effects.

Doses are typically increased every 4 weeks, but your provider may adjust this depending on your progress and tolerance
If side effects occur, increases may be slowed down or paused.

What to Expect During Your Treatment

GLP-1 medications are powerful tools that help you build healthier habits and support steady, sustainable weight loss.

These medications work by reducing appetite and improving fullness, making it easier to eat mindfully and feel satisfied with smaller portions. Combined with balanced nutrition and regular movement, they set the foundation for long-term progress. Here’s what you can typically expect during the course of your treatment:

📅 Weeks 1–2: You may start to feel subtle appetite shifts like getting full faster, feeling satisfied with smaller portions, and noticing fewer cravings or “mindless snacking.” This is your body responding to the GLP-1 signal, which slows digestion and helps your brain recognize fullness sooner.

📅 First month: Early weight changes may begin as titration starts. You may start to see early weight changes as your first dose settles in. You might also notice a steadier relationship with food—meals feel more structured, hunger becomes less urgent, and cravings ease up.

Some people describe it as finally having "mental space" around eating.

📅 Weeks 4–8: As your dose gradually increases and your body adjusts, you’ll often see clearer physical progress. Portion control feels more natural, energy levels even out, and digestion usually becomes more predictable as side effects fade.

This is when many patients say, “It’s starting to click.”

📅 Months 3–6: You may see significant progress towards your weight goals. Some also notice improvements in health markers such as blood sugar and cholesterol (when applicable).

The goal is always to find the lowest effective dose that’s safe, sustainable, and gives you results.

Managing Common Side Effects

Some people notice a few mild changes when they first start treatment. That’s your body adjusting to the new medication and learning how to work with it.

What you might feel:

Nausea or queasiness
Vomiting or Indigestion
Fatigue
Constipation or diarrhea
Headache
Acid Reflux

These side effects are usually short-term and tend to settle once your body gets used to the medication.

Simple ways to feel better

You don’t have to just wait it out. Small changes can make a big difference:

Eat smaller, frequent meals and avoid greasy or fatty foods..
Choose lighter foods.
Add fiber in your diet.
Stay hydrated.

💬 If your symptoms persist or get worse, please reach out to us through your patient portal and we’ll escalate to your provider for further support.

In Case of a Medical Emergency

If you’re experiencing severe symptoms (e.g., trouble breathing, severe stomach pain), call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. After you’re safe, message us so we can notify your provider.