📋 About Your Medication
Bliv offers both compounded GLP-1 medications prepared by licensed compounding pharmacies, and access to branded GLP-1 medications manufactured by Novo Nordisk (Ozempic®, Wegovy®) and Eli Lilly (Mounjaro®, Zepbound®). Your prescription will specify which type you have been prescribed. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved finished drug products, though they are prepared under federal standards by licensed pharmacies. Branded medications are FDA-approved. If you have questions about which medication you are receiving, please check your prescription label or contact your Bliv provider.
Understanding Your Syringe and Dose
One of the most common questions we get is: "My dosing plan shows a number of units — but which syringe do I use, and how do I measure it?" This guide applies to patients using injectable GLP-1 medications dispensed in vials. If you have been prescribed a branded pen device, your instructions will differ — refer to the instructions included with your prescription.
The Two Numbers on Your Dosing Plan
Your personalized dosing plan shows two things for each dose: units and milligrams (mg). The units are what you physically measure on your syringe. The mg is the actual amount of medication in that dose. Always use the units number shown on your specific dosing plan to draw your dose — do not calculate it yourself.
Which Syringe to Use
Your shipment includes standard insulin syringes marked in units. Each line on the syringe barrel represents a unit increment. Your dosing plan will tell you exactly which line to draw to. If you are unsure which syringe type you received or how to read it, the markings on the barrel correspond directly to the unit number on your dosing plan.
Step-by-Step: Drawing Your Dose
Remove your vial from the refrigerator. You can inject immediately or let it sit for 15–30 minutes to take the chill off — either is fine.
Clean the rubber top of the vial with an alcohol swab and let it dry.
Pull the syringe plunger back to your prescribed unit number to draw air in.
Insert the needle into the rubber top of the vial and push the air in.
Flip the vial upside down and slowly pull the plunger back to your unit number, drawing the medication in.
Check for air bubbles. If you see any, gently tap the syringe and push them out, then redraw to your unit number.
Remove the needle from the vial and inject into your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm as directed.
Pre-filling Syringes
You can pre-fill syringes with your weekly doses and store them in the refrigerator. Refer to your prescription label for the beyond-use date, which also applies to pre-filled syringes stored under the same refrigerated conditions.
Still Have Questions?
If you are unsure about your specific dose, check your dosing plan email from Bliv or book a free nurse follow-up call: