Understanding Your Prescription
Understanding Your GLP-1 Medication: Units, Milliliters (mL), and Milligrams (mg)
We provide GLP-1 medication in what we believe to be the most stable and convenient form: a reconstituted liquid solution. This eliminates the need for customers to mix or prepare the medication themselves before use. Using injectable solutions can require familiarity with measurement terms such as units, milliliters (mL), and milligrams (mg). By providing the medication in a ready-to-use liquid form, we simplify the process and help ensure that customers can follow their prescribed dosing instructions more easily and safely.
This article explains what each term means, how they connect, and how to interpret your medication label.
How Your Medication Is Supplied (Overview)
- Medication is provided in pre-mixed liquid form
- Each shipment includes 3 vials, every time
- Each vial represents one month of medication
- Each vial contains 2 mL of liquid (Always verify your vials have equal amounts)
Understanding Volume in Your Vial
Each vial contains:
- 2 milliliters (mL) of liquid
- 2 mL = 200 units of total liquid volume
This refers to liquid volume, not the strength of the medication.
How Medication Strength Is Determined
GLP-1 Peptides are dissolved in a liquid solution. The total amount of medication (measured in milligrams, mg) depends on the concentration prescribed by the doctor within each 2 mL vial.
For example:
If a vial containing 2 mL of solution has 4mg of medication dissolved in it. That means the entire vial has 4mg. Half the vial(1mL) is 2mg, and 1/4 of the vial(0.5mL) is 1mg.
Your dose will normally represent the portion of the 2mL vial that you will inject. You will determine the portion of liquid from the vial by measuring in Units.(Your Doctor can clear up any doubts regarding this in the patient portal.)
Syringes typically use a measurement system called "units".
Units represent a fraction of a milliliter(mL) depending on the syringe. Syringes provided for GLP1 use are generally 1mL. 1mL syringes have a capacity of 100 units. We provide syringes for you in your package
For example,
- Each vial has 2 mL
- 2mL = 200 units of total liquid volume
- 1mL = 100 units
- 0.5mL= 50 units
- 0.25mL=25 units
If the prescription directions are to inject 50 units, and you have a 1 mL syringe, 50 units is half of a 1mL syringe. or to the 50 mark on the syringe (see image below). Always follow the doctor's guidance on how many units you must inject to reach the required dose.
Example of 50 units in a 1mL syringe:
The Three Key Terms Explained
Milliliters (mL): The Amount of Liquid
Milliliters (mL) are used to describe the volume of a liquid medication to ensure precise, standardized, and safe dosing. This metric unit has become the global medical standard for liquid medications to replace less accurate household measurements like teaspoons and tablespoons.
All of the vials we ship to customers contain 2mL of solution. Remember that the amount milliliters in a vial does not describe how strong the medication is, only how much liquid is present.
Units: How the Liquid Is Measured in a Syringe
Units are a measurement used when describing the volume of liquid in a syringe. It is more precise to say 25 units rather than 1/4 of a mL. Think of units as marks on a measuring tool, not the medication itself. One milliliter(mL) is the same as 100 units.
Milligrams (mg): The Amount of Medication
Milligrams (mg) describe the amount of active medication dissolved in the liquid. Sometimes the milligram dose is also called the strength of the dose.
If a vial contains 36 mg of medication dissolved in 2 mL of solution, the total vial is still 36 mg, but that medication is evenly distributed throughout the liquid. When you draw liquid from the vial, you are drawing a portion of that medication.
Your prescription tells you how many units to draw in the syringe so you receive the correct milligram dose.
How These Measurements Work Together (Conceptual Example)
To understand how prescriptions are calculated, it can help to look at a non-instructional example:
- Each vial contains 2 mL, which equals 200 units
- If a vial is labeled 2 mg per mL, then:
- 2 mL contains 4 mg total medication
- Since the medication is evenly distributed:
- Any portion of the 200 units contains a proportional amount of medication
This is how healthcare providers calculate how much medication corresponds to a certain number of units—by looking at:
- Total mg in the vial
- Total units in the vial
- The relationship between them
This example is for understanding only. Always follow the instructions on your prescription label.
Syringes Included
Shipments typically include more than twelve 1 mL syringes to support accurate measurement and injection of the medication.
Handling and Using Syringes
Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling medication or syringes. Use a new, sterile syringe for every injection and never reuse or share syringes. Before drawing medication, wipe the top of the vial with an alcohol swab to maintain sterility.
Quick Summary of how to Inject
Remove the syringe from its packaging carefully and avoid touching the needle. Pull back the plunger to the number of units prescribed, insert the needle into the vial, and slowly draw the medication to the correct unit mark. Check for air bubbles and gently tap the syringe to remove them if needed.
Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab. Insert the needle into the skin at the recommended angle, slowly push the plunger to inject the medication, then remove the needle. Dispose of the syringe immediately in an approved sharps container.
Storage & Handling Information
The active ingredients in the GLP-1 medication are stabilized in the liquid and have been tested to remain stable under normal conditions for up to 21 days. Medication is generally transported in a container designed to protect it from sunlight and extreme temperatures.
- Medication should be refrigerated upon arrival to ensure stability
- It can safely withstand elevated temperatures during transit for up to 21 days
- Do not freeze the medication. Freezing may affect medication quality and should be avoided.
Do not prefill syringes and store them for later use unless specifically instructed by your doctor. Used syringes should be disposed of immediately after use in a puncture-resistant sharps container. These containers are specifically designed to safely hold needles and prevent accidental injury.
Important Notice
On occasion, there may be a small amount of medication left over in the vial; this may occur due to the prescribed dosage level being met, but not consuming the entire vial. Please follow your prescription instructions provided on the medication label, and contact your doctor in the doctor chat available through your patient portal if you have any questions about your prescription.
Examples
Prescription Details: Tirzepatide/ Pyridoxine 30mg/ 250mcg/ mL injection
This prescription indicates that the compound contains two components: Tirzepatide and Pyridoxine.
Tirzepatide is the medication responsible for appetite suppression and helping regulate blood sugar levels. It works by activating GLP-1 receptors, which can reduce hunger, slow stomach emptying, and support improved metabolic control.
Pyridoxine, also known as Vitamin B6, is included as a supportive ingredient. Vitamin B6 plays a role in metabolic pathways involved in energy use and appetite regulation and has also been used to help reduce nausea in some patients.
According to the prescription details, the vial contains 30 mg of Tirzepatide per milliliter (mL). Since each vial contains 2 mL, the vial contains 60 mg of Tirzepatide in total.
The vial also contains 250 micrograms(mcg) of Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) per milliliter, which means the full 2 mL vial contains 1 mg of Pyridoxine in total in this example.
Example Instructions: Inject 25 units (7.5mg) subcutaneously once weekly
Remember that units are fractions of Milliliters, so start at the number 20 and move up 5 lines to get to 25 units. There is an example image provided below.
Dosages we offer:
Tirzepatide:
Semaglutide:
