How to Take Wegovy®
Wegovy® is the first and only prescription weight-management medicine taken once weekly. It’s taken on the same day each week, any time of day, with or without food.
Wegovy® is available in 5 different dose strengths, ranging from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg. Each dose comes in a different color pen. Your health care provider will increase your dose over time until you reach your maintenance dose.
The Wegovy® pen
A. Expiration (EXP) date
Located on the back of your pen. Check that Wegovy® has not expired.
B. Dose
Always check that you have the medication and dose your health care provider prescribed.
C. Pen window
BEFORE USE: Check that Wegovy® is clear and colorless. Air bubbles are normal and do not affect your dose.
Check that the yellow bar has stopped moving to make sure you received your full dose.
D. Needle cover
BEFORE USE: Needle is hidden inside.
AFTER USE: Needle cover locks after use.
E. Pen cap
Remove it just before you are ready to inject.
How to use the Wegovy® pen
Transcript
This video is based on the Instructions for Use that come with your Wegovy® pen.
You should store Wegovy® in the refrigerator. If needed, however, Wegovy® can be kept outside of the refrigerator between 46°F to 86°F for up to 28 days. Keep Wegovy® in the original carton to protect it from light. Throw away the pen if Wegovy® has been frozen. You may consider leaving your pen out to reach room temperature before using it. Make sure to leave the cap on your pen during this time.
Before you use your Wegovy® pen for the first time, make sure you read the Instructions for Use and Medication Guide that come with your pen, and that you talk to your health care provider about how to prepare for and inject Wegovy® correctly.
In each pack of Wegovy®, you’ll get 4 pens that are all the same dose. You will use 1 pen each week, on the same day each week at any time of day. Each pen is for one-time use only and comes with a preset dose. The needle is covered and will not be seen.
Now let’s talk about how to use your Wegovy® pen. We’ll discuss preparation, injection, and disposal.
To prepare, start by washing your hands. Next, let’s check a few things.
Make sure the pen indicates the correct medication and dose your healthcare provider prescribed. Check the pen window to make sure the medicine is clear and colorless. Do not use your Wegovy® pen if the pen appears to have been used or any part of the pen appears broken (for example, if the pen has been dropped) or if the expiration date on the back has passed. If you notice any of these things, call 1-833-934-6891. Today I’m demonstrating with the 0.25 mg pen, which is the first dose you’ll start on with Wegovy®.
Next, your health care provider can help you choose the injection site that is best for you. This can be your upper legs, lower stomach, or upper arms. You can inject Wegovy® in the same part of your body each week, but make sure it is not in the exact same spot each time.
Make sure to clean your injection site with an alcohol swab or soap and water, and don’t touch the area after cleaning. Allow your skin to dry before injecting.
Now let’s walk through the injection from start to finish.
Remove the pen cap by pulling it straight off your Wegovy® pen. It may help to create a firm area to inject. Line up the pen straight against your injection site so you can clearly see the pen’s window.
To start the injection, push the pen firmly against your skin. Make sure you continue pressing the pen firmly against your skin for the entire injection, which should take about 10 seconds.
When you hear the first click, the injection has started and the yellow bar in the pen window should start moving. If you do not hear the first click and the yellow bar does not start moving, press the pen more firmly against your skin. When the injection is still in progress, you will hear a second click. The second click means the injection is ongoing. So, keep applying pressure until the yellow bar stops moving.
The pen window will look like this when the injection is complete. The yellow bar will not fill the entire pen window. Do not remove the pen from your skin before the yellow bar in the pen window has stopped moving. Once you’re done with your injection, slowly lift the pen away from your skin.
If you’re experiencing difficulties injecting, you can switch to a more firm injection site, such as your upper leg or upper arm. Or consider standing up while injecting into the lower stomach.
If the pen is removed from your skin too early or you have not pressed the pen firmly against your skin for the entire injection, medication may appear on the skin or squirt from the needle, and you may not get your full dose. Make sure the next time you inject to keep applying pressure until the yellow bar stops moving. Then you can lift the pen slowly from your skin.
Now it’s time to safely throw away or dispose of your pen. Do not throw the pen away in your household trash. Instead, use an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container or a sturdy household container with a tight-fitting lid, like a heavy-duty plastic container. Contact your local municipality to find where you can dispose of needles.
And that’s it–you’re done! Now you’re ready to start using your Wegovy® pen. You’ve got this!
And remember: we’re here for you! If you have any questions, call 1-833-4-WEGOVY.
See Wegovy® Instructions for Use here.
In addition to the video above, you can also learn more about using the Wegovy® pen below. Click arrows to learn more.
Prepare for your injection
- Supplies you will need to give your Wegovy® injection: your Wegovy® pen, 1 alcohol swab or soap and water, 1 gauze pad or cotton ball, 1 sharps disposable container for used Wegovy® pens
- Wash your hands
- Check your Wegovy® pen
Do not use your Wegovy® pen if:
- The pen appears to have been used or any part of the pen appears broken; for example, if it has been dropped
- The Wegovy® medicine is not clear and colorless through the pen window
- The expiration date (EXP) has passed
Choose your injection site
- Your health care provider can help you choose the injection site that is best for you
- You may inject into your upper legs (front of the thighs), lower stomach (keep 2 inches away from your belly button), or upper arm
- Do not inject into an area where the skin is tender, bruised, red, or hard. Avoid injecting into areas with scars or stretch marks
- You may inject in the same body area each week, but make sure it is not in the same spot each time
Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab or soap and water. Do not touch the injection site after cleaning.
Remove pen cap
- Pull the pen cap straight off your pen
Inject Wegovy®
- Push the pen firmly against your skin and keep applying pressure until the yellow bar has stopped moving
If the yellow bar does not start moving, press the pen more firmly against your skin
- You will hear 2 clicks during the injection
- Click 1: The injection has started
- Click 2: The injection is ongoing
Troubleshooting
- If you have problems injecting, change to a more firm injection site, such as upper leg, or upper arm or consider standing up while injecting into the lower stomach
- If medicine appears on the skin or squirts from the needle, make sure the next time you inject to keep applying pressure until the yellow bar has stopped moving. Then you can lift the pen slowly from your skin
Throw away (dispose of) the pen
- Safely dispose of the pen right away after use. Do not throw the pen away in your household trash. Instead, use an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container or a sturdy household container with a tight-fitting lid, like a heavy-duty plastic container. Learn more in the Wegovy® Medication Guide.
- What if blood appears after injection?
If blood appears at the injection site, press lightly with a gauze pad or cotton ball.
Wegovy® pen care, storage, and disposal
Protecting your pen
- Do not drop your pen or knock it against hard surfaces
- Do not expose your pen to any liquids
- If you think that your pen may be damaged, do not try to fix it. Use a new one
- Keep the pen cap on until you are ready to inject. Your pen will no longer be sterile if you store it without the cap, if you pull the pen cap off and put it on again, or if the pen cap is missing. This could lead to an infection
Storing your pen
- Store the Wegovy® pen in the refrigerator from 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C)
- If needed, before removing the pen cap, Wegovy® can be stored from 46°F to 86°F (8°C to 30°C) in the original carton for up to 28 days
- Keep Wegovy® in the original carton to protect it from light
- Do not freeze
- Throw away pen if Wegovy® has been frozen, has been exposed to light or temperatures above 86°F (30°C), or has been out of the refrigerator for 28 days or longer
Disposing of your used pens
- It's important to properly dispose of your used Wegovy® pens. Do not throw the pen away in your household trash. Instead, use an FDA-cleared sharps disposable container or a sturdy household container with a tight-fitting lid, like a heavy-duty plastic container
Still have questions?
WeGoTogether® partners with you to help you lose weight and keep it off with Wegovy®
WeGoTogether® is always free and here on your terms so you can:
- Conveniently access your dedicated Health Coach to get off to a good start with Wegovy®
- Set your goals with your Coach and take action
- Track your progress and access resources online through your personal portal
- Get Snapshot Reports that show how far you’ve come, and feel free to share with your provider too!
Could Wegovy® help me achieve lasting weight loss?
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about Wegovy®?
Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:
- Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Wegovy® and medicines that work like Wegovy® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Wegovy® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people
- Do not use Wegovy® if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
Do not use Wegovy® if:
- you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy®
Before using Wegovy®, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:
- have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys
- have type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathy
- have or have had depression, suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Wegovy® may harm your unborn baby. You should stop using Wegovy® 2 months before you plan to become pregnant
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Wegovy® passes into your breast milk
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Wegovy® may affect the way some medicines work and some medicines may affect the way Wegovy® works. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking other medicines to treat diabetes, including sulfonylureas or insulin.
Wegovy® slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly.
What are the possible side effects of Wegovy®?
Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:
- inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Wegovy® and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back
- gallbladder problems. Wegovy® may cause gallbladder problems, including gallstones. Some gallstones may need surgery. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms, such as pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay- colored stools
- increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially those who also take medicines for diabetes such as insulin or sulfonylureas. This can be a serious side effect. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to recognize and treat low blood sugar and check your blood sugar before you start and while you take Wegovy®. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, or feeling jittery
- kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration
- serious allergic reactions. Stop using Wegovy® and get medical help right away, if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat
- change in vision in people with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Wegovy®
- increased heart rate. Wegovy® can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes
- depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you
The most common side effects of Wegovy® may include: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, gas, stomach flu, heartburn, and runny nose or sore throat.
Please see Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Wegovy®.
Wegovy® is a prescription medication.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
This site is intended for US patients only.
What is Wegovy®?
WEGOVY® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity:
- to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight.
- that may help adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose excess body weight and keep the weight off.
Wegovy® contains semaglutide and should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines.
It is not known if Wegovy® is safe and effective for use in children under 12 years of age.
What is Wegovy®?
WEGOVY® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity:
- to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight.
- that may help adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose excess body weight and keep the weight off.
Wegovy® contains semaglutide and should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines.
It is not known if Wegovy® is safe and effective for use in children under 12 years of age.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about Wegovy®?
Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:
- Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Wegovy® and medicines that work like Wegovy® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Wegovy® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people
- Do not use Wegovy® if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
Do not use Wegovy® if:
- you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy®
Before using Wegovy®, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:
- have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys
- have type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathy
- have or have had depression, suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Wegovy® may harm your unborn baby. You should stop using Wegovy® 2 months before you plan to become pregnant
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Wegovy® passes into your breast milk
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Wegovy® may affect the way some medicines work and some medicines may affect the way Wegovy® works. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking other medicines to treat diabetes, including sulfonylureas or insulin.
Wegovy® slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly.
What are the possible side effects of Wegovy®?
Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:
- inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Wegovy® and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back
- gallbladder problems. Wegovy® may cause gallbladder problems, including gallstones. Some gallstones may need surgery. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms, such as pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay- colored stools
- increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially those who also take medicines for diabetes such as insulin or sulfonylureas. This can be a serious side effect. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to recognize and treat low blood sugar and check your blood sugar before you start and while you take Wegovy®. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, or feeling jittery
- kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration
- serious allergic reactions. Stop using Wegovy® and get medical help right away, if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat
- change in vision in people with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Wegovy®
- increased heart rate. Wegovy® can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes
- depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you
The most common side effects of Wegovy® may include: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, gas, stomach flu, heartburn, and runny nose or sore throat.
Important Safety Information
What is the most important information I should know about Wegovy®?
Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:
- Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Wegovy® and medicines that work like Wegovy® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Wegovy® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people
- Do not use Wegovy® if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
Do not use Wegovy® if:
- you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy®
Before using Wegovy®, tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:
- have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys
- have type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathy
- have or have had depression, suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Wegovy® may harm your unborn baby. You should stop using Wegovy® 2 months before you plan to become pregnant
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Wegovy® passes into your breast milk
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Wegovy® may affect the way some medicines work and some medicines may affect the way Wegovy® works. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking other medicines to treat diabetes, including sulfonylureas or insulin.
Wegovy® slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly.
What are the possible side effects of Wegovy®?
Wegovy® may cause serious side effects, including:
- inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Wegovy® and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back
- gallbladder problems. Wegovy® may cause gallbladder problems, including gallstones. Some gallstones may need surgery. Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms, such as pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay- colored stools
- increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially those who also take medicines for diabetes such as insulin or sulfonylureas. This can be a serious side effect. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to recognize and treat low blood sugar and check your blood sugar before you start and while you take Wegovy®. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include dizziness or light-headedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, or feeling jittery
- kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration
- serious allergic reactions. Stop using Wegovy® and get medical help right away, if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat; problems breathing or swallowing; severe rash or itching; fainting or feeling dizzy; or very rapid heartbeat
- change in vision in people with type 2 diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Wegovy®
- increased heart rate. Wegovy® can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes
- depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you
The most common side effects of Wegovy® may include: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, gas, stomach flu, heartburn, and runny nose or sore throat.
Please see Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Wegovy®.
Wegovy® is a prescription medication.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
This site is intended for US patients only.
What is Wegovy®?
WEGOVY® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity:
- to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight.
- that may help adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose excess body weight and keep the weight off.
Wegovy® contains semaglutide and should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines.
It is not known if Wegovy® is safe and effective for use in children under 12 years of age.
Questions?
Need assistance or information?
Call the Wegovy® Navigation Line at 1-833-4-WEGOVY (1-833-493-4689) between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM ET, Monday–Friday.
