Knowing how to use Wegovy® can help you get the most out of your treatment and help you stick to your dosing plan. On this page, you can find a step-by-step guide on how and when to inject Wegovy®. You can also find support on how to store and dispose of Wegovy®.
- One pre-filled Wegovy® FlexTouch® pen, which contains four of your prescribed doses of Wegovy®, to be used once a week for four weeks
- Four disposable needles
- The Patient Information Leaflet
Learn more below about what your Wegovy® FlexTouch® pen looks like and what each part is used for.
Always use Wegovy® exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure.
Wegovy® is a pre-filled pen that you can self-administer. Before you use the pen for the first time, ask your doctor or nurse how to use it. Below, you can find a step-by-step guide on how to use Wegovy®. This guide is here to support you, along with information from your doctor and the Wegovy® Patient Information Leaflet (PIL). Before you begin using your once-weekly Wegovy® FlexTouch® pen, always read the detailed instructions provided in the PIL carefully.
Read this step-by-step guide on how to use your Wegovy® pen.
- Check the name and dose of the pen to make sure it contains the prescribed dose of Wegovy®
- Pull off the pen cap
- Look through the pen window. Check that the Wegovy® in the pen is clear and colourless. If Wegovy® looks cloudy or coloured, do not use the pen
- Always use a new needle for each injection. Never use a bent or damaged needle. Check the paper tab and outer needle cap for damages
- If you see any damage, dispose of it and use a new needle
- Tear off the paper tab
- Push the needle straight onto the pen. Turn until it is on tight
- The needle
is covered by two caps
- Pull off the outer needle cap and keep it for later
- Pull off the inner needle cap and dispose of it
- Only check the Wegovy® flow before your first injection with each new pen
- Turn the dose selector until the flow check symbol lines up with the dose pointer
- Hold the pen with the needle pointing up
- Press and hold in the dose button until the dose counter returns to -0-. The -0- must line up with the dose pointer
- A drop of Wegovy® should appear at the needle tip. This drop indicates that the pen is ready for use
- If a drop does not appear, check the flow again. This should only be done twice
- If there is still no drop, change the needle and check the flow once more
- Do not use the pen if a drop of Wegovy® still does not appear
- Turn the dose selector until the dose counter stops, and it shows your prescribed dose
- When the prescribed dose lines up with the dose pointer, the dose has been selected
- Do not set the dose by counting the number of clicks you hear
Wegovy® is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Do not inject it into a vein or muscle. Before you use the pen for the first time, ask your doctor or nurse where to inject. These are the best places to give the injection:
You may inject in the same body area each week, but you must make sure it is not in the same spot you used the last time.
- Insert the needle into your skin. Make sure the dose counter is visible
- Press and hold down the dose button until the dose counter shows -0-
- Keep pressing the dose button with the needle in your skin and slowly count to six. The -0- must line up with the dose pointer, you may hear or feel a click when the dose counter returns to -0-
- Remove the needle from your skin
- If blood appears at the injection site, press lightly on the area to stop the bleeding
- Lead the needle tip into the outer needle cap on a flat surface without touching the needle
- Never try to put the inner cap back on the needle as you may stick yourself with the needle
- Once the needle is covered, carefully push the outer needle cap completely on. Unscrew the needle
- Put the pen cap on the pen after each use to protect Wegovy® from light
How to dispose of your needles and pens
When the pen is empty, dispose of the pen without a needle on as instructed by your doctor, pharmacist, nurse or local authorities. The pen cap and the empty carton can be disposed of in your household waste.
Always dispose of the needle immediately after each injection using a sharps bin. Never store your pen with the needle attached. Keep your sharps bin in a safe place so it’s not a risk to other people and is out of the sight and reach of children.
Sharps bins must not be disposed of in household waste. Discuss with your healthcare professional the procedure for disposing of sharps bins in your area.
If you have any questions or are unsure of anything, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
For full information on how to use your Wegovy® FlexTouch® pen, refer to the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL).
Before you begin using your once-weekly Wegovy® FlexTouch® pen, always review these instructions carefully, and talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse about how to inject Wegovy® correctly.
Knowing why and how your dose changes with Wegovy® can
help you better
understand your dosing plan. This can help you
feel more in control of your treatment.
At first, your
treatment with Wegovy® will start at a low dose, which is
0.25 mg once weekly. Then the dose will gradually increase every 4
weeks over 16 weeks, until you get to the recommended dose of 2.4 mg
once weekly. This is to help lower the risks of getting side effects
related to the gut, such as feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting).
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check
with
your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure.
Follow the three steps below to make sure you’re always taking the correct dose of Wegovy®.
If you are experiencing side effects when using Wegovy®, your doctor, pharmacist or nurse may delay increasing your dose or lower to the previous dose until your symptoms are better.
Remember, it’s important to…
- Follow the dosing plan as prescribed by your doctor, pharmacist or nurse
- Talk to them about any side effects you may be experiencing
- Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure of anything
Wegovy® is a once-weekly injection, so it can be easy to forget when to use it. If possible, you should use Wegovy® on the same day each week so it's important to try and get into a routine of using Wegovy® once weekly.
If you miss a dose, do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Try to remember the ‘five-day rule’:
Five days or less since you should have used Wegovy®:
use it as soon as you remember, then inject your next dose as usual on your scheduled day.
More than five days since you should have used Wegovy®:
skip the missed dose and inject as usual on your next scheduled day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you use more Wegovy® than you should, talk to your doctor straight away. You may get side effects such as feeling sick (nausea).
Do not stop using Wegovy® without talking to your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
When using Wegovy®, there are specific ways to store and dispose of the pen. It’s important that you follow these steps as described below.
Knowing how to store your medicine is important to ensure Wegovy® works properly.
- Keep your Wegovy® pen out of the sight and reach of children
- Do not freeze Wegovy® and do not use if it has been frozen
- Keep the pen cap on when the pen is not in use to protect it from light
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date, which is stated on the pen label and carton after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month
Before opening: keep the pen refrigerated (2°C to 8°C). Keep
the pen away from the cooling element inside the fridge.
During use: you can keep the pen for six weeks when stored at
a temperature below 30°C or in a fridge (2°C to 8°C) away from the
cooling element.
Never store your pen with the needle attached.
When the pen is empty, dispose of the pen without a needle on as
instructed by your doctor, pharmacist, nurse or local authorities. The
pen cap and the empty carton can be disposed of in your household
waste.
Always dispose of the needle immediately after
each injection using a sharps bin. Never store your pen with the
needle attached. Keep your sharps bin in a safe place so it’s not a
risk to other people and is out of the sight and reach of
children.
Sharps bins must not be disposed of in
household waste. Discuss with your healthcare professional the
procedure for disposing of sharps bins in your area.
If you are unsure, worried or scared about using needles or injections, remember you are not alone. Needle phobia is very common and affects at least 1 in 10 people.
Wegovy® is a once-weekly injection, given as a pre-filled pen. If you are unsure about using the pen, don’t worry. Here are some things you can do to help you get started:
- Remember you are not alone. Do not feel ashamed about being unsure or scared about using needles or injections
- Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse about your worries. They are here to help you every step of the way
- Think about if anything has helped you cope with needles in the past
- You may want to relax yourself by learning some breathing exercises or listening to calming music
- You may want to ask a family member,
friend or carer to support you, if you feel
comfortable. They can sit with you for moral support, while you take Wegovy® - Face your fears one step at a time. Before using Wegovy® you may want to prepare yourself before administering your injection. You can start by watching the instruction video on the ‘Support materials’ page, so that you know what to expect
Overcoming your fear can take time and practice. But remember, in
time you can feel better able to manage using injections. The more you
do this, the more in control you may feel.
If you have
any questions about using Wegovy®, talk to your doctor,
pharmacist or nurse.
The information on this website does not replace the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL), which you are advised to read in full. It is not intended as a substitute for clinical advice provided by your healthcare professional. Please contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your treatment and for clinical advice. Please refer to the PIL found in the product carton for further information on Wegovy®, further information on how to use Wegovy® and a full list of side effects, warnings and precautions.
This medicine is subject to additional
monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety
information promptly. You can help by reporting any side effects you
may get. See https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ for how to report
side effects.
If you get any side effects, talk to your
doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects
not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects
directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. Side effects
should also be reported to Novo Nordisk Limited (Telephone Novo
Nordisk Customer Care Centre 0800 023 2573). Calls may be monitored
for training purposes. By reporting side effects, you can help provide
more information on the safety of this medicine.