How to inject Wegovy - A complete guide

Key takeaways:

The good part is that injecting Wegovy is simple. All it takes is the proper guidance and a little bit of practice.

In this guide, explore what Wegovy is, how to take Wegovy, and some important things to keep in mind before, during, and after injecting yourself.

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy, a weight loss injectable, was developed by pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk. It is a once-weekly injection that contains semaglutide. It copies the actions of the gut hormone GLP-1.

It helps you feel full sooner, reduces cravings, and slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach. This results in a lower calorie intake and weight loss.

Wegovy has been approved for weight loss in overweight or obese adults. It is also approved to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events in overweight or obese adults.

What’s inside a Wegovy pack?

A package of Wegovy includes:

• 1 pre-filled FlexTouch injection pen
• 4 disposable hypodermic NovoFine Plus needles

What you should do before injecting Wegovy

Well begun is half done. This applies to injecting Wegovy as well.

Before we dive deep into how to take Wegovy injection pen, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Before you prepare the injection

• Always wash your hands with soap and water.
• Check the pen label to ensure you are taking your prescribed dose.
• Keep your pen, a new needle, an alcohol swab, and a sharps disposal container nearby.
• If you’re using a new pen, do a flow check before your first injection. This ensures the pen is working correctly.

Once that’s done, you’re ready to move on to the next step.

Know your Wegovy injection pen and needle

Knowing how to inject yourself correctly is the first step to ensure that it becomes a comfortable experience.

But before that, let us see the parts of the injection pen and needle. This will make it easier to follow the steps and avoid hurting yourself.

• Parts of Wegovy injection pen

  • Pen cap – it protects the pen before and after use.
  • Pen window – lets you check that the solution is clear and colourless.
  • Dose selector – the dial you turn to select your dose.
  • Dose counter – it shows the dose selected or remaining.
  • Dose pointer – a small arrow that aligns with your selected dose or the flow check symbol.
  • Dose button – press and hold to inject the medicine.
  • An expiry label can be found on the back of the pen.

• Parts of the needle:

  • Paper tab – remove this before attaching the needle.
  • Outer needle cap – protects the needle and is used again for safe disposal.
  • Inner needle cap – it is removed before injecting.
  • Needle – it delivers the medicine into the skin, and must stay sterile.

It’s time to move to the next step.

How to take Wegovy - A step-by-step guide

Injecting Wegovy might seem like a monumental task, but it isn’t. Follow the step-by-step process below to inject Wegovy the right way.

1. Prepare your pen with a new needle

• Remove the pen cap - Pull it off completely.
• Inspect the solution - Look through the pen window. Wegovy solution should be clear or slightly yellow in colour.
• Read the expiry label - Do so before use, as expired Wegovy can be less effective or harmful to your health.
• Check for cloudiness - If the solution appears cloudy or coloured, do not use the pen.
• Prepare a new needle - Always use a fresh needle for each injection.
• Remove the paper tab - Remove it carefully from the needle.
• Attach the needle - Push it straight onto the pen and turn until it's secure.

2. Check the flow and set your dose

Remove both needle caps:

The needle has two protective caps that must be removed:

• Remove the outer needle cap and keep it for later use.
• Remove the inner needle cap and dispose of it properly.

Perform a flow check:

Set your prescribed dose:

• Turn the dose selector until the dose counter stops and displays your prescribed dose.
• The dashed line [ ] in the dose counter will guide you to your correct dose.

3. Choose an injection site and inject your dose

4. Inject Wegovy

• Insert the needle into your skin at the chosen site.
• Ensure visibility. Make sure you can see the dose counter. Don't cover it with your fingers.
• Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter shows .
• Count slowly. Keep pressing the dose button with the needle in your skin and count slowly: 1-2-3-4-5-6
• Listen for the click. You may hear or feel a click when the dose counter returns to .

5. After your injection

• Remove the needle from your skin after the 6-second count.
• Press lightly to stop bleeding if blood appears at the injection site.
• You may see a small drop of Wegovy at the needle tip; this is normal and doesn't affect your dose.

6. Disposing of the needle

• Secure the needle. Carefully guide the needle tip into the outer needle cap without touching the needle.
• Push the cap on completely once the needle is covered.
• Remove the needle by unscrewing it and disposing of it according to your healthcare provider's instructions.
• Avoid putting the inner needle cap back on the needle. You may hurt yourself with the needle.
• Always dispose of needles immediately after each injection to prevent contamination and ensure safety.
• Never store the pen with the needle attached.

7. Know your needles

Want to access the Wegovy injection process anytime, anywhere?

How to take Wegovy for weight loss - A video

How to store Wegovy?

These are some quick tips you can use to store Wegovy safely:

• Unopened Wegovy should be kept in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C).
• Keep Wegovy pen in a designated spot in your fridge to store it safely and avoid temperature fluctuations.
• Wegovy should not be kept in the freezer or used if frozen.
• When in use, you can store the pen inside or outside the fridge as long as the temperature is below 30°C for upto 6 weeks.
• Don’t use the pen if it’s past the expiry date printed on the label.
• The expiry date is valid until the last day of that month.
• If you see a change in the solution’s appearance (not clear or colourless), do not use it.

Take one step at a time

Injecting Wegovy may feel a bit intimidating or overwhelming in the beginning, but with practice, it gets easier.

Stay consistent, follow the instructions, and ask for help when you feel unclear about something.

Wegovy is designed to help you lose weight. Trust the process and let the injectable take care of the rest.