Lots of people are increasingly choosing to use weight loss injections like Wegovy as a solution to managing their weight alongside changing lifestyle habits. It can help you lose weight more quickly and curb your cravings, with some research even suggesting that weight loss drugs could help with managing symptoms of conditions like PCOS.
While reaching your weight loss goals quicker is a huge positive for many people, the idea of weekly Wegovy injections isn’t such a plus. It can feel intimidating, but the Wegovy injector pen makes it super quick and simple.
However, there are a few things you need to know if you want to inject Wegovy correctly. Whether you’re switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy, learning to inject Wegovy yourself, or asking a supportive friend or partner to help you out, you’ll be a pro once you’ve read this step-by-step guide to using the Wegovy pen.
Keep reading for expert-led practical advice and find answers to the most common questions about injecting Wegovy.
You can also watch the video below, where Voy clinician Eve Agwuncha provides a step-by-step guide through the process.
What is Wegovy?
In 2023 Wegovy was approved in the UK as a weight loss treatment as part of a wider weight loss plan including regular exercise and reduced calorie diet. Find out if you’re eligible to qualify for Voy’s Wegovy plan by taking a couple of minutes to take our weight loss quiz.
The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, which is also the main ingredient in Ozempic. Wegovy works by copying the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a natural hormone that is released when we eat. GLP-1 suppresses your appetite by:
- Communicating with specific neurons in your brain to prevent the release of certain gut chemicals that make us feel hungry.
- Telling the pancreas to release insulin. When insulin rises, this signals your brain to lower your appetite.
- Keeping your blood sugar in check.
- Slowing down digestion so that it takes more time for your stomach to empty, making you feel fuller for longer.
Preparing for a Wegovy injection
To prepare for your Wegovy injection:
Store your pens properly
Make sure you have stored your Wegovy pens correctly, otherwise they could be less effective and not safe to use.
- Keep your injector pens in the fridge between 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F).
- Or, you can store them out of the fridge for up to 28 days between 8°C to 30°C (46°F to 86°F).
- Do not freeze your pens.
- Keep them in the original packaging away from direct sunlight.
Wash your hands
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water both before and after injecting Wegovy.
Check the dose and pen
You should only use your Wegovy pen if:
- It’s the correct dose (check the number on your pen).
- It hasn’t expired (check the outer box).
- The pen has not been damaged or contaminated by anything in the fridge.
- It hasn’t frozen—if it was frozen and then thawed out, throw it away.
- It’s been stored correctly.
- The solution is clear and colourless—if it’s gone cloudy, don’t use it.
Where to inject the Wegovy pen
Inject your Wegovy pen once a week, on the same day. Wegovy is a subcutaneous injection (meaning you inject under the skin). Places you can inject Wegovy include:
Abdomen
You can inject Wegovy into your stomach, keeping a 5cm distance from your belly button.
Thighs
Or, you can inject Wegovy around the front of your thighs.
Upper arms
It’s possible to inject Wegovy in the upper arm, but only if someone else is administering your injection.
How to choose where to inject Wegovy
It’s recommended that you rotate where you inject Wegovy to avoid skin irritation and fat build-up under the skin (lipohypertrophy). This makes it harder for the medicine to be absorbed, meaning it will be less effective. You can choose the same area to inject it each week if you find that easier, but don’t use the same spot as it makes fat buildup and irritation more likely.
How to inject Wegovy
If you’re wondering how to inject Wegovy, it’s much easier than you might think—even if you’re not keen on needles. Here’s our step-by-step guide:
Before you start, always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication.
Attach the needle
- When you’re ready to inject, take the lid off your Wegovy pen and check the liquid is clear and colourless, or almost colourless.
- Tear the paper tag off one of your needles.
- Push the needle onto the pen and turn until it’s on securely and tightly.
- Pull off the outer and inner needle caps, but keep your outer cap close by as you’ll need it later.
Flow check
- Check the flow of each new pen by turning the dose selector to show the flow symbol.
- Press and hold down the button until the dose selector shows a zero.
- Make sure a drop appears at the needle tip.
Select the dose
- Turn the dose selector until it reaches the dose that you’ve been prescribed.
What to do if no drop appears
- If no drop appears, repeat the flow test (press and hold the button) up to six times.
- If no drop appears, prepare your pen again with a new needle, and repeat the flow test. Make sure to throw away the old needle in your medical sharps bin.
- If a drop still doesn’t appear, contact your Voy clinician.
Injecting your medication
- Turn the dose selector until it reaches the dose that you’ve been prescribed.
- Pinch the skin in your thigh, stomach and upper arms (if someone is doing it for you).
- Insert the needle.
- It should feel like a pinprick—you’ll be surprised how quickly you get used to it.
- If you can’t feel a pin-prick sensation, check that you haven’t forgotten to remove the inner cap.
- Press and hold down the dose button until the dose selector reaches zero.
- When the zero appears, slowly count up to six, so the full dose is administered.
- You may see a small drop of solution at the needle tip after injecting, but don’t worry, this is normal and doesn’t affect your dose.
- But if there’s more than a drop you’ve withdrawn the pen too early, so be sure to count to six.
Disposing of your medication
- Carefully put the outer cap back on the needle.
- Then remove the needle by twisting.
- Dispose of your needle after one use in your medical sharps bin, which should be provided with your Voy medication.
- Remember to recap your pen and store it appropriately.
For any specific questions about your medication, dosage, or side effects, you can message your Voy clinician for guidance.
What’s the best time of day to inject Wegovy?
There’s no “best” time of day to inject Wegovy, but it is important not to miss a dose, so getting into a routine each week will help.
You probably already have some sort of morning routine, so adding Wegovy to your to-do list for one morning a week may feel manageable. You can take Wegovy before or after eating, so you could take it out of the fridge whilst making breakfast.
Ultimately, choose a time that works for you, where you won’t be rushed and can keep your injection away from any children and pets. If you’re prone to forgetting, set a repeating alarm on your phone, or leave a sticky note somewhere you know you’ll see it.
What happens if you miss a dose of Wegovy?
If you miss a dose of Wegovy, don’t panic. If it’s been five days or less since you should have taken it, inject it as soon as you remember. Then, inject your next dose seven days later and make that your new scheduled dose day.
If it has been more than five days since you should have used Wegovy, skip your missed dose. You should then take your next dose as usual on your next scheduled day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Disposing your Wegovy pen safely
Once you’ve used your Wegovy injector pen, you must dispose of it safely. Don’t reuse your needle or share it with anyone else.
Your Wegovy medication from Voy comes with a sharps disposal container for you to throw away your needles and injector pens. This is because you can’t dispose of Wegovy in your household bin.
If you don’t have a sharps disposal bin, you can get one from your GP or pharmacy, or you can take it to your healthcare provider. If you don’t have a sharps bin, you may use another small bin but it needs to meet certain criteria.
Possible Wegovy side effects
You may experience some side effects while taking Wegovy, especially at the start of your treatment as your body adjusts. But don’t worry, they’re usually mild and short-lived. The most common side effects include:
- Headache
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Being sick (vomiting)
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Feeling weak or tired
Some other common side effects include:
- Feeling dizzy
- Upset stomach, indigestion, acid reflux or heartburn
- Burping and flatulence
- Stomach bloating
- Gallstones
- Hair loss
- Injection site reactions
- Change in the way food or drink tastes
- Low blood sugar in people with diabetes
If you’re concerned about any side effects you’re experiencing, or notice any new unusual symptoms, speak to your healthcare provider.
Managing Wegovy side effects
If you experience side effects on Wegovy, more often than not they’re easy to manage, despite being unpleasant. Keep hydrated by drinking lots of water, cutting down on alcohol, and eating foods with a high water content like soup.
You can manage nausea by eating smaller portions of bland, low-fat foods like rice and toast, eating slowly, and avoiding lying down after eating. You could also try ginger or peppermint herbal teas to settle your stomach and getting some fresh air.
If you’re struggling with constipation, try to increase the fibre in your diet and make sure you walk or exercise regularly.
You can take paracetamol, anti-sickness medication, and medications to help with constipation and diarrhoea alongside Wegovy, but you may need to consult your healthcare team before doing so.
Your next steps
Feeling ready to take the next step in your Wegovy journey? Whether you’re ready to start your injections or still deciding whether Wegovy is the right medication for you, our team of clinicians are here to help.
Want to know more about whether Wegovy could help you with weight loss? Take our quiz to see if you’re eligible.
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¹⁰“Wegovy (Semaglutide) Injection, for Subcutaneous Use Initial U.S. Approval: 2017.” Novo Nordisk, 2022. www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/215256s007lbl.pdf
