How to administer Wegovy (semaglutide) injection?

How to Administer Wegovy (Semaglutide) Injection

Wegovy is not a pill—it is a subcutaneous injection administered once weekly using a pre-filled pen device. 1

Preparation Before Each Injection

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling the pen 1
• Check the pen label to confirm it says "Wegovy" or "OZEMPIC" (the brand name for lower-dose semaglutide), as this is critical if you use multiple medications 1
• Inspect the medication through the pen window—the solution must be clear and colorless; do not use if it appears cloudy or contains particles 1
• Remove the pen cap and attach a new needle by pushing it straight onto the pen and turning until tight 1

Critical Needle Safety Rules

• Always use a new needle for each injection—this reduces contamination risk, prevents infection, avoids medication leakage, and prevents blocked needles that deliver incorrect doses 1
• Never reuse or share needles with other people, as this can transmit serious infections 1
• Never use bent or damaged needles 1

First-Time Pen Setup (Flow Check)

• For each new pen only, you must check medication flow before the first injection 1
• Turn the dose selector until the flow check symbol (▶) appears 1
• Hold the pen with needle pointing upward, press and hold the dose button until the counter shows "0" 1
• A drop of medication must appear at the needle tip—if no drop appears after 6 attempts, change the needle and try once more 1
• If still no drop appears, contact Novo Nordisk at 1-888-693-6742, as the pen may be defective 1

Selecting Your Dose

• Turn the dose selector until it stops at your prescribed dose (typically 2.4 mg for Wegovy at maintenance) 1
• The dose counter will click with each turn—do not count clicks to set your dose; always verify using the dose counter display 1
• The selected dose must line up exactly with the dose pointer to ensure accuracy 1

Injection Technique

• Choose an injection site: abdomen, thigh, or upper arm—rotate sites with each injection 1
• Clean the site with an alcohol swab and allow it to dry completely 1
• Insert the needle straight into your skin at a 90-degree angle as demonstrated by your healthcare provider 1
• Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter shows "0"—you may hear or feel a click 1
• Keep the needle in your skin and count slowly to 6 after the counter reaches "0" to ensure complete dose delivery 1
• If you remove the needle too early, you may see medication streaming from the needle tip, indicating incomplete dose delivery 1

After Injection

• Remove the needle from your skin—light bleeding is normal; press gently with gauze but do not rub 1
• Immediately place the used needle in a sharps disposal container without recapping to prevent needle stick injuries 1
• Replace the pen cap to protect the medication from light 1
• Store the pen at room temperature or in the refrigerator according to package instructions 1

Dosing Schedule and Titration

• Wegovy requires gradual dose escalation over 16 weeks to minimize gastrointestinal side effects 2
• Standard titration: 0.25 mg weekly for 4 weeks → 0.5 mg weekly for 4 weeks → 1.0 mg weekly for 4 weeks → 1.7 mg weekly for 4 weeks → 2.4 mg weekly (maintenance dose) 2
• Inject once weekly on the same day each week—you can change the day if needed, as long as at least 2 days (48 hours) pass between doses 2

Missed Dose Management

• If you miss 1-2 consecutive doses: Resume at your current dose if you tolerated it well previously 2
• If you miss 3 or more consecutive doses: Contact your healthcare provider, as you may need to restart the titration schedule to avoid severe gastrointestinal side effects 2

Critical Safety Warnings

• Never use Wegovy with other GLP-1 receptor agonists (like Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza) or DPP-4 inhibitors 2
• If taking insulin or sulfonylureas, monitor closely for hypoglycemia and expect dose adjustments of these medications 2
• Wegovy delays gastric emptying, which may affect absorption of oral medications requiring rapid onset 2

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not skip the flow check with each new pen—this is the only way to confirm the pen is working properly 1
• Do not touch or cover the dose counter while injecting, as this can stop medication delivery 1
• Do not try to withdraw medication with a syringe from the pen device 1
• Do not dispose of needles in household trash—use an FDA-cleared sharps container 1

Practical Considerations

• Always carry a spare pen and extra needles in case of loss or damage 1
• Keep pens and needles out of reach of children 1
• Gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) are common but typically decrease over time with gradual dose escalation 3, 4