Weight loss injectable drugs like Wegovy, Saxenda, or Mounjaro aren't cheap in Canada. That's why it's essential to know how to inject them correctly and avoid wasting thousands of dollars worth of medicine.
Here’s a complete step-by-step guide on how to inject Wegovy and use the Wegovy injector pens. At the end of the article, you'll also find a helpful series of Frequently Asked Questions answered by our team of experts.
Related article: Does Wegovy Need to be Refrigerated and How to Store your Pens Correctly?
Wegovy Pen
Wegovy is an injection medicine for weight loss appropved by Health Canda. It's a prescription medication that is not available over the counter and is indicated under medical supervision only for adults with obesity (BMI > 30), overweight and weight-related health problems (BMI > 27), as well as for children over 12 with obesity.
The active ingredient is Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drug. It belongs to the same class of drugs as Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza, Saxenda, and Byetta. Wegovy injections help decrease feelings of hunger, make you stay full longer, and regulate stomach emptying, ultimately reducing calorie intake, and promoting weight loss. To be an effective weight management treatment, Wegovy must be taken with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Patients are responsible for self-administering Wegovy at home through weekly subcutaneous injections (under the skin). Far from the old-fashioned glass vials and syringes, the Wegovy injection device is an easy and convenient injector pen.
Related article: Wegovy. Vs. Mounjaro, Understanding the Differences in Diabetes & Obesity Treatments
What is the Wegovy injector pen?
Wegovy comes in prefilled single-dose injector pens with different strengths: 0.25 mg (green pen), 0.5 mg (red pen), 1 mg (brown pen), 1.7 mg (blue pen), and 2.4 mg (black pen)). The pens are disposable and must be thrown away in a sharps container after use.
Photo Credits: NovoMedlink
The typical dosing schedule starts with 0.25 mg once a week and increases the dose every four weeks until you reach the 2.4 mg strength. However, depending on your needs and medical situation, your healthcare provider may adjust this dosing schedule and increase or decrease the dosage.
Related article: How to Use an Ozempic Pen?
How to Inject Wegovy?
Independently of their strength, all Wegovy pens work the same way. The injection takes less than a minute and is very easy to make. Your healthcare provider must have shown you how to use a Wegovy pen before sending you back home with your new weight loss medication. But administering subcutaneous injections for the first time alone can be intimidating.
So, here’s a step-by-step guide and reminder to use your injector pens the right way:
Related article: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Insulin Pens for Injections Correctly!
Photo Credits: NovoNordisk
Step 1. Read Wegovy instructions for use
If you need help administering Wegovy, the first step is to read the instructions for use and the important safety information paper sheet in the Wegovy pen box. There can be valuable information in there. While the following guide is quite complete, we do not cover side effects or technical issues that you should be aware of before injecting an anti-obesity medication for the first time.
Related article: How to Inject Mounjaro and Use The Injector Pen Correctly?
Step 2. Prepare your injection supplies
To inject Wegovy, you will need the following:
- Your Wegovy pen
- One alcohol swab (or soap and water)
- One cotton ball
- A sharps container
Put all the material on a clean table where you can sit comfortably, especially if you fear needles and injections. Then, please wash your hands with soap and gently dry them (or use an alcohol swab).
Step 3. Check your Wegovy pen
Always check your Wegovy pen before each injection. Make sure the expiration date labeled on the back of your pen has not passed and that your pen was correctly stored in the refrigerator (or at room temperature for less than 28 days).
Make sure your pen strength matches your doctor’s prescription. Wegovy pens are color-coded depending on their dosage strength so that you can check that from just a glance:
- 25 mg Wegovy pens are green
- 5 mg Wegovy pens are red
- 1 mg Wegovy pens are brown
- 7 mg Wegovy pens are blue
- 4 mg Wegovy pens are black
Step 4. Clean the injection site
Step 5. Inject Wegovy
Then, push the pen firmly and flat against your skin at your chosen injection site (see below) until the yellow bar in the viewing window stops moving.
During the injection, you must hear 2 clicks. The first one indicates that the injection has started. The second one that it’s completed. After the second click, check that the yellow bar has stopped moving, and then slowly lift the pen away.
Step 6. Press lightly with a cotton ball
Sometimes, blood may appear at the injection site. It’s normal and nothing to worry about. Simply press lightly with a gauze pad or a cotton ball for a few seconds until the bleeding stops.
Related article: How to Use a Saxenda Pen?
Wegovy Injection Sites: Where to Inject Wegovy?
The location of injection is important for subcutaneous injections like Wegovy, Saxenda, Insulin, Ozempic, or others. Wegovy needs to be injected into the fatty tissue just below the skin. Therefore, some areas of the body are more suitable than others and guarantee the needle will not hit a muscle, a bone, or a blood vessel.
Wegovy can be injected into the upper legs, front of the thighs, lower stomach, or the back of the upper arm. Your doctor will help you decide what injection site is best for you.
Always check the injection site before injecting Wegovy and ensure the skin isn't bruised or red or has scars. Rotating injection spots each week is essential to avoid skin complications.
FAQs About Administering Wegovy
Is Wegovy self-administered?
Yes, Wegovy is self-administered. The patient is responsible for injecting the weight-loss medication at home weekly. If you aren't comfortable using the Wegovy injector pen or are afraid of injections, you can ask a friend or family member to inject Wegovy for you.
Do Wegovy injections hurt?
No, Wegovy injections do not hurt. Injection delivery devices have considerably improved in recent years. The needle tips' design is much sharper and thinner than it used to be.
However, subcutaneous injections may cause a slight discomfort at the injection site, such as a burning sensation, redness, or itchiness, especially if you've hit a muscle tissue instead of body fat, you've injected into a sensitive area, or used the same injection spot too often. Ask your doctor for advice if you feel pain every time you inject Wegovy.
Related article: 10 Tips that Work to Inject Insulin Without Pain!
Does Wegovy come with needles?
The Wegovy pens come with the needle attached. You do not need to connect the needle to the pen. It’s hidden inside the pen and only visible once the injection is completed.
How to store your Wegovy pens?
Semaglutide, the active drug in Wegovy, is a biological product that’s highly sensitive to light and temperature. So, according to Novo Nordisk, Wegovy’s manufacturer, your Wegovy pens must be stored in the refrigerator (between 2°C and 8°C).
Alternatively, when refrigeration is impossible, Wegovy can be kept out of the fridge for up to 28 days at room temperature not exceeding 30°C and protected from light (with the opaque pen cap on).
Failure to follow these strict temperature storage instructions can make your weight-loss medicine spoil quickly and become partially or totally effective. Injecting Wegovy that has not been stored the right way is not safe. Learn more about how to store your Wegovy pens here.
Related article: Safety Tips for Traveling With Wegovy Pens!
How many doses are in a Wegovy pen?
All Wegovy pens are single-dose pens and contain one dose of Wegovy each. However, the dose strength varies as there are 0.25 mg green pens, 0.5 mg red pens, 1 mg brown pens, 1.7 mg blue pens, and 2.4 mg black pens.
Each Wegovy pack contains 4 Wegovy pens (4 weekly doses for one month). Most suppliers and pharmacies will deliver 3 boxes at a time, enough for 3-month weight loss treatment.
What to do if you miss a dose of Wegovy?
As mentioned above, Wegovy is administered weekly. It should be taken on the same day each week. But you may miss a dose of Wegovy. In that case, do not panic and do as is instructed by the manufacturer (or call your doctor for advice):
- If your next scheduled injection is more than 2 days away, take the missed Wegovy dose late.
- If your next scheduled injection is less than 2 days away, do not take the missed dose. Instead, wait for the next injection.
Related article: What to do if you Miss a Dose of Insulin?
How to dispose of Wegovy pens?
Wegovy pens are injection devices with a needle inside. Therefore, they’re considered sharp objects and must be disposed of accordingly. You should not throw used Wegovy pens in the household trash. Instead, use an sharps disposal container or a heavy-duty plastic container with a tight and secure lid, like a laundry detergent bottle, for example.
Are you using Wegovy as a weight-loss medication? What are your thoughts on the injection device?
