Overview
This article explains:
How to prepare your Wegovy® pen
How to attach a new needle
How to check the flow of a new pen
Where to inject Wegovy®
How to administer your weekly dose
How to dispose of the needle and finished pen safely
Use this guide each time you administer your weekly Wegovy® injection.
Important: Always read and follow the patient information leaflet and instructions supplied with your Wegovy® pen. This guide provides general support and does not replace advice from your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified healthcare professional.
Step 1: Prepare your Wegovy® pen
Remove the Wegovy® pen from the refrigerator and place it on a clean surface with:
A new compatible disposable needle
An alcohol swab
A sharps container
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
Remove the pen cap and check:
The name and dose on the pen label
The expiry date
That the pen is not damaged
That the medicine is clear and colourless
Air bubbles in the pen can be normal and should not affect your dose.
Do not use the pen if the medicine is cloudy, coloured, frozen or contains particles.
Step 2: Attach a new needle
Always use a new needle for every injection.
Check that the needle packaging is not damaged.
Peel off the paper tab and push the needle straight onto the pen. Turn the needle until it is securely attached.
Remove the outer needle cap and keep it for removing the needle after your injection.
Remove and dispose of the inner needle cap.
Never share your Wegovy® pen with another person, even if the needle has been changed.
Step 3: Check the flow of a new pen
Check the flow before the first injection from each new pen. You do not normally need to repeat this before the remaining doses from the same pen.
Turn the dose selector until the flow-check symbol appears in the dose counter.
Hold the pen with the needle pointing upwards.
Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter returns to 0.
A small drop of medicine should appear at the needle tip. This confirms that the medicine can flow through the pen and needle.
If no drop appears, repeat the flow check according to the instructions supplied with your pen. Change the needle if instructed.
Do not use the pen if a drop still does not appear after following the troubleshooting instructions in the patient information leaflet.
Step 4: Choose your injection site
Wegovy® is injected under the skin in:
Your abdomen
The front of your thigh
Your upper arm
Another person may need to administer the injection if you use your upper arm.
Choose a different injection site each week to reduce the risk of skin irritation.
Do not inject into skin that is tender, bruised, red, hard, scarred or damaged.
Do not inject Wegovy® into a vein or muscle.
Step 5: Select your dose
Turn the dose selector until your prescribed dose appears in the dose counter.
Make sure the correct dose lines up with the dose pointer.
Do not set the dose by counting the clicks made by the pen.
Only administer the dose prescribed for you. Do not attempt to alter the pen or select a different dose without medical guidance.
Step 6: Administer your Wegovy® dose
Insert the needle into your skin.
Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter returns to 0.
Keep the dose button pressed and leave the needle in your skin while slowly counting to six. This helps ensure that the full dose has been administered.
Remove the needle from your skin.
If the dose counter does not return to 0, the needle may be blocked or damaged and the full dose may not have been administered.
Do not repeat the injection or administer another dose. Follow the instructions supplied with the pen and seek advice from your pharmacist or healthcare professional.
A small drop of medicine at the needle tip after the injection can be normal and should not affect your dose.
If a small amount of blood appears, press the area gently with clean gauze or tissue. Do not rub the injection site.
After the injection: needle removal, storage and disposal
Carefully place the outer needle cap over the needle.
Unscrew the capped needle from the pen and place it immediately into an approved sharps container.
Replace the pen cap after every use.
Do not reuse a needle or store the pen with a needle attached. Leaving the needle attached can cause leaking, introduce air into the pen or block the needle.
Store the pen according to the patient information leaflet.
Why is liquid left in the Wegovy® pen?
The Wegovy® pen contains four fixed weekly doses and a small additional amount of medicine to support the correct operation of the pen.
After administering all four weekly doses, the pen is considered finished, even if some liquid remains visible.
The remaining liquid is not an additional measured dose. Do not inject it or attempt to remove it from the pen using a syringe.
Discard the pen after all four doses have been administered or within the timeframe stated in the patient information leaflet, whichever happens first.
Key takeaway
Always use a new needle, check the flow before the first injection from a new pen and follow the correct injection technique.
Never attempt to extract or inject any liquid remaining after the four scheduled doses.
Additional Assistance
If you still need help after reviewing the information above, additional assistance is available.