Wegovy

Wegovy is given as an injection, under your skin ONCE A WEEK. To reduce the risk of side effects, your healthcare provider will start you on a low dose and gradually increase it over a few weeks.

Always use Wegovy exactly as your healthcare provider has told you. The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much to use, how often to take it and any special instructions. The following is a guide.

• Week 1 to 4: 0.25 mg once a week.
• Week 5 to 8: 0.5 mg once a week.
• Week 9 to 12: 1 mg once a week.
• Week 13 to 16: 1.7 mg once a week.
• From week 17 onwards: 2.4 mg once a day.

If you experience side effects such as vomiting or diarrhoea, your healthcare provider may advise you to increase your dose over a longer period of time.

Your healthcare provider will show you how to use Wegovy. The following is a guide.

Wegovy comes as a prefilled disposable pen

Each pen contains 4 doses of medicine already loaded. There are 5 different dose strengths pens. Each dose strength comes in a different coloured pen. That means each time your dose increases, you'll switch to a differently coloured pen.

Inject Wegovy ONCE A WEEK

Wegovy is injected once a week, on the same day each week.

• It can be injected any time of day, with or without meals.
• You can mark your calendar or set a reminder on your phone to remind you to take your next dose.
• You can also change the day of the week on which you take Wegovy if necessary, as long as it has been at least 3 days since your last dose of Wegovy.
• If you forget your dose, you can inject the missed dose up to 5 days later. Otherwise skip the dose and carry on as normal next week. Don't inject 2 doses around the same time.

Needles

Wegovy pre-filled pens are designed to be used with NovoFine® needles up to a length of 8 mm. Each pen comes in a pack, with 4 needles. Use a new needle for each injection and dispose of it after use. Don't reuse your needles, as this can cause blockages, increase the risk of infection, and lead to incorrect dosing. Also, never share your pen or your needles with other people.

Injection site

Wegovy is given as an injection under your skin (subcutaneous injection) as shown to you by your healthcare provider. Wegovy may be injected into the upper arms, your thigh or your stomach (keep a 5 cm distance from your belly button). Don't inject Wegovy into a vein or muscle.

For more information on how to use the Wegovy pen, follow the detailed instructions on how to use it that are supplied with the product, or read the instructions.(external link) 

Here are some things to know when you're using Wegovy. Other things may be important as well, so ask your healthcare provider what you should know about.

Drink enough water to avoid dehydration

When you start Wegovy it can cause nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick) and diarrhoea (runny poo) which can last for a few days. This increases your risk of dehydration, which can cause serious kidney problems. Be sure to drink plenty of water or non-sugary drinks. Contact your healthcare provider if you have nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea or get symptoms of dehydration such as headache, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, weakness, feeling very tired, having no energy and peeing (urinating) less than usual.

If you are unwell

Wegovy doesn't usually cause problems if you're slightly unwell, but if you're dehydrated from vomiting and diarrhoea and not eating and drinking as usual, you can delay the next injection until you're better. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions.

Taking other medicines

Wegovy interacts with some medicines, herbal supplements and rongoā Māori, so check with your healthcare provider before starting Wegovy and before starting any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Before having surgery or a medical procedure

Wegovy may increase the chance of food or liquid getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anaesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Tell your healthcare provider you're taking Wegovy before you have surgery or a medical or dental procedure.

Pregnancy and contraception

If you're pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or you're planning to have a baby, ask your healthcare provider for advice as Wegovy is not recommended during pregnancy.

Research has found that weight loss may increase the likelihood of some women returning to normal ovulation. If you're sexually active and don't want to become pregnant, you should use effective contraception to avoid unplanned pregnancy. Read more about contraception.

How to store Wegovy

• Before opening: Store Wegovy in the fridge, in the original package. Do not freeze it. If your pen has been frozen, don't use it.
• During use: You can keep the pen for 6 weeks when stored at room temperature (below 30°C) or in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). Don't freeze it.

When you're not using the pen, keep the pen cap on to protect it from light.

Get rid of your used needles safely

It's important to get rid of your used needles safely. Keep them out of reach of children and pets, and away from places where they could hurt others. You can do this by buying a sharps container from your pharmacy. This is a special container made of hard plastic with a tight-fitting lid so used needles can be stored securely.

Don't flush used needles down the toilet or put them in household or public rubbish or recycle bins. Once your sharps container is full, take it to your pharmacy and they can dispose of it safely.

Read more about safe disposal of needles.

Like all medicines Wegovy can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. If you're concerned about any symptoms you think might be related to your medicine, talk to your healthcare provider. The following information offers some guidance but doesn't include all possible side effects.

Common side effects

Tell your healthcare provider if any of these side effects bother you.

• Headache.
• Nausea (feeling sick): Try eating bland, low-fat foods (eg, crackers, toast and rice) and foods that contain water, such as soups. Avoid greasy foods. Also try eating more slowly and avoid lying down soon after you eat.
• Reaction at the injection site such as bruising, redness, tenderness: Remember to change the injection site every week. You can use the same part of your body but try not to use exactly the same spot. Don't inject Wegovy when it's just out of the fridge (cold), because it's more likely to sting.
• Diarrhoea (runny poo), constipation, stomach pain, bloating, gas (farting), stomach upset: If you have diarrhoea or you're dehydrated, delay your next dose until you feel better and are eating and drinking normally.
• Tiredness, dehydration, feeling thirsty: Make sure you're drinking enough water. If you're dehydrated, delay your next dose until you feel better and you're eating and drinking normally.

Low blood glucose and feeling dizzy

• Some people may feel dizzy – mainly during the first few months of treatment. Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Wegovy affects you.
• If you have type 2 diabetes and you're taking a sulfonylurea (glipizide or gliclazide) or insulin as well as Wegovy, you're at risk of getting low blood glucose (hypoglycaemia). Tell your healthcare provider if this happens; they may adjust the dose of your diabetes medicine. Also, this may reduce your ability to concentrate. Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools. Read more about how to manage low blood glucose. 

Tell your healthcare provider immediately or phone Healthline free on 0800 611 116 if these occur

• Changes in your eyesight or problems with your vision. This is especially likely if you have type 2 diabetes.
• Signs of problems with your pancreas such as severe pain in your stomach (tummy area) and your back, as well as nausea and vomiting.
• Signs of gall bladder problems such as pain in your abdomen (tummy area), yellow skin and eyes or light coloured poo.

Phone 111 for an ambulance or go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) clinic if these occur

• Signs of an allergic reaction such as itchy skin, and rash, swollen lips or tongue, problems breathing, eg, a tight chest or shortness of breath.

Read more about medicines and side effects and reporting a reaction you think might be a side effect.