Wegovy is a once-weekly injection you give yourself at home using a prefilled, single-use pen. The pen comes with the needle already attached and hidden inside, so you never see or handle a loose needle. The entire process takes about two minutes once you’re familiar with it.
You can take Wegovy on any day of the week, with or without food, at any time of day. The only rule is to keep your doses about seven days apart. Pick a day that’s easy to remember and stick with it.
Before You Inject: Check the Pen
Pull the pen out of the refrigerator and look through the small viewing window on the side. The liquid inside should be clear and colorless. Small air bubbles are normal and won’t affect your dose. Do not use the pen if the liquid looks cloudy, has visible particles, or has any color to it. Also check the expiration date printed on the label, and make sure no part of the pen looks cracked or damaged.
If the medication appears cloudy or discolored, don’t try to use it. Contact Novo Nordisk’s Patient Customer Care Center (1-833-934-6891) for a replacement pen.
Where to Inject
You have three options for injection sites: your lower abdomen (at least two inches away from your belly button), the front of your upper thigh, or the back of your upper arm. All three work equally well. The upper arm can be harder to reach on your own, so many people default to the stomach or thigh.
Rotate your exact injection spot each week. You can stay in the same general area (your stomach every time, for example) but move the needle entry point at least an inch or two from last week’s spot. Repeating the exact same location can cause skin irritation or hard lumps under the skin over time.
Step-by-Step Injection Process
Wash your hands with soap and water. You can clean the injection site with an alcohol swab if you like, but let the skin dry completely before proceeding.
1. Remove the pen cap. Pull the cap straight off. You’ll see a small needle cover underneath, but the needle itself stays hidden inside the device.
2. Place the pen flat against your skin. Hold the pen so the viewing window faces you. Press the base of the pen firmly against your chosen injection site. You don’t need to pinch the skin unless you’re very lean, in which case a gentle pinch at the thigh or abdomen can help.
3. Press and hold the injection button. Press the button on the top of the pen. You’ll hear a click, which means the injection has started. Keep the pen pressed against your skin. Through the viewing window, you’ll see a yellow indicator begin to move.
4. Wait for the second click. Keep holding the pen in place until you hear a second click and the yellow indicator stops moving. This confirms the full dose has been delivered. The entire injection typically takes about 5 to 10 seconds.
5. Remove the pen. Lift the pen straight off your skin. The needle retracts automatically back into the pen, so it’s covered the moment you pull away. A small drop of blood or liquid at the injection site is normal.
What to Do With the Used Pen
Each Wegovy pen is single-use. After your injection, place the entire pen (with the cap back on if you prefer, though it’s not required) into a sharps disposal container. These are rigid, puncture-resistant plastic containers you can buy at most pharmacies for a few dollars.
When your sharps container is about three-quarters full, seal it and dispose of it according to your local guidelines. Options vary by community but commonly include drop-off at pharmacies, hospitals, or fire stations; household hazardous waste collection sites; and mail-back programs. Your local health department’s website will list what’s available near you. Never throw loose pens into the regular trash or recycling.
Storing Your Pens
Keep unused Wegovy pens in the refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C to 8°C), ideally in their original carton to protect them from light. If you need to travel or lose refrigerator access, a pen can stay at room temperature for up to 28 days, as long as the temperature stays below 86°F (30°C) and you haven’t removed the pen cap.
Throw away any pen that has been out of the fridge for more than 28 days or exposed to temperatures above 86°F, even briefly. Heat degrades the medication and you can’t tell by looking at it whether it’s still effective.
The Dose Schedule
Wegovy uses a gradual dose increase over the first 16 weeks to reduce side effects, especially nausea. You’ll start at the lowest dose and step up every four weeks:
- Weeks 1 through 4: 0.25 mg
- Weeks 5 through 8: 0.5 mg
- Weeks 9 through 12: 1 mg
- Weeks 13 through 16: 1.7 mg
- Week 17 onward: 2.4 mg (maintenance dose)
Each dose level comes as a separate pen, so your pharmacy will fill a new strength every month. If a dose increase hits you hard with nausea or stomach issues, your prescriber may have you stay at the current dose for an extra four weeks before moving up.
If You Miss a Dose
If you realize you missed your injection day and it’s been fewer than five days, take it as soon as you can. Then adjust your next dose so there’s a full week between injections. If more than five days have passed, skip the missed dose entirely and take your next one on the regular schedule. Never double up or take two doses in the same week.
Missing two or more consecutive weeks is a different situation. The gap can affect how your body tolerates the medication when you restart, so contact your prescriber before resuming. They may have you step back to a lower dose temporarily.
Tips for a More Comfortable Injection
Cold medication can sting slightly more than room-temperature medication. If the sensation bothers you, take the pen out of the fridge about 30 minutes before injecting, but don’t let it sit out longer than needed. Some people find that the abdomen is less sensitive than the thigh, though this varies.
Pressing the pen firmly and steadily against the skin before hitting the button helps ensure a smooth injection. Pulling away too early, before the second click, means you may not get your full dose, and partial doses from a single-use pen can’t be recovered.