Understanding how to take Wegovy for effective weight loss

Understanding how to take Wegovy properly will make sure you get the most out of your prescription. Each Wegovy shot contains the exact amount of semaglutide you’ll need for 4 weeks of treatment. After 4 weeks, your dose is increased incrementally to a maximum of 7.2mg per week.

Wegovy injections should be taken once a week and the best places to inject Wegovy are the upper arms, upper legs and stomach. Knowing how to use your Wegovy pen correctly will help make sure you stay safe during treatment. You can find more Wegovy usage instructions below.

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Wegovy is a weight loss medication that comes in the form of an injectable pen. Unlike a traditional injection, you don’t need to bother drawing up the medication or measuring it. Each pen contains 4 doses of Wegovy, so it will last you for 1 month (unless taking the 7.2mg dose), and each pen is a different colour.

This means you’ll always get the right amount of medication. You should always take Wegovy as prescribed and try to stick to the same time each week for the best results.

If you have not used weight loss medications before, you will start at the lowest dose of 0.25mg so your body can get used to the medication, and then move up to a higher dose every 4 weeks.. It’s also done this way so you’re less likely to get common side effects that could impact how well your treatment works, such as nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick).

You don’t have to move up if you don’t want to, though. If you’re happy with your treatment on a lower dose, you can stay on it.

The Wegovy course is usually as follows:

If you have already been using a weight loss injection such as Mounjaro and are switching medications, then you may be able to start taking Wegovy at a higher dosage. You will need to discuss this with your doctor first, who can recommend the most appropriate starting dose for you.

Each Wegovy pen contains 4 doses of medication, which amounts to 4 week’s worth of treatment if taking up to 2.4mg weekly. A pen will last a shorter time if it’s used to give the 7.2mg dose.

Before you inject Wegovy for the first time, you should read the patient information leaflet and follow the advice given to you by your doctor.

Make sure you’ve chosen the correct Wegovy pen for your current dosage schedule and that you haven’t gotten it mixed up with another injectable pen if you take another injection medication.

Wegovy can be taken with or without food. Inject your Wegovy pen into your upper arms, upper legs or stomach. Change your injection site each week, so you’re less likely to get soreness, irritation or a reaction at the site.

If you’re ready to take your first Wegovy dose, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Before each dose, make sure that the Wegovy liquid is clear and colourless by removing the pen cap and looking through the small window on each pen. If it’s not clear and colourless, you should not use this pen. A new needle should be used for each injection. Check each needle for signs of damage and dispose of them if they’re bent or unsealed.

Step 2: Thoroughly wash your hands and your chosen injection site with soap and water or an alcohol wipe. Attach the new needle to your Wegovy pen, with the cap on.

Step 3: If this is the first Wegovy dose from this pen, you’ll need to check the flow. Turn the dose selector until you reach the ‘flow check’ symbol (2 dots and a line). Hold the needle pointing up and press the dose button until it reaches 0. A small drop of medication should form on the tip. If it does, the pen is primed and ready to use. If not, you’ll have to try again or change the needle or pen.

Step 4: Once your Wegovy pen is primed, you’re ready to set the dose. Turn the dose selector until it shows your prescribed dose. This should line up with the dose pointer, which is a small arrow beside the dose selector window.

Step 5: Remove the caps on the needle, keeping the outer cap for later. Inject Wegovy by inserting the needle into your skin and holding down on the button. You will hear a “click” when the injection has started and a second “click” during the injection. Do not cover the dose counter with your fingers, as you’ll need to see it. Press and hold down the pen until it reaches 0. Then, slowly count to 6 before removing the injection, to make sure you’ve gotten your full dose.

Step 6: Remove the needle from your skin. You may notice a drop of medication at the tip, which is normal. If you bleed, gently press on the area until it stops. Carefully get rid of your needle by reattaching the outer needle cap you saved in the previous step, before throwing them away together in a sharps bin.

To inject 7.2mg:

1. Check you have the correct dose and the expiry date on the back.
2. Check in the dose window that the liquid is clear and colourless, it must not be cloudy.
3. Choose your injection site.
4. Once you are ready to inject, remove the pen cap and needle cover.
5. Press the pen firmly against your skin where you have chosen to inject. The injection takes around 5-10 seconds. You should hear 2 clicks. The first click happens when your injection starts, and at the second click you should begin to see a yellow bar in the dose window.
6. Once you see the yellow bar stop moving, the injection is complete.
7. Lift the pen away slowly and safely dispose of it.

For more detailed guidance, please refer to our step-by-step guide.

Wegovy should only ever be injected into:

• the upper arms
• the upper legs
• stomach (with at least 5cm gap from the belly button)

Wegovy is injected into the fatty tissues just beneath the skin, so we recommend injecting Wegovy into the abdomen or thigh, as that is usually the most comfortable. Wegovy should never be injected into a muscle or vein.

To reduce discomfort when injecting Wegovy, you should rotate injection sites. We recommend dividing up the injection site into 4 sections and choosing a different one each week, including switching between the left and right side of your body. You can also change injection sites, such as using your thigh one week and then your abdomen the next. This can help reduce soreness after your injection.

Wegovy should be injected once a week. You should never take Wegovy more than once a week, as it won’t make the medication work better and will increase the risk of serious side effects. If you think your dose isn’t working, speak to your doctor instead.

If you’re taking the 7.2mg dose, you will need to inject yourself up to three times with the 2.4mg pen once a week, this makes up the once-weekly dose. You still should never inject more than your current dose.

Wegovy should not be taken with other weight loss medications. Most treatments are standalone, which means you don’t need another medication. Taking 2 weight loss treatments at once could increase the risk of serious side effects or may make you lose weight too quickly, which is dangerous to your health.

If you’re taking Wegovy (or another weight loss treatment) and want to switch, you can do this by speaking to your doctor. You may be able to take weight loss supplements or herbal remedies that are made with natural ingredients, but you should still discuss with your doctor first to make sure it’s safe. If you want to switch your weight loss medication or have any questions, you can message our doctors for free through your patient account.

➤ Find out more about Wegovy alternatives

Can you take Ozempic and Wegovy together?

No, Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide. This means you’d be taking a double dose, which would strongly increase your risk of side effects without making it more effective.

Can you take Wegovy and Saxenda together?

No, Wegovy and Saxenda cannot be taken together. They do not contain the same active ingredient, but belong to the same medication family. They are both glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists and cannot be taken together, as they have a similar effect.

Can you take Wegovy and Mounjaro together?

No, Mounjaro is also a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Wegovy and Mounjaro should not be taken at the same time, as it could cause extremely low blood sugar.

Mark your first use: As soon as you have used the first dose of your Wegovy pen, you have 6 weeks to use up the entire pen. We recommend writing down when you first use the pen, so you know how long it will last.

Track your doses: Your Wegovy pen contains 4 doses, which you take once a week. You only inject yourself once a week, unless you’re on the 7.2mg dose, in which case you inject yourself 3 times at the same time each week. Keeping a chart or marking off when you’ve taken it on a calendar can help you stay consistent with taking Wegovy on time.

Store it safely between doses: Your used Wegovy pen can be stored in the fridge, or in a cool dark place below 30°C for up to 6 weeks. If you are storing it in the fridge, take it out 15 minutes before injecting it so it is not cold. It is safe to inject Wegovy while it is cold, but it can feel unpleasant for some people.

EMC (2026). Wegovy 1 mg, FlexTouch solution for injection in pre-filled pen: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13801/smpc, [accessed 2 May 2026]

EMC (2026). Wegovy 7.2 mg Solution for injection in pre-filled pen: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/102093/pil, [accessed 2 May 2026]

JAMA Network (2015). Efficacy of Liraglutide for Weight Loss Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2428956, [accessed 2 May 2026]

Obesity (2023). NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/treatment/, [accessed 2 May 2026]

The New England Journal of Medicine (2021). Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183, [accessed 2 May 2026]

The New England Journal of Medicine (2022). Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038, [accessed 2 May 2026]