This article was reviewed by Craig Primack, MD, FACP, FAAP, FOMA.
Wegovy (semaglutide) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss and weight management in people with obesity or overweight and a weight-related health condition. It comes in a prefilled pen that you’ll inject yourself with at home.
Got your Wegovy pen and ready to get started? It’s time to learn how to inject Wegovy. Giving yourself a shot can sound a little daunting, but Wegovy injections are quick, simple, and practically painless.
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How to Inject Wegovy Single-Use Pens: Step-by-Step Instructions
If you’ve never used an injectable medication before, it can feel a little scary. That’s normal. But after a few goes, you should get the hang of things and feel confident giving yourself a Wegovy shot.
Plus, according to the FDA’s prescribing information, it only takes five to 10 seconds to administer the injection itself, so it’ll be over before you know it.
Let’s walk through how to inject Wegovy pens.
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1. Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands with soap and warm water, and make sure the area around you is clean.
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2. Check Your Medication
Check the expiration date on your Wegovy pen. Don’t use the injection if it’s past its expiration date.
Make sure the pen isn’t damaged.
Look through the injection pen window to ensure the solution is:
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Clear
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Colorless
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Free from particles
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Not frozen
If you notice any of these things, don’t give yourself the injection. Throw this pen out and use a different one.
Air bubbles are normal and okay..
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3. Choose and Clean Your Injection Site
You can inject Wegovy into your:
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Upper arm
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Thigh
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Stomach
You should rotate your injection site with each injection to avoid pain and bruising.
Wegovy is a subcutaneous injection. That means you inject it just under your skin, not into a muscle or vein.
Once you know where you’re injecting it, use an alcohol swab or soap and water to clean the injection site. Allow the skin to dry.
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4. Give Yourself the Wegovy Injection
Giving yourself a Wegovy injection is simple and straightforward. Everything is ready for you. Your dose of Wegovy is already set in the pen, so you don’t need to worry about giving yourself the correct amount. And the tiny Wegovy needle is already in place.
Ready? It will be over before you know it:
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Push the pen firmly against your skin. You’re going to keep applying pressure until the yellow bar on the side of the pen stops moving.
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Hold and listen for two clicks. The first click means the injection has started. The second click means the injection is ongoing. (If you don’t hear two clicks, press the pen more firmly into your skin.)
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Hold and watch the yellow bar: The injection itself should take five to 10 seconds. Once the yellow bar has stopped moving, slowly lift the pen away from your skin.
If you notice a little bit of blood after your injection, lightly press the injection site with a cotton ball or gauze pad.
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5. Throw the Injection Pen Away
There’s only one dose of medication in each Wegovy pen. Throw out the pen after your injection.
You can discard used Wegovy pens in a sharps container or a container made of hard plastic with a tight-fitting lid, like an empty laundry detergent jug or protein powder container.
And, voilà! That’s how to inject Wegovy. Not as bad as you thought, right?
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Best Place to Inject Wegovy
There’s no single best place to inject Wegovy.
You can choose between your:
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Upper arm
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Thigh
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Stomach (two inches away from your belly button)
Don’t inject the medication into bruised, tender, red, or hard skin. Avoid any scars or stretch marks.
You should choose a new injection site each time you give yourself a shot. Pick a site at least one inch away from your last injection site, or pick a new body part. For example, give yourself your injection in your upper arm one week and then in your thigh the next week.
If you’re having trouble injecting the medication, try a firmer site (like your thighs or upper arm) or try standing when injecting into your stomach.
You probably already guessed this, but you need to inject Wegovy into bare skin, not through clothing.
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How Often to Inject Wegovy
You should inject Wegovy once a week. It doesn’t matter which day you choose as long as you stick to the same day each week. Pick whichever day that suits you best.
Need to change your injection day? You can change it as long as you gave yourself your last dose at least two days before.
If you miss a weekly dose, don’t panic. If your next scheduled dose is more than two days away, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If your next scheduled dose is less than two days away, skip the dose and take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day.
If it’s been more than two weeks since your last Wegovy shot, reach out to your prescribing healthcare provider for guidance. You might need to take a lower dose and slowly build it up again.
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FAQs About How to Inject Wegovy
You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers. Here are some common questions about how to properly inject Wegovy.
How Often to Rotate Injection Sites
You should rotate injection sites with each new Wegovy injection. You can use the same body part each week if you like, but not the exact same injection spot. Avoid areas where your skin is tender, bruised, red, or hard. You should also avoid injecting into an area with scars or stretch marks.
What Time of Day Should I Inject Wegovy?
You can inject Wegvoy at any time of day, with or without food. It might help to inject Wegovy at the same time each week to make it a habit. This could be before bed every Sunday night or before your morning coffee every Monday, for example.
Do Wegovy Injections Hurt?
Wegovy injections are pretty painless. The needle is extremely small, and it’s injected just under the skin, not into a muscle or vein. That means you might not even feel the injection at all.
The needle is also covered by a pen cap, so you won’t see it or need to handle it. Even if you have a fear of needles, you might find you can overcome this fear and confidently and comfortably give yourself a Wegovy injection
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FAQs
How to Store Wegovy
Keep Wegovy in the fridge between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit. Place it away from your refrigerator cooling element, though, as you don’t want Wegovy to freeze. Store the medication in its original packaging to protect it from light.
If needed, you can also store Wegovy at 46 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 28 days before removing the pen cap. Keep it in its original packaging.
How to Inject Wegovy in Stomach
The process of injecting Wegovy is the same no matter which injection site you go for. If you’re injecting it into your stomach, though, you may find it easier to stand while you give yourself the shot.
Choose an area of your lower stomach that’s at least two inches away from your belly button.
How to Inject Wegovy in Arm
You can inject Wegovy into your upper arm as you would any other injection site. Stay at least three inches below your shoulder and above your elbow. Inject the medication into the back or side of your arm.
How to Inject Wegovy in Thigh
You can follow the above instructions to inject Wegovy into your thigh. Inject the medication into your upper leg (the front of your thigh)
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Wegovy Injections: Final Tips
Giving yourself a shot isn’t anyone’s idea of fun, but Wegovy injections are quick, simple, and practically pain-free.
Here are some final pointers if you’re just getting started:
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Take your time. The injection itself takes five to 10 seconds to fully administer, but there’s no need to rush beforehand. Get everything you need ready and read through these instructions a few times before you start.
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Reach out to your healthcare provider with any questions. They can walk you through how to give yourself a Wegovy injection for the first time, troubleshoot any problems you have, or give you a refresher if you need it.
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Keep up healthy habits. Taking Wegovy is a powerful step toward taking care of your health. As well as your medication, remember to eat nutritious foods, do more physical activity, and get enough sleep. This can help you make the most of your medication, lose weight, and improve your health.
Finally, although Wegovy injections aren’t as daunting as they sound, we know they’re not right for everyone. If you really want to avoid needles, you can also consider oral weight loss medications.
Related: Wegovy Weight Loss: What to Eat (& What Not to Eat)
Related: How to inject semaglutide from a vial.
This article originally appeared on Forhers.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org
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