How to Inject Wegovy Safely and Effectively: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Quick Answer: To inject Wegovy, use the prefilled pen once a week on clean skin-typically the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm. Press the pen firmly until you hear two clicks. Always follow your doctor's instructions and rotate injection sites to avoid irritation.

Weight loss injectable drugs like Wegovy, Saxenda, or Mounjaro aren't cheap. That's why it's essential to know how to inject them correctly and avoid wasting thousands of dollars worth of medicine. Here's a complete step-by-step guide on how to inject Wegovy and use the Wegovy injector pens. At the end of the article, you'll also find a helpful series of Frequently Asked Questions answered by our team of experts. Related article: Does Wegovy Need to be Refrigerated and How to Store your Pens Correctly?

Wegovy Pen

Wegovy is an FDA-approved injection medicine for weight loss. It's a prescription medication that is not available over the counter and is indicated under medical supervision only for adults with obesity (BMI > 30), overweight and weight-related health problems (BMI > 27), as well as for children over 12 with obesity. The active ingredient is Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drug. It belongs to the same class of drugs as Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza, Saxenda, and Byetta. Wegovy injections help decrease feelings of hunger, make you stay full longer, and regulate stomach emptying, ultimately reducing calorie intake, and promoting weight loss. To be an effective weight management treatment, Wegovy must be taken with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Patients are responsible for self-administering Wegovy at home through weekly subcutaneous injections (under the skin). Far from the old-fashioned glass vials and syringes, the Wegovy injection device is an easy and convenient injector pen.

Related article: Wegovy Vs. Ozempic: Comparing 2 Semaglutide Injections

What is the Wegovy injector pen?

Wegovy comes in prefilled single-dose injector pens with different strengths: 0.25 mg (green pen), 0.5 mg (red pen), 1 mg (brown pen), 1.7 mg (blue pen), and 2.4 mg (black pen)). The pens are disposable and must be thrown away in a sharps container after use.

Photo Credits: NovoMedlink The typical dosing schedule starts with 0.25 mg once a week and increases the dose every four weeks until you reach the 2.4 mg strength. However, depending on your needs and medical situation, your healthcare provider may adjust this dosing schedule and increase or decrease the dosage.

How to Inject Wegovy?

Independently of their strength, all Wegovy pens work the same way. The injection takes less than a minute and is very easy to make. Your healthcare provider must have shown you how to use a Wegovy pen before sending you back home with your new weight loss medication. But administering subcutaneous injections for the first time alone can be intimidating.

So, here's a step-by-step guide and reminder to use your injector pens the right way:

Photo Credits: NovoNordisk

Step 1. Read Wegovy instructions for use

If you need help administering Wegovy, the first step is to read the instructions for use and the important safety information paper sheet in the Wegovy pen box. There can be valuable information in there. While the following guide is quite complete, we do not cover side effects or technical issues that you should be aware of before injecting an anti-obesity medication for the first time.

Step 2. Prepare your injection supplies

To inject Wegovy, you will need the following:

• Your Wegovy pen
• One alcohol swab (or soap and water)
• One cotton ball
• A sharps container

Put all the material on a clean table where you can sit comfortably, especially if you fear needles and injections. Then, please wash your hands with soap and gently dry them (or use an alcohol swab).

Step 3. Check your Wegovy pen

Always check your Wegovy pen before each injection. Make sure the expiration date labeled on the back of your pen has not passed and that your pen was correctly stored in the refrigerator (or at room temperature for less than 28 days). Make sure your pen strength matches your doctor's prescription. Wegovy pens are color-coded depending on their dosage strength so that you can check that from just a glance:

• 25 mg Wegovy pens are green
• 5 mg Wegovy pens are red
• 1 mg Wegovy pens are brown
• 7 mg Wegovy pens are blue
• 4 mg Wegovy pens are black

Then, check the liquid inside your injector pen. Semaglutide, the active drug in your Wegovy pen, is a clear and colorless liquid. Do not use the pen if it looks discolored, cloudy, or has particles. These could be signs your weight loss medicine has gone bad, most probably because of exposure to light or high temperatures. However, air bubbles in your pen are normal, and no cause for concern.

Step 4. Clean the injection site

Before injecting Wegovy, clean your injection spot with an alcohol swab or soap and water. Also, make sure there are no bruises, redness, or irritation.

Step 5. Inject Wegovy

• Pull the cap off your Wegovy pen.- The needle is already inside and attached, so you won't need to handle it.

• Choose your injection site (e.g., thigh, abdomen, or upper arm) and press the pen firmly and flat against your skin.

• Hold the pen in place until the yellow bar in the viewing window stops moving.

• Listen for two clicks:- The first click means the injection has started.- The second click means it's complete.

• After the second click and once the yellow bar has stopped moving, slowly lift the pen away from your skin.

Step 6. Press lightly with a cotton ball

Sometimes, blood may appear at the injection site. It's normal and nothing to worry about. Simply press lightly with a gauze pad or a cotton ball for a few seconds until the bleeding stops.

Wegovy Injection Sites: Where to Inject Wegovy?

The location of injection is important for subcutaneous injections like Wegovy, Saxenda, Insulin, Ozempic, or others. Wegovy needs to be injected into the fatty tissue just below the skin. Therefore, some areas of the body are more suitable than others and guarantee the needle will not hit a muscle, a bone, or a blood vessel.

Wegovy can be injected into:

• The upper legs

• The front of the thighs

• The lower stomach (at least 2 inches away from the belly button)

• The back of the upper arm

Tips:

• Consult your doctor to determine the best injection site for you.

• Always inspect the skin before injecting-avoid areas with bruises, redness, or scars.

• Rotate injection sites weekly to prevent skin irritation or damage.

FAQs About Administering Wegovy

Is Wegovy self-administered?

Yes, Wegovy is self-administered. The patient is responsible for injecting the weight-loss medication at home weekly. If you aren't comfortable using the Wegovy injector pen or are afraid of injections, you can ask a friend or family member to inject Wegovy for you.

Do Wegovy injections hurt?

No, Wegovy injections do not hurt. Injection delivery devices have considerably improved in recent years. The needle tips' design is much sharper and thinner than it used to be. However, subcutaneous injections may cause a slight discomfort at the injection site, such as a burning sensation, redness, or itchiness, especially if you've hit a muscle tissue instead of body fat, you've injected into a sensitive area, or used the same injection spot too often. Ask your doctor for advice if you feel pain every time you inject Wegovy. 

Does Wegovy come with needles?

The Wegovy pens come with the needle attached. You do not need to connect the needle to the pen. It's hidden inside the pen and only visible once the injection is completed.

How to store your Wegovy pens?

Semaglutide, the active drug in Wegovy, is a biological product that's highly sensitive to light and temperature. So, according to Novo Nordisk, Wegovy's manufacturer, your Wegovy pens must be stored in the refrigerator (between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C).

Storage guidelines:

• Refrigerate Wegovy pens at all times when possible.

• Do not freeze Wegovy pens.

• If refrigeration is not possible, you may:

  • Keep the pen at room temperature for up to 28 days

  • Ensure the room temperature does not exceed 86°F (30°C)

  • Keep the pen protected from light, using the opaque pen cap

Important reminders:

• Do not use Wegovy if it has been exposed to high temperatures or direct light.

• Improper storage can cause the medication to spoil or lose effectiveness.

• Never inject Wegovy that may have been stored incorrectly, as it could be unsafe. Learn more about how to store your Wegovy pens here.

Related article: Safety Tips for Traveling With Wegovy Pens!

How many doses are in a Wegovy pen?

All Wegovy pens are single-dose pens and contain one dose of Wegovy each. However, the dose strength varies as there are 0.25 mg green pens, 0.5 mg red pens, 1 mg brown pens, 1.7 mg blue pens, and 2.4 mg black pens. Each Wegovy pack contains 4 Wegovy pens (4 weekly doses for one month). Most suppliers and pharmacies will deliver 3 boxes at a time, enough for 3-month weight loss treatment.

What to do if you miss a dose of Wegovy?

As mentioned above, Wegovy is administered weekly. It should be taken on the same day each week. But you may miss a dose of Wegovy. In that case, do not panic and do as is instructed by the manufacturer (or call your doctor for advice):

• If your next scheduled injection is more than 2 days away, take the missed Wegovy dose late.
• If your next scheduled injection is less than 2 days away, do not take the missed dose. Instead, wait for the next injection.

How to dispose of Wegovy pens?

Wegovy pens are injection devices with a needle inside. Therefore, they're considered sharp objects and must be disposed of accordingly. You should not throw used Wegovy pens in the household trash. Instead, use an FDA-cleared sharps container or a heavy-duty plastic container with a tight and secure lid, like a laundry detergent bottle, for example.

📌 Ket Takeaways:

• 💉 Wegovy is a weekly injectable weight loss medication using a pre-filled pen for subcutaneous injections in areas like the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm.

• 🧼 Proper preparation is key: clean your hands and injection site, check the pen's expiration date and liquid clarity.

• ✅ Injecting Wegovy is simple: press the pen firmly to the skin, listen for two clicks, and check the yellow bar stops moving.

• 📍 Rotate injection sites weekly to avoid skin irritation or complications.

• 🧊 Store Wegovy pens correctly in the fridge or at room temperature (under 86°F) for up to 28 days-keep them away from light.

💬 We'd Love to Hear From You!

Are you currently using Wegovy for weight loss? Share your experience with the injection device-was it easy to use, or did you face any challenges? Your insights can help others on the same journey!

📆 Article Update History:

✅ Updated: March 29, 2025

Originally Published: March 15, 2023