How to use Wegovy: a step-by-step guide

The pen is in your hand, here's what to do before you inject

Take the pen out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you plan to inject. A pen that's been sitting in the cold is uncomfortable to use; giving it time to reach room temperature makes the experience noticeably easier. While you wait, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Check the pen's label: confirm your name, the strength, and the expiry date. Then look through the inspection window. The liquid inside should be clear and colourless to pale yellow with no particles floating in it. If it looks cloudy or discoloured, do not use that pen, contact your prescriber or our support team for advice.

Remove the pen cap. You'll find a white needle cap underneath; do not remove this until the pen is pressed against your skin and you're ready to inject. Turn the dose selector to the correct number, the Wegovy pen is pre-filled with four doses labelled 1 through 4, so if this is your third injection from this pen, turn to 3. You'll feel and hear a click as the selector locks into place.

Wipe the injection site with an alcohol swab and let it dry for a few seconds. Wet skin can sting. If you want a step-by-step reminder of the full technique before pressing the pen to your skin, our guide on how to use the Wegovy pen walks through each stage clearly. Pinch a fold of skin gently, press the pen firmly against it so the needle cap depresses fully, and hold for six seconds after you hear the click that confirms the dose has been delivered. Release, withdraw, and check the inspection window again, it should look empty at that dose window. Done.

Choosing and rotating your injection site

Three areas are licensed for Wegovy injections: the abdomen (at least 5 cm from your navel), the front of the thigh, or the upper arm. All three are subcutaneous sites, meaning the needle reaches the fatty tissue just under the skin, not the muscle beneath it.

Rotation matters more than most people realise. Injecting in the same spot repeatedly can cause lipodystrophy (small lumps or dips in the skin where fatty tissue has changed) and absorption from those sites becomes unpredictable. A simple system is to divide each area into a grid and move one square along each week. Some people keep a small note in their phone; others use a pattern they can remember without writing it down. Either works.

If you want a full walkthrough before your first dose, our guide to how to use Wegovy, covering everything from setup to aftercare, is a good place to start. The upper arm is perfectly valid if you can brace the pen against a firm surface, but many people find the abdomen or thigh easier when injecting alone.

You'll need to dispose of used needles safely. A sharps container keeps them secure until you can hand them in at a local pharmacy, most will accept them. Never put loose needles in household bins.

What to expect after the injection, and when to call for help

For most people, the first few doses bring some nausea. It usually peaks in the hours after injection and settles as the week goes on. Taking your dose before bed is a common strategy; some find it easier on an empty stomach, others with a small meal. There's no single right answer, experiment carefully and let your prescriber know what you notice.

Other common effects include constipation or loose stools, bloating, and low-grade fatigue in the first week or two at a new dose. These are the GI signature of semaglutide slowing gastric emptying, which is also part of how it reduces appetite. They tend to ease as your body adjusts, particularly if you stay well hydrated and eat slowly.

Some symptoms need prompt attention. Severe stomach pain that radiates to your back, with or without vomiting, can be a sign of pancreatitis, the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme is the right place to report suspected side effects, and if you experience this, seek medical help the same day rather than waiting for it to pass. Gallbladder symptoms (sharp pain under the right ribs, particularly after eating) also warrant a call to your GP or 111.

For a broader picture of how semaglutide works in the body, including why the titration schedule is what it is, that page is worth reading alongside this one. Your dose is set by a prescriber, self-adjusting the schedule, skipping increases, or restarting after a long gap without clinical input can increase side effect risk significantly.

A few practical details that catch people out

Storage is one of the most common sources of confusion. The pen lives in the fridge when not in use; if you want step-by-step instructions for how to use Wegovy pens correctly, including storage and handling details, our dedicated guide covers the specifics for each strength. The leaflet is also where you'll find guidance on what to do if you miss a dose, the NHS England guidance on weight-management injections is a useful secondary reference for the broader context of how these medicines are used in practice.

Cost questions come up regularly among people starting treatment. If you're weighing up the ongoing price of private Wegovy against your budget, the Wegovy cost and access page sets out what's typically included in a private prescription service and what to watch for when comparing providers.

One timing note that gets forgotten: the 12 pm cut-off for same-day dispatch at nume is worth keeping in mind for repeat orders, particularly around bank holidays when delivery schedules shift. If you want a clear visual walkthrough before your pen arrives, our page on how to use the Wegovy injection, with illustrated steps from cap removal to disposal, is worth bookmarking. Order before noon on a working day and, once clinically approved, your pen leaves the same day via tracked DPD next-working-day delivery.

If your treatment is going well and you're ready to discuss a dose review, or if something doesn't feel right and you want a clinician's view rather than a search engine's, speak to our prescribers, a real clinician reads every consultation the same day.