Preparing for Wegovy: a step-by-step guide before your first dose

Step 1, Review your medicines and supplements before your first injection

Sit down with a current list of everything you take: prescription medicines, over-the-counter tablets, vitamins and herbal supplements. This matters because semaglutide slows gastric emptying, which can alter how quickly other medicines are absorbed. The oral contraceptive pill is a specific point worth knowing about: for semaglutide there is no equivalent evidence of reduced pill effectiveness to the interaction seen with tirzepatide, but NHS England's guidance on weight-management injections still recommends discussing your contraception with your prescriber, because individual circumstances vary. A pharmacist or prescriber can flag any medicines that warrant closer attention once you start.

If you take anything for blood pressure, thyroid conditions or cholesterol, let your clinical team know, not because Wegovy is necessarily incompatible, but because dose adjustments to other medicines sometimes follow significant weight change. Your prescriber should also be told about any history of pancreatitis or gallbladder problems, as these are contraindications that affect suitability. The semaglutide overview on our site covers the main eligibility considerations in more detail.

One thing worth gently setting aside: the idea that Wegovy preparation means eating as much as possible beforehand, "while you can". Our semaglutide preparation guide explains why a calorie-reduced diet is part of the licensed use from day one, the medicine works alongside dietary change, not instead of it.

Step 2, Organise storage and check your fridge before your pen arrives

Wegovy pens need to be stored in a refrigerator at 2–8 °C. That sounds straightforward, but a surprising number of people receive their pen and leave it in a bag, in a car, or on a worktop for longer than the label allows. Before your treatment arrives, clear a space in the fridge that is not the door shelf, where temperatures fluctuate most. Keep the pen in its original packaging and away from the freezer compartment, a frozen pen is not safe to use.

If you plan to travel during your treatment course, read the patient information leaflet for the exact room-temperature window permitted for your pen. The information is there and it is specific; we do not print a number here because the leaflet is the authoritative source and you should cross-check it for your pen's batch. You can find the full prescribing information via the Wegovy SmPC on the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC).

You will also need a sharps bin for used needles. Many local councils provide these free of charge; your dispensing pharmacy may supply one, and collection schemes vary by area. Organise this before your first injection, not after.

Step 3, Prepare your diet and daily routine for the first two weeks

The most common side effects in the early weeks are gastrointestinal: nausea, loose stools, an uncomfortable fullness, or occasional vomiting. These are driven partly by the slowing of gastric emptying that makes the medicine work. Most people find they ease within a fortnight, and the majority are mild. There are practical things that genuinely help during this adjustment window, and NHS guidance on semaglutide sets these out clearly: smaller meals, lower-fat foods, eating slowly and sitting upright after eating. Large portions and high-fat meals are the combination most likely to trigger nausea early on.

Protein and hydration deserve attention even before you start. As appetite falls (which it will) it becomes easier to under-eat protein, which can accelerate muscle loss alongside fat. Starting with good habits now means you are not scrambling to adjust your diet at the same time as managing new side effects. Three regular meals, adequate fluid, and a weekly walk you can sustain are a better foundation than a dramatic pre-treatment dietary overhaul.

If you are thinking about what a full treatment programme involves, our guide to the first Wegovy dose covers the clinical context in full, including what to expect as you begin.

Step 4, Know what to watch for and who to contact

Preparation also means knowing the difference between normal early side effects and symptoms that need prompt attention. Nausea that settles after a few days is expected. Severe stomach pain that radiates to the back, and does not ease, is not, this could indicate acute pancreatitis, and you should seek medical help without delay. In January 2026 the MHRA issued a Drug Safety Update for GLP-1 medicines to reinforce awareness of pancreatitis as a recognised, though infrequent, side effect. Similarly, symptoms of dehydration from persistent vomiting or diarrhoea (dizziness, very dark urine, inability to keep fluids down) need clinical attention rather than waiting it out.

Keep a note of your GP's contact details and out-of-hours service. If you are starting through a private prescriber, know how to reach aftercare support too. At nume, our prescribers are available for clinical queries seven days a week, and our support team can direct urgent concerns to the right clinician promptly. You can also report any suspected side effects directly through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Understanding the cost of a full treatment course before you start is also practical preparation. Our guide to preparing to take Wegovy explains how to get ready financially and practically, including what a legitimate private price should include alongside the Wegovy cost guide on UK pricing across different providers.

When you are ready to take the next step, our prescribers can assess your suitability during a free consultation, reviewed by a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber on the same day you complete it.