What to do when taking Wegovy: a practical guide to getting it right

Step 1: nail the injection routine from the start

Wegovy is injected once a week, into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, rotating sites each week. The day doesn't matter, but consistency does. Choosing the same day and building a small ritual around it (setting a phone reminder, keeping the pen in the same spot in the fridge) prevents missed doses better than willpower alone.

Storage: keep pens refrigerated at 2–8°C until use. If you need to carry one with you, check the Patient Information Leaflet for the permitted room-temperature window; the leaflet is the authoritative source and the window is shorter than most people assume. For full storage and handling detail, the Wegovy SmPC on the eMC is the place to check.

Treatment starts at 0.25 mg and is titrated upward roughly every four weeks by your prescriber. A common misconception is that the lower starting doses aren't doing anything useful. They are, the gradual escalation exists precisely to give your system time to adjust and reduce the likelihood of nausea. The first pen's job is tolerance, not transformation.

If you miss a dose, refer to your Patient Information Leaflet for the specific guidance; the decision depends on how close you are to the next scheduled injection. Do not double up without checking first. Before you begin, it is worth reading what to know when taking Wegovy, alongside our guide to taking Wegovy for more on the injection process, and our page on what to do while taking Wegovy covers the practical habits worth building from day one.

Step 2: adjust how and what you eat

Wegovy reduces appetite, sometimes substantially. That's the mechanism. But eating less doesn't automatically mean eating well, and the quality of what goes in matters more, not less, when overall volume drops.

Protein is the priority. Aim to include a protein source at every meal: eggs, fish, chicken, legumes, dairy. When calories fall, the body can draw on muscle as well as fat stores; adequate protein, combined with resistance or weight-bearing activity, helps preserve lean mass. The NHS healthy weight guidance is a sensible starting framework for the dietary side.

Smaller, more frequent meals tend to be better tolerated than large ones, particularly during a dose increase when nausea risk is higher. High-fat or very rich meals can worsen gastrointestinal symptoms. Fibre matters too, constipation is a real side effect for some people, and eating plenty of vegetables, pulses and wholegrains, alongside good hydration, helps.

Alcohol doesn't interact with semaglutide directly, but it adds empty calories, can lower blood sugar in people also taking certain diabetes medicines, and tends to make nausea worse. Moderation is sensible. There are more practical tips on eating and lifestyle while on Wegovy worth reading alongside this.

Step 3: manage side effects without abandoning treatment

Nausea, loose stools, constipation, indigestion, burping, fatigue and headache are the most commonly reported effects, particularly after a dose increase. Most people find they ease significantly within one to two weeks as the body adjusts.

A few things that genuinely help: eating slowly, stopping when full rather than finishing the plate, avoiding lying down immediately after eating, and keeping fizzy drinks to a minimum. Staying well hydrated is especially important if vomiting or diarrhoea occur, dehydration can affect kidney function, and this is one of the signs that warrants a call to your prescriber or GP rather than waiting it out.

Other situations that need prompt medical attention include severe, persistent stomach pain that extends to the back (a potential sign of pancreatitis, the subject of a 2026 MHRA Drug Safety Update on GLP-1 medicines), gallbladder symptoms, signs of a serious allergic reaction, and any low mood or unusual thoughts. You can also report suspected side effects directly through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Wegovy is not recommended during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or when actively trying to conceive, and it is not licensed for people under 18. If any of those circumstances change during treatment, contact your prescriber promptly.

Step 4: keep your prescriber in the loop at every review

Treatment doesn't run on autopilot. Each dose increase is a clinical decision, and at nume every repeat order is reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber before it is approved, not by a system, but by a real clinician reading your update. That review matters because side effects, other medicines, and life changes all affect whether continuing or titrating is the right call.

Tell your prescriber about any new medicines or supplements, including the oral contraceptive pill. Because semaglutide slows gastric emptying, it can affect how quickly some medicines are absorbed. Women taking oral contraceptives are advised to use an additional non-oral method of contraception during Wegovy treatment. Discuss transdermal HRT (patches or gels) if that's relevant to you. And if you're due any surgical procedure, make sure the anaesthetist knows you're taking a GLP-1 medicine well in advance.

Progress reviews are also the moment to raise any questions about what to do when on Wegovy, covering how to manage day-to-day life throughout treatment. Honest conversations at this stage lead to better outcomes. If you're weighing up whether private treatment is the right route for you, the cost context for Wegovy in the UK is worth understanding before you start. When you're ready to speak with one of our prescribers, start your free consultation and we'll review your situation the same day.