Wegovy

Wegovy (semaglutide) injection prescription medicines used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to:

• reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight.
• help adults with obesity, or some adults with excess weight (overweight) who also have weight-related medical problems to lose weight and keep the weight off.

Wegovy contains semaglutide and should not be used with other semaglutide-containing products or other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines.

How does Wegovey work?

Wegovy (semaglutide) aids weight loss by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite, increasing feelings of fullness, and slowing stomach emptying. By acting on brain receptors, it reduces hunger, cravings, and "food noise". Weekly injections, combined with diet and exercise, help users consume fewer calories.

Key Mechanisms of Action:

• Appetite Suppression: It acts on the brain to increase feelings of fullness and reduce hunger and cravings.
• Slower Digestion: Wegovy slows down how quickly your stomach empties, which keeps you feeling fuller for longer.
• Reduced Food Noise: Many users report reduced obsessive thoughts about food, making it easier to manage food intake.
• Blood Sugar Management: It helps control blood sugar levels by promoting insulin release, which can help stabilize energy levels.

DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

Injection: prefilled, single-dose pen that delivers doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, 2.4 mg

Recommended Dosage for WEGOVY

The recommended starting dosage of WEGOVY injection is 0.25 mg administered subcutaneously once weekly.

Follow the dosage escalation as shown below reduce the risk of gastrointestinal adverse reactions.

If you do not tolerate a dose during dosage escalation, consider delaying dosage escalation for 4 weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Recommended Starting Dosage and Dosage Escalation of WEGOVY Injection

	Weeks	Once-weekly Subcutaneous Injection Dosage
Starting Dosage	1 through 4	0.25mg
Dosage Escalation	5 through 8	0.5mg
	9 through 12	1mg
	13 through 16	1.7mg
Maintenance Dosage	17 and onward	Maintenance doses

 

Weight Reduction in Adults maintenance doses

The maintenance dosage of WEGOVY for weight reduction in adults is either 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg (recommended) injected subcutaneously once weekly.

For patients who tolerate the 2.4 mg dosage for at least 4 weeks and additional weight reduction is clinically indicated, the dosage may be increased to a maximum dosage of 7.2 mg subcutaneously once weekly.

Consider treatment response and tolerability when selecting the maintenance dosage.

Recommendations Regarding Missed Dose(s) WEGOVY Injection

If one dose of WEGOVY injection is missed and the next scheduled dose is:

• More than 2 days away, administer WEGOVY injection as soon as possible.
• Less than 2 days away do not administer the WEGOVY injection dose. Resume dosing on the regularly scheduled day of the week.
• If 2 or more consecutive doses of WEGOVY injection are missed, resume dosing as scheduled or, if needed, reinitiate WEGOVY injection and follow the dosage escalation schedule, which may reduce the occurrence of gastrointestinal adverse reactions associated with reinitiation of treatment

Who cannot use WEGOVEY

WEGOVY is contraindicated in the following conditions:

• A personal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2.

• A prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or to any of the excipients in WEGOVY injection. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, have been reported with WEGOVY

•If you miss doses of WEGOVY for 2 or more weeks, take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day or contact our clinician to talk about how to restart your treatment.

•You can take WEGOVY with or without food

 

 

What are the possible side effects of WEGOVY?

WEGOVY may cause serious side effects, including:

Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)

Stop using WEGOVY and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without nausea or vomiting. Sometimes you may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.

Gallbladder problems

WEGOVY may cause gallbladder problems including gallstones. Some gallbladder problems need surgery. Contact us or your GP if you have any of the following symptoms:

• pain in your upper stomach (abdomen)

• yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice)

• fever

• clay-coloured stools

Increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in patients with type 2 diabetes, especially those who also take medicines to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus such as an insulin or a Sulfonylureas.

Low blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes who receive WEGOVY can be both a serious and common side effect. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to recognize and treat low blood sugar. You should check your blood sugar before you start taking WEGOVY and while you take WEGOVY. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include:

• dizziness or light-headedness

• sweating

• shakiness

• blurred vision

• slurred speech

• weakness

• anxiety

• hunger

• headache

• irritability or mood changes

• confusion or drowsiness

• fast heartbeat

• feeling jittery

Dehydration Leading To Kidney Problems

Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration) which may cause kidney problems. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration. Tell our clinicians right away if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that does not go away.

Severe Stomach Problems.

Stomach problems, sometimes severe, have been reported in people who use WEGOVY. Tell our clinicians if you have stomach problems that are severe or will not go away.

Serious Allergic Reactions.

Stop using WEGOVY and get medical help right away, if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including:

• swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat

• severe rash or itching

• very rapid heartbeat

• problems breathing or swallowing

• fainting or feeling dizzy

Change in vision in people with type 2 diabetes.

Tell us if you have changes in vision during treatment with WEGOVY.

Increased heart rate.

WEGOVY can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Your healthcare provider should check your heart rate while you take WEGOVY. Tell our clinical team if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes.

Food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)

WEGOVY may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking WEGOVY before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures

The most common side effects of WEGOVY may include:

•nausea

•diarrhoea

•vomiting

•constipation

•stomach (abdomen) pain

•changes in skin sensations

•headache

•tiredness (fatigue)

•upset stomach

•dizziness

•feeling bloated

•belching

•low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes

•gas

•stomach flu

•heartburn

•hair loss

 

Important information Read this Instructions for Use before you start using WEGOVY.

Your WEGOVY pen is for 1 time use only. The WEGOVY pen is for subcutaneous (under the skin) use only.

• The dose of WEGOVY is already set on your pen.

• The needle is covered by the needle cover and the needle will not be seen.

• Do not remove the pen cap until you are ready to inject.

• Do not touch or push on the needle cover. You could get a needle stick injury.

• Your WEGOVY injection will start when the needle cover is pressed firmly against your skin.

• Do not remove the pen from your skin before the yellow bar in the pen window has stopped moving. The medicine may appear on the skin or squirt from the needle and you may not get your full dose of WEGOVY if:

• the pen is removed too early or

• you have not pressed the pen firmly against the skin for the entire injection.

• If the yellow bar does not start moving or stops during the injection, contact Manufacturer

• The needle cover will lock when the pen is removed from your skin. You cannot stop the injection and restart it later.

• People who are blind or have vision problems should not use the WEGOVY pen without help from a person trained to use the WEGOVY pen.

How do I store WEGOVY?

• Store the WEGOVY pen in the refrigerator between 2°C to 8°C.

• If needed, before removing the pen cap, WEGOVY can be stored from 8°C to 30°C in the original carton for up to 28 days.

• Keep WEGOVY® in the original carton to protect it from light.

• Do not freeze. 

• Throw away the pen if WEGOVY has been frozen, has been exposed to light or temperatures above 30°C, or has been out of the refrigerator for 28 days or longer.

Keep WEGOVY and all medicines out of the reach of children.

 

How to use your WEGOVY pen

Read and follow the instructions so that you use your WEGOVY pen correctly:

Step 1. Prepare for your injection.

• Supplies you will need to give your WEGOVY

injection:

• WEGOVY pen                                  

• 1 Alcohol swab or soap and water

• 1 Gauze pad or cotton ball

• 1 Sharps disposable container for used WEGOVY pens

• Wash your hands.

• Check your WEGOVY pen.

Do not use your WEGOVY pen if:

• The pen appears to have been used or any part of the pen appears broken, for example if it has been dropped.

• The WEGOVY medicine is not clear and colourless through the pen window.

• The expiration date (EXP) has passed. Contact Manufacturer if your WEGOVY pen fails any of these checks.

Step 2. Choose your injection site.

• Your healthcare provider can help you choose the injection site that is best for you

• You may inject into your upper leg (front of the thighs), lower stomach (keep 2 inches away from your belly button) or upper arm.

• Do not inject into an area where the skin is tender, bruised, red, or hard. Avoid injecting into areas with scars or stretch marks.

• You may inject in the same body area each week, but make sure it is not in the same spot each time. Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab or soap and water. Do not touch the injection site after cleaning. Allow the skin to dry before injecting.

Step 3. Remove pen cap.

• Pull the pen cap straight off your pen

Step 4. Inject WEGOVY.

• Push the pen firmly against your skin and keep applying pressure until the yellow bar has stopped moving. If the yellow bar does not start moving, press the pen more firmly against your skin.

• You will hear 2 clicks during the injection.

• Click 1: the injection has started.

• Click 2: the injection is ongoing

Step 5. Throw away (dispose of) pen.

Safely dispose of the WEGOVY pen right away after each use

What if blood appears after injection?

If blood appears at the injection site, press the site lightly with a gauze pad or cotton ball.