Wegovy Pen 0.25mg

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is an MHRA approved medicine for the use of weight loss, with a significant reduction in body weight when using Wegovy over a 68 week period. It contains the same active ingredient (Semaglutide) that is in Ozempic, but whilst Ozempic is only licensed to treat diabetes, Wegovy has been approved for weight loss, the products have different licensed uses and dosing schedules. The active ingredient in Wegovy (Semaglutide), helps you lose weight by making you feel less hungry and more satisfied with smaller amounts of food. It does this by acting like a hormone in your body called GLP-1, which is responsible for regulating your appetite.

How it works

Semaglutide the active ingredient in Wegovy, binds to and activates to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors in your body. Your body naturally produces GLP-1 that helps regulate your appetite. By mimicking GLP-1 it leads to:

• Reduced Hunger: It sends signals to your brain that make you feel full, so you don't feel as hungry and eat less.
• Slows Digestion: It slows down the speed at which food leaves your stomach, which helps you feel full longer after eating.
• Helps Control Blood Sugar: By helping to control blood sugar levels, semaglutide prevents spikes and crashes that can make you feel hungry.

This will help you feel full sooner, stay full for longer and have fewer cravings for snacks between meals. By helping you feel less hungry and more satisfied with smaller portions, Wegovy supports healthy eating habits and weight loss.

How to buy Wegovy online

You can arrange a consultation with our prescriber to buy Wegovy online in the UK. We are a regulated GPhC registered pharmacy based in the UK and offer free next day delivery with your Wegovy order. After a short or long call (depending on your needs) with the prescriber your order will be shipped out for delivery on a day you choose. As this item is a 'Prescription Only Medication' (POM) a prescriber needs to have a consultation to make sure treatment is appropriate before you can purchase this medication. Be aware of anywhere offering to sell this item without a prior consultation as it is likely a website operating illegally and could be selling fake or counterfeit medicine.

How to use a Wegovy injection pen

1. Inspect the pen, do not use the pen if the medication is expired, has been frozen, contains particles, appears cloudy, or has an unusual color (Wegovy should be clear and colourless).
2. Wash your hands and choose and clean your injection site making sure it is dry before injecting. You can inject Wegovy into your: Stomach, thigh or upper arm.
3. Pull the cap off the pen and get a new pen needle, you should always make sure to select a new needle for each injection to prevent infections and injuries caused by blunt needles.
4. Push the capped needle onto the pen and twist until tight.
5. Remove the outer needle shield and keep it to one side for later use.
6. Remove the inner needle shield and dispose of it.
7. If it is the first time using your pen check the flow: Slowly turn the dose knob until you see the flow check symbol which looks like ··-.
8. Hold your pen with the needle pointing up and tap the pen gently until the air bubbles rise to the top.
9. Press down on the dose button and hold until [0] is shown in the dose window. Do not inject the prime dose.
10. Priming removes air from the cartridge and makes sure that your pen is working correctly. Your pen has been primed if a small amount of medicine comes out of the tip of the pen needle.
11. You are now ready to inject, turn the knob until your dose is shown in the dose window.
12. Insert the needle into your skin and push down on the dose button until it stops and count slowly to 6.
13. Make sure [0] is shown in the dose window.
14. If [0] is shown you can remove the needle. If it is not shown push back down on the button do not redial the dose.
15. Pull the needle out of your skin. A drop of Wegovy on the needle tip is normal. It will not affect your dose.
16. Take off the needle and dispose of in your sharps bin and replace the pen cap

If you need any help at all with how to inject, do not hesitate to ask the prescriber.

Wegovy dosing guide

Wegovy starts at 0.25mg once a week for four weeks. The dose is then usually increased every four weeks through 0.5mg, 1mg and 1.7mg to 2.4mg once weekly. This gradual schedule helps reduce side effects. Follow your prescriber’s plan and do not change the dose yourself.

If side effects make a dose increase difficult, speak to your prescriber. They may delay the increase or return to the previous dose until symptoms improve. The table describes the usual schedule to 2.4mg; any higher maintenance dose needs a separate prescribing decision.

Who cannot use Wegovy

It is generally well tolerated and suitable for most adults. However it may not be suitable if you:

1. Have previously had an allergic reaction to Wegovy
2. Have a history of pancreatitis
3. Have liver problems
4. Currently taking blood thinners such as Warfarin
5. Have GI problems such as chronic constipation
6. Have thyroid problems
7. Have kidney problems
8. Currently taking immunosuppressants

Wegovy is also licensed for weight management in adolescents aged 12 and over who have obesity according to age- and sex-specific BMI charts and weigh more than 60kg. Adult BMI thresholds should not be applied to a child. Treatment needs an age-appropriate clinical assessment; the prescriber should stop and reassess it if BMI has not fallen by at least 5% after 12 weeks on the 2.4mg or maximum tolerated dose.

Is Wegovy safe?

It has been licensed by the MHRA and the FDA. It can cause side effects like any medication but usually these are well tolerated and decrease with use.

Wegovy and oral contraceptives

Wegovy unlike Mounjaro is not known to affect oral contraception.

Wegovy and pregnancy

Do not use Wegovy during pregnancy. Stop it at least two months before trying to conceive. If you become pregnant while using it, stop and contact your prescriber promptly.

Wegovy and breastfeeding

Wegovy should not be used while breastfeeding because a risk to the baby cannot be ruled out. Speak to your prescriber about suitable alternatives.

Help with nausea

A common side effect of Wegovy is nausea, usually your side effects will get better as you get used to your medication but you can take a few steps to help:

1. Make sure you get plenty of fresh air
2. Take regular sips of a cold drink
3. Drink peppermint tea
4. Eat foods or drink, drinks containing ginger
5. Eat smaller meals
6. Eat slower
7. Eat light, bland foods (such as saltine crackers or plain bread).

You should avoid:

1. Cooking strong-smelling food
2. Greasy or fried food
3. Eating quickly
4. Large meals
5. Lying down after eating
6. Clothes that are tight against your waist or stomach

Medicine such as Cyclizine is a popular choice and can help as you get used to the medication.

Wegovy side effects

Wegovy is generally well tolerated in most adults but as with all medication it can have side effects some of the more common side effects include:

1. Feeling sick (nausea)
2. Diarrhoea
3. Being sick (vomiting)
4. Constipation
5. Injection site reactions
6. Indigestion (dyspepsia)
7. Gas (flatulence)
8. Acid reflux or heartburn

Usually any side effects are not severe and will go away after you get used to the medication.
Some more rarer side effects include:

1. Low blood sugar
2. Gallstones
3. Inflamed pancreas
4. It is not known if Wegovy will cause thyroid tumors, or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people. Do not take Wegovy if you or any of your family have ever had MTC or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

Stop Wegovy and get urgent medical help for severe, persistent stomach pain, especially if it reaches your back, with or without vomiting. This can be pancreatitis; do not wait for a fever or assume it is a routine side effect.

Seek urgent eye assessment for sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight. Semaglutide has been linked to a very rare condition called NAION, which can damage the optic nerve.

Wegovy interactions

It has minimal interactions the main ones to watch out for are:

1. Other medications that can lower your blood sugar levels

You should also be aware that any herbal or alternative remedies you take may also interact with this medication and cause side effects. If you are taking any herbal or alternative remedies make sure to mention them to the prescriber, so we can make sure they are safe to take together.
For a full list of interactions see: Wegovy interactions.

Wegovy Alternatives

There are other alternatives to Wegovy if you find it does not work for you:

• Mounjaro
• We also offer an oral solution for weight loss in certain circumstances, if you would like to try this please book a consultation with our prescriber to discuss your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I use Wegovy while pregnant?

  No. Wegovy must not be used during pregnancy. Stop at least two months before trying to conceive and contact your prescriber if pregnancy occurs.

• Can you buy Wegovy over the counter?

  No it is a prescription only medication and needs to be prescribed by an appropriate prescriber.

• How often should I inject Wegovy?

  It is administered as a once-weekly injection and should be used in conjunction with diet and exercise. Do not inject more than once a week.

• Is it safe to buy Wegovy from your pharmacy?

  We are a General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registered pharmacy and we source all our pharmaceutical products from reputable wholesalers, the same wholesalers that provide the medicines used to fill NHS prescriptions.
  If you buy them from an unregistered pharmacy you may be wasting your money at best or at worse harm yourself buying and taking fake tablets. Always check to make sure where you are buying them from are registered with the GPhC.

• Do Wegovy injections expire?

  Yes, like most medicines it has a shelf life and will become less effective if it is left unused. Always check the expiry date of any medicines you are taking before you take them, the expiry date refers the end of the month. If you find your medication has expired, you can post them to us, bring them to us or take them to your nearest pharmacy for safe disposal.

• How should I store Wegovy?

  Keep unused Wegovy FlexTouch pens in a fridge at 2–8°C, away from the cooling element. After first use, keep the pen below 30°C or refrigerated for up to six weeks. Do not freeze it or use a pen that has frozen. Keep the cap on to protect it from light.

• Will Wegovy work for weight loss?

  In a study with 1,961 overweight or obese adults over 68 weeks, results showed that those using Wegovy lost 14.9% of their body weight compared to a loss of 2.4% in those receiving the placebo.

• Can I drink alcohol while using Wegovy?

  While there is no direct interaction between alcohol and Wegovy, alcohol can make it harder to lose weight and so should be avoided or kept to a minimum while using Wegovy.

• What are the common side effects of Wegovy?

  Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dizziness, indigestion, and belching. These often improve as your body adjusts to the medication.

• How long does it take to see results?

  Weight loss can begin within a few weeks, but significant weight loss typically occurs over several months with consistent use and healthy lifestyle habits.

• Can Wegovy be used long-term?

  The two-year limit comes from NICE’s recommendation for NHS treatment within a specialist weight-management service. It is not a universal maximum in the product licence. For private treatment, your prescriber should regularly review your weight, health benefits, side effects and whether continuing is appropriate.

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Read more advice from our clinical team.

• Wegovy Or Mounjaro: Which One Is Right For Me?