How To Take Wegovy For Weight Loss | Weekly Dose Guide

This guide walks you through the dose ladder, the injection routine, storage, side‑effect hacks, and lifestyle pointers. It follows the official prescribing information yet strips the jargon. By the end you’ll know exactly what to do on day one, week eight, and month six, without staring at the leaflet for an hour. Read each section in order or jump to the part you need now; just keep the pen in the fridge while you browse.

Why Wegovy Works

Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP‑1 receptor agonist that copies a gut hormone involved in appetite control. After each injection the drug slows stomach emptying, nudges insulin release, and sends satiety signals to the brain. The result is fewer hunger spikes and easier portion control, not a magic calorie eraser. In trials, adults who combined Wegovy with balanced meals and at least one hundred fifty minutes of weekly activity lost up to fifteen percent of their starting weight over sixty‑eight weeks. These changes occurred gradually, matching the stepwise dose plan your clinician writes on the prescription pad. Because semaglutide stays in the body for about seven days, a single shot every week keeps levels steady without daily reminders. Pick one weekday you rarely travel and mark it as your “pen day” to lock in the habit.

Dosing Schedule At A Glance

Your body needs time to adjust, so the dose climbs in four‑week steps. Stick to the calendar below unless your prescriber pauses the increase due to nausea or other effects. Never jump ahead, never try to catch up with an extra shot. If you miss a dose by less than five days, inject as soon as you remember; if more time has passed, skip it and resume on your regular day.

Most people settle on the full two‑point‑four milligram strength by week seventeen. Some stay at one‑point‑seven milligrams if that controls appetite well and keeps side effects mild.

Step‑By‑Step Injection Routine

Prep The Pen

Take the pen carton from the fridge and check the label for the correct dose. Look through the window; the liquid should be clear and colorless. Wash your hands, grab an alcohol swab, and let the pen sit at room temperature for ten minutes. This small wait dulls the sting. Twist off the cap only when you’re ready to use the pen, because the needle is hidden but already attached and sterile. There is no need to prime it.

Pick An Injection Site

Semaglutide works under the skin, not in muscle, so choose a fatty spot on the belly, front of thigh, or back of upper arm. Rotate sites each week to guard against lumps or bruises. If you pick the abdomen, stay two inches away from the navel. Wear loose clothing and wipe the area with an alcohol swab. Let the skin dry—don’t fan or blow on it, that adds bacteria.

Inject Correctly

Hold the pen so the yellow needle shield faces the skin at a right angle. Press down firmly until you hear the first click. Keep pressing without lifting. The medicine is now flowing. When you hear the second click, continue to hold for a full ten seconds to be sure the entire dose enters. Then lift the pen straight off. A drop at the tip is normal and doesn’t mean you lost part of the shot. Gently press, don’t rub, the site with a cotton ball.

Dispose Safely

Snap the pen cap back on only if your sharps container accepts covered devices; otherwise drop the uncapped pen directly into the sharps box. Never toss it in household trash. When the container reaches the fill line, follow local rules for disposal or check pharmacy take‑back programs. Safe handling keeps family members and pets away from residual needles.

Storage And Travel Tips

Keep unopened pens between thirty‑six and forty‑six degrees Fahrenheit in the refrigerator door, not the back where freezing can sneak up. If the pen does freeze, discard it. Once out of the fridge, the pen remains usable for twenty‑eight days at up to eighty‑six degrees Fahrenheit—handy when you fly or drive long distances. Pack it in the original carton with an ice pack during summer trips, but avoid direct contact with ice to prevent cold damage. Never store the pen in a car glove box or checked luggage, since baggage holds can exceed safe temperatures. Security officers allow medical pens through checkpoints; just declare the device.

Side Effects And How To Handle Them

The most frequent complaints during the first two months involve the stomach. Nausea, burping, and loose stools stem from the same slowed digestion that tames appetite. Starting low and climbing slowly, as shown earlier, softens these effects. Small, bland meals and plenty of water help too. Many users find ginger tea or sugar‑free mints ease the queasy feeling. If vomiting starts, skip spicy food and sip clear broth.

Avoid laying down right after eating. Gentle walks encourage the gut to move. If constipation strikes, add a tablespoon of chia or psyllium to oatmeal and increase fluids, unless diarrhea is present. Over‑the‑counter remedies like meclizine or omeprazole can be used for short stretches, yet your prescriber should know if you reach for them daily. Severe abdominal pain could signal gallstones or pancreatitis and deserves urgent care. Low blood sugar is rare unless you also use insulin or sulfonylureas; keep glucose tablets nearby if that applies to you. Headaches and fatigue often fade after the first month.

Lifestyle Habits That Boost Results

Wegovy sets the stage; you perform the action scenes. Aim for protein at every meal to preserve muscle during weight loss. Eggs, Greek yogurt, chicken, lentils, and tofu keep you satisfied between meals. Pair them with fiber‑rich vegetables, fruit, and whole grains to steady blood glucose and improve gut comfort. Drink at least eight cups of plain water; dehydration worsens cramps and slows metabolism. Schedule movement you enjoy—brisk walks, cycling, or swimming—for thirty minutes five days a week. Strength training twice weekly guards bone density. Sleep seven hours nightly, since short sleep raises hunger hormones even when Wegovy is on board. Limit alcohol because it adds calories and may intensify nausea.

Missed Dose And Dose Adjustments

Life happens. If the weekly reminder pops up and the pen is still in the fridge, stay calm. A dose taken within forty‑eight hours of the scheduled day counts as on time. Inject it in the usual spot, then return to the original weekday for the next shot. If more than forty‑eight hours have lapsed, skip the missed injection and restart on the next planned date. Double dosing is unsafe because it can trigger severe nausea and dehydration. When two or more doses are missed, contact the clinic; you may need to step back to the previous tolerated strength before moving forward again. Keep a calendar or phone alarm, and place a bright sticker on the carton. Habit cues, such as pairing the shot with Sunday brunch meal prep, reduce the chance of forgetfulness.

Vacation tip: bring an extra pen plus a small insulated pouch in case one gets damaged or delayed during travel. Airline cabin pressure doesn’t affect the drug, but extreme heat on the tarmac can. Ask the flight attendant to place the pouch in a crew cooler if delays run long.

More Everyday Tips

Round out your plate with a rainbow of produce for vitamins and minerals that support thyroid and liver function. The free twelve‑week NHS weight loss plan offers serving guides if you need structure. A food diary—pen and notebook or any phone app—helps you notice patterns such as late‑night snacking. Swap sugary drinks for sparkling water with citrus slices. Enjoy treats on occasion; strict rules invite binge behavior. Mindful eating, where you sit at a table, chew slowly, and note flavors, improves satisfaction.

When To Speak With Your Clinician

Call your healthcare team if nausea prevents you from keeping fluids down for more than a day, or if you notice a lump on the neck, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing. These could relate to the rare thyroid C‑cell changes noted in the boxed warning. Yellow skin or dark urine requires immediate evaluation for gallbladder or liver issues. Report planned pregnancy; Wegovy isn’t advised during gestation, and you should stop the drug at least two months before trying to conceive. Annual blood work to measure kidney function, lipids, and A1c keeps therapy safe and effective.

Checking Progress And Plateaus

Weight shifts rarely follow a straight line. Expect small gains after salty dinners and natural hormone cycles. Chart your weight once a week, first thing in the morning after using the restroom. Pair the scale with waist and hip measurements and snapshots of clothing fit; semaglutide spares muscle, so inches often drop before pounds. If weight stalls for four weeks despite full compliance, review food portions and activity logs. Sometimes hidden calories in creamy coffees or weekend cocktails sneak in. Try raising daily steps by two thousand, adding a second strength session, or swapping refined grains for whole grains. If you still plateau, your clinician may order labs to rule out thyroid or iron issues. Remember, a plateau is the body gathering data, not a verdict on your effort. Keep moving forward with focus and patient steps.

Final Thoughts

You now have a clear plan for each shot, every meal, and all travel days. Follow it, track your progress, and celebrate non‑scale victories like steadier energy and looser clothing. Your next dose day is around the corner—pen ready, goal in sight.

Read the full prescribing information on the FDA website and explore the free NHS weight‑loss plan for extra support.