Administering Wegovy (semaglutide) correctly is essential for achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes in weight management. Many patients wonder whether they've injected their weekly dose properly, particularly when starting treatment or adjusting to a new dose strength. Confirming a successful injection involves recognising several key indicators, including hearing a distinct click, maintaining the pen against your skin for the recommended duration, and observing the dose counter return to zero. Understanding proper injection technique, common mistakes, and what to do if something goes wrong can help ensure you receive the full benefit of this GLP-1 receptor agonist whilst minimising the risk of adverse effects or treatment interruption.
Quick Answer: You know you've injected Wegovy correctly when you hear a click, hold the pen against your skin for 10 seconds after pressing the dose button, and the dose counter returns to '0 mg'.
Confirming a successful Wegovy injection is important for ensuring you receive the full therapeutic dose of semaglutide. Several indicators suggest your injection was administered correctly.
Firstly, you should hear or feel a distinct click when you press the dose button on the Wegovy pen. This click confirms that the injection mechanism has been activated. After pressing the button, you must keep the pen pressed against your skin for about 10 seconds whilst continuing to hold down the dose button. This dwell time ensures the full dose is delivered subcutaneously. The dose counter window should return to '0 mg' after a successful injection, indicating the entire dose has been administered.
Following injection, you may notice a small amount of clear or slightly blood-tinged fluid at the injection site—this is normal and does not necessarily indicate dose loss. A tiny drop of medication (one or two small droplets) may appear at the needle tip after withdrawal; this is expected and does not compromise the dose. The injection site itself should show minimal reaction initially, though some people experience mild redness, slight swelling, or tenderness at the site, which typically resolves within hours to a few days.
You should not experience significant pain during a correct injection. Semaglutide is administered subcutaneously (into the fatty tissue layer beneath the skin), not intramuscularly, so the injection should feel like a small pinch or pressure rather than sharp pain. If you consistently experience considerable discomfort, you may be injecting too deeply or into an area with insufficient subcutaneous fat. The absence of these positive indicators—particularly if the dose counter does not return to zero—suggests the injection may not have been completed correctly and warrants further assessment.
Always refer to the Wegovy Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) that comes with your medication for the most accurate guidance on confirming a successful injection.
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Start HereUnderstanding frequent injection errors can help you optimise your Wegovy administration technique and ensure consistent therapeutic benefit.
Insufficient injection duration is one of the most common mistakes. Many patients withdraw the pen too quickly, before the full dose has been delivered. According to the Wegovy Patient Information Leaflet (PIL), you should hold the pen in place for about 10 seconds after the counter shows 0 mg. Premature withdrawal may result in medication leaking from the injection site or remaining in the pen.
Incorrect injection site selection can compromise absorption. Wegovy should be injected into areas with adequate subcutaneous fat: the abdomen (avoiding a 5cm radius around the navel), front of the thighs, or upper arms (if someone else is administering). Injecting into areas with insufficient fat, scar tissue, or sites used too frequently can reduce absorption. Rotate injection sites with each dose, maintaining a record if helpful, and avoid injecting into the same spot within several weeks. Do not inject into areas that are tender, bruised, hard, scarred, or inflamed.
Injecting through clothing is an easily avoided error. Always expose the skin completely and ensure the needle penetrates the skin at a 90-degree angle for optimal subcutaneous delivery. Some patients inadvertently inject intramuscularly by pressing too firmly or choosing sites with minimal fat—this can cause increased pain and potentially alter absorption rates.
Not checking the medication before injection is another oversight. Always inspect the solution through the pen window; it should be clear and colourless. Cloudy, discoloured, or particulate-containing medication should not be used. Additionally, ensure the pen has been stored correctly (refrigerated before use at 2°C to 8°C; do not freeze). Improper storage can affect medication stability and efficacy.
Wegovy pens are single-use devices. After injection, the pen should be disposed of safely in a sharps container, even if you think some medication remains in the pen.
If you suspect your Wegovy injection was not administered correctly, taking appropriate action promptly can help maintain your treatment schedule and safety.
Do not attempt to re-inject immediately if you believe the dose was incomplete. Administering a second dose could result in overdosage, potentially causing severe gastrointestinal adverse effects including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, or more serious complications such as hypoglycaemia (particularly if you have type 2 diabetes or take other glucose-lowering medications). If the dose counter shows '0 mg' and you followed the 10-second hold time, the dose was likely delivered successfully even if you're uncertain.
If you miss a dose and remember within 5 days of when it was due, inject it as soon as possible. If more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and administer your next dose on the regularly scheduled day. Do not take two doses within 3 days of each other. This guidance comes directly from the Wegovy Patient Information Leaflet.
If you're confident the injection failed—for example, if the dose counter did not reach zero, you saw a large amount of medication leak from the injection site, or the pen malfunctioned—contact your prescribing healthcare professional or pharmacist for guidance. They can advise whether to administer a replacement dose or wait until your next scheduled injection. Document what happened, including the date, time, and specific issue encountered.
For minor concerns such as slight leakage or uncertainty about technique, it's generally appropriate to continue with your regular schedule and focus on perfecting your technique for the next dose. Consider requesting a technique review with your practice nurse or specialist nurse, who can observe your injection process and provide personalised guidance.
If you experience unusual symptoms following an injection—such as severe injection site reactions, signs of allergic reaction (rash, difficulty breathing, facial swelling), or symptoms of hypoglycaemia (shakiness, confusion, sweating)—seek medical attention promptly. Be particularly alert for signs of pancreatitis (severe, persistent abdominal pain which may radiate to your back, sometimes with vomiting) or gallbladder problems (pain in upper abdomen, fever, yellowing of skin/eyes), which require urgent medical assessment. Contact NHS 111 for advice or attend your GP surgery, or call 999 if symptoms are severe.
You can report suspected side effects or device malfunctions to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.
Familiarity with the Wegovy pen and proper injection technique is fundamental to successful self-administration of semaglutide.
The Wegovy pen device is a single-patient-use, pre-filled injector containing semaglutide solution. Each pen delivers one fixed dose at a pre-set strength (0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg, or 2.4mg, depending on your titration stage). The pen features a dose counter window, which displays the dose, a dose button for injection activation, and a pen cap that must be removed before use. A new needle must be attached for each injection—these are not supplied with the pen and must be prescribed separately.
The correct injection process involves several key steps:
Preparation: Wash hands thoroughly. Allow the pen to reach room temperature (if refrigerated) for approximately 30 minutes to reduce injection discomfort. Check the medication is clear and colourless.
Needle attachment: Remove the pen cap, attach a new needle, and remove both the outer and inner needle caps.
Site selection: Choose an appropriate injection site with adequate subcutaneous fat, ensuring it's at least 3cm from the previous injection site.
Injection technique: Pinch the skin gently (if needed, particularly for lean individuals), insert the needle at a 90-degree angle, press the dose button fully, and hold for about 10 seconds whilst keeping the button depressed. The dose counter should show '0 mg'.
Post-injection: Withdraw the needle, carefully remove and dispose of it in a sharps container, and dispose of the used pen safely as instructed by your healthcare professional.
Pharmacological considerations: Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that works by enhancing insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon release, slowing gastric emptying, and reducing appetite. Subcutaneous administration allows gradual absorption, with peak plasma concentrations reached in 1–3 days. The once-weekly dosing schedule is possible due to semaglutide's long half-life of approximately one week.
Proper injection technique ensures consistent bioavailability and therapeutic effect. NICE Technology Appraisal 875 recommends semaglutide 2.4mg as an option for weight management in adults with a BMI ≥35 kg/m² (or ≥30 kg/m² with weight-related comorbidities), alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Treatment should be initiated and supervised within specialist weight management services, with a maximum duration typically of 2 years. Correct administration is essential for achieving the expected weight loss outcomes and metabolic benefits whilst minimising adverse effects.
If the dose counter does not return to zero, the full dose may not have been delivered. Do not attempt to re-inject immediately. Contact your prescribing healthcare professional or pharmacist for guidance on whether to administer a replacement dose or continue with your regular schedule.
No, you should rotate injection sites with each dose to optimise absorption and reduce the risk of lipodystrophy or site reactions. Use different areas of the abdomen, front of thighs, or upper arms, maintaining at least 3cm distance from previous injection sites and avoiding the same spot for several weeks.
Yes, a small amount of clear or slightly blood-tinged fluid at the injection site is normal and does not indicate dose loss. A tiny drop of medication may also appear at the needle tip after withdrawal, which is expected and does not compromise the therapeutic dose.
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