Semaglutide 2.4mg Once Weekly Injection Pen

What is Semaglutide Weekly Injection (Wegovy®) used for​​​?

Wegovy® helps to reduce weight in patients who are obese or overweight with weight-related medical problems. It also helps to lower the risk of a heart attack, stroke and death in obese patients with known heart disease.

Wegovy® works alongside with diet control and exercise to manage weight. It reduces food craving and increases the insulin produced during meals.

How does Semaglutide Weekly Injection (Wegovy®) work​​​ in weight loss?

Semaglutide addresses one of the body's natural responses to weight loss.

• The body naturally produces an appetite hormone known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that helps to regulate hunger
• Semaglutide works like GLP-1 by regulating appetite, which can lead to increased feelings of fullness, eating fewer calories and thus losing weight

The effectiveness of Semaglutide in weight loss is enhanced when combined with lifestyle changes like a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

How much weight can I lose with Semaglutide Weekly Injection (Wegovy®)?

When Wegovy (2.4 mg) was combined with dietary and exercise modifications, patients without diabetes who had a BMI of at least 30 or a BMI of at least 27 with a weight-related condition lost an average of 15% of their body weight (as opposed to 2.4% when diet and exercise were implemented alone). This clinical trial lasted 68 weeks.

Dosage and How to Use​

Each Wegovy pen lasts for a month, and five strengths are available: 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg, and 2.4mg.

The starting dose of Wegovy® is 0.25 mg once weekly for four weeks. If you can tolerate the medication, your doctor will slowly increase the dose every 4 weeks until you reach the maximum maintenance dose of 2.4mg once a week, which you’ll remain on for as long as you use Wegovy — but this isn't the same for everyone.

Some people find that they don’t tolerate the higher doses and get effective results at lower doses, it’s fine to continue on a lower dose however all the clinical trials so far have been done using a 2.4mg maintenance dose.

As well as using the injections, you’ll need to eat a reduced-calorie diet, and increase your activity levels in order to continue losing weight.

Precautions

• Wegovy can be injected with or without food.
• Ideally, you should use Wegovy® on the same day each week if possible.
• If necessary, you can change the day of your weekly injection of Wegovy®, as long as it has been at least 3 days since your last Wegovy® injection. After selecting a new dosing day, once-weekly dosing should be continued.
• Do not stop using your medication without checking with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Wegovy pens need to be refrigerated (between 2℃ and 8℃) as soon as they arrive, but once opened, will work at room temperature for 28 days.

How to select an injection site:

Wegovy should be injected into the fatty tissue between the skin and muscle layer. You can choose to inject into your upper arms, thigh or abdomen.

You should rotate the injection site every week to prevent your body from forming lipodystrophy (a small lump or dent in the skin that forms when a person repeatedly injects in the same spot).

How to inject Wegovy® Multiple-dose pen

Step 1: Prepare your pen with a new needle

1. Before injecting Wegovy, check the injection pen. The solution in the pen should be clear and colorless.
2. Attach a new needle to the Wegovy® pen.
3. Pull off the outer needle cap and keep it for later.
4. Pull off the inner needle cap and throw it away.

Step 2: First-time use for each NEW pen: check the flow

Before your first injection with each new pen, you will need to check the flow of the pen.

You do not need to check the flow of the pen that is already in use.

1. Turn the dose selector to the flow check symbol right past ‘0’. Ensure the flow check symbol lines up with the pointer.
2. Hold the pen with the needle pointing up.
3. Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter returns to ‘0’.
4. A drop of solution should appear at the needle tip.
5. If no drop appears, repeat these steps up to 6 times. If there is still no drop, change the needle and repeat these steps once more. Discard the pen and use a new one if a drop of solution still does not appear.

Step 3: Select your dose

1. Turn the dose selector to your prescribed dose.

Step 4: Inject the dose

1. Wash your hands before and after you use this medication.
2. Clean the skin before injecting.
3. Lift a skin fold. Insert the needle at a right angle to the skin.
4. Make sure that you can see the dose counter. Do not cover it with your fingers.
5. Press and hold down the dose button so the dose counter returns to '0'.
6. Continue pressing the dose button while keeping the needle in your skin.
7. Count slowly to 6

Step 5: After the injection

1. Remove the needle from your skin while keeping the dose button pressed. This is to ensure that you get the full dose.
2. Do not rub or massage the injection site.
3. Throw the injection needle after each injection. Do not reuse the needles.

What to do if I missed a dose?

If you forget to inject Wegovy, administer it as soon as you remember within 5 days after the missed dose. Then inject your next dose as usual on your scheduled day.

If more than 5 days have passed, the missed dose should be skipped, and the next dose should be administered on the regularly scheduled day.

Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

If more doses are missed, consult your doctor or pharmacist. You may need to restart the medication at a lower dose.

What are the possible side effects of Semaglutide Weekly Injection (Wegovy®)?​

• Nausea, vomiting - Avoid food that is too oily, spicy. Eat small portion of food at a time. Keep yourself hydrated
• Diarrhea - Keep yourself hydrated
• Bruising or pain at injection site - Rotate injection site every week. Do not reuse your needles
• Feeling tired
• Headache
• Runny nose
• Nose or throat irritation
• Symptoms of low sugar including giddiness, cold sweat, hunger, fast heartbeat, trembling, blurred vision, drowsy or confused

Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

What precautions should I take?

Inform your doctor if:

• you have type 1 diabetes mellitus
• you are on certain diabetes medication such as insulin or sulfonylurea (e.g. glipizide, gliclazide, tolbutamide etc)
• you have a history of inflammation to your pancreas
• you have heart, kidney or liver disease
• you have stomach or bowel problems
• you have thyroid cancer or family history of thyroid cancer
• you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant or breastfeeding
• you have history of depression
• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies

What other medications and foods should I avoid when taking Semaglutide Weekly Injection (Wegovy®)?

Avoid eating food that is too oily or spicy, as this may increase the chance of getting stomach upset.

Handling and storage

• ​Store unused Wegovy® in the refrigerator between 2-8°C. Do not freeze.
• Keep the pen cap on when the pen is not in use to protect it from light.
• Keep the medicine out of reach of children.
• Throw away all expired medicines.

The above information answers some common questions about this medicine. It does not contain all the available information. It also does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

References

https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/medications/semaglutide-injection-wegovy