Wegovy injections are a new treatment for weight loss. The self administered injections are a once weekly treatment used over the course of several months.
The medication can be used by people who are obese with a BMI of 30 or over. It can also be used by people with a BMI over 27, if they have also been diagnosed with weight related medical problems such as hypertension, type-2 diabetes or sleep apnoea.
Wegovy comes as a single-use injection pen. The Wegovy pens come in five preset dosages each with their own colour. The prescriber will outline the course of treatment and let you know which dosage you should be using and when.
Keep Wegovy pens in the fridge and in the original box. This will help protect the medication from sunlight. If needed, Wegovy pens can be kept outside of the fridge with the cap on for 28 days.
Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide. Semaglutide is known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. This means that it binds to the GLP-1 receptors in the brain involved with appetite regulation. This process reduces feelings of hunger and increases feelings of fullness so that the user is able to reduce their calorie intake and go on to lose weight.
Is Wegovy effective?
Wegovy has been found to be a highly effective and well tolerated treatment to aid weight loss.
A number of clinical trials have produced impressive results. In clinical trials I, II and III 83.5%, 67.4% and 84.8% of participants taking Wegovy were found to experience a weight loss of at least five percent of their body weight.
In order to get the best results out of Wegovy you should also adopt a reduced calorie diet, as well as a regular exercise regime. This aspect of the weight loss course should be explained to you when you are initially prescribed the medication. If you have questions about your diet plan or physical activity then you should speak to the prescriber.
Get to know your medication before you start taking it. Read the instructions that come with your Wegovy treatment.
Each Wegovy pen is preset at one particular dose. Make sure you follow the dosage plan outlined by the prescriber and use the corresponding pen.
- Before you use Wegovy you should check that your pen is good for use. This means that there are no signs of damage or discolouration.
- Always wash your hands before you inject your medication. .
- Wegovy can be injected into the top of the thighs or the stomach (keeping two inches away from the belly button.) In circumstances where someone is injecting the treatment for someone else they can also use the top of the arms.
- The injection site should be free of bruising, damaged skin, scars or stretch marks. Don’t use the exact same injection site as before.
- Clean the site with an alcohol swab or water and soap.
- Remove the cap and press the pen firmly against the skin. You should hear an initial click to tell you that the injection has started.
- You should then hear a second click to tell you that the injection is ongoing.
- The process usually takes around 10 seconds from the first click.
- Each pen is used only once. Dispose of the pen in a sharps bin.
- If you notice bleeding at the site of the injection, then you can gently press it with a clean gauze pad or cotton ball.
It’s a good idea to speak to your prescriber before you drink alcohol when using Wegovy. Alcohol can lower blood sugar levels, so if you have diabetes this could be problematic. Also, most alcoholic drinks are high in calories and might interfere with your reduced calorie diet.
If you miss taking a dose of Wegovy and the next scheduled dose is more than two days away then you should take the missed dose. However, if you miss a dose and your regular upcoming dose is less than two days away then you shouldn’t take the missed dose. Instead wait for your regular day to continue treatment as usual.
Wegovy injections can help overweight and obese patients lose weight in a controlled and safe manner. A course of Wegovy should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased exercise.
If you think Wegovy could help you to improve your health — chat to a clinician. They’ll ask you about your health needs, preferences and history in order to make sure that it’s a safe and suitable treatment option for you.
Wegovy (semaglutide) for Chronic Weight Management. [Accessed 8 Feb. 2022].
A new treatment for obesity. Harvard Health. [Accessed 8 Feb. 2022].
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