Starting Treatment
🥇 First Shot
Common Questions
Congrats! This is a big step. Now that you have your medication, there are a few different resources you can use for instructions on how to give yourself your first shot:
Branded GLP-1s (Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, Saxenda):
You can access a step-by-step video directly from the manufacturer to help walk through your first injection:
If you prefer written instructions, these are included in your curriculum Lesson 0: Getting Started.
Compounded semaglutide:
You can go to your treatment plan for step-by-step instructions and a helpful video.
Remember, you can also schedule a consultation with your coach to help walk you through your first shot.
You'll receive an email about entering your first shot date. This is important to fill out because it helps our team time your refill check-ins and keep your treatment on track. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns along the way.
As you decide on the date of your first shot, you might consider starting on a weekend or when you are off work. We suggest this to limit the impact side effects may have on your work schedule.
You may also consider making some changes to your diet around the day of your first shot. Avoiding fatty foods (like fried foods) and simple starches (like potatoes or candy) on the days leading up to and including your first shot can decrease the chance of having significant side effects.
Similarly, we recommend keeping a food diary. This practice not only tracks what you are eating on a day-to-day basis, but also can highlight any foods or food groups that produce side effects while you are on the medication. We’ll send you more information about food tracking in the educational curriculum you’ll receive, so keep an eye on your inbox!
These medications come in a prefilled injection pen. You (or someone in your household) will administer the injection under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or arm.
The injection steps differ based on the medication, so read the instructions that come with the pen before taking your first dose.
For step-by-step instructions on using your injection pen, explore these videos:
Prefer to read the instructions instead? Explore this article on getting started with branded GLP-1s.
Compounded semaglutide is injected once a week using the syringes and needles included in your medication delivery. Each syringe and needle is meant to be used only once. Do not reuse a syringe or needle. You may inject into your abdomen (at least two inches away from your belly button), upper thigh, or upper arm.
Go to your treatment plan for step-by-step instructions and a helpful video. Please feel free to reach out to your healthcare team if you would like more assistance.
Getting a routine injection may be a new experience for you, so you might be concerned. If you’re uncomfortable with giving yourself an injection, you could ask another responsible adult to administer it. You can also reach out to your Ro-affiliated provider or coach—they can give you tips on familiarizing yourself with the process and getting more comfortable using the pen.
After you complete your first injection, take a moment to sign in to your Ro account or open your Ro app and log the date of your first shot. No worries if you forget to do it the same day. We’ll send you a few email reminders to check this off of your to-do list.
Remember that we’ll use your first shot date to keep track of your treatment and schedule your refill check-ins. Completing your refill check-ins with your provider is required before you can receive your next month’s medication.
Life can get busy, and it can sometimes be easy to forget to administer your GLP-1 medication from time to time.
Don’t worry! There are some simple rules to follow if you miss a shot.
If you’re taking weekly shots of Ozempic, Wegovy, or compounded semaglutide:
If you forget to take your shot, but it’s more than 48 hours before the next one is scheduled, you should take the missed shot right away. Then, take the next shot on its regularly scheduled day.
Example: You usually inject on Saturdays, but one time you forget and don’t realize that you’ve forgotten until Wednesday. The next Saturday’s shot is more than 48 hours away, so you should take that missed shot on the day you’ve remembered to take it (Wednesday), then take the next shot on schedule (Saturday).
If the next shot is less than two days away, don’t take the missed one. Instead, wait for the next scheduled shot and take that one on time. If you’re not sure what to do, contact your Ro-affiliated provider for advice.
Example: You usually take your shot on Saturdays, but one time you forget and don’t realize you’ve forgotten until Friday. The next Saturday’s shot is less than 48 hours away, so you should not take the missed shot. Instead, wait for the next scheduled shot (Saturday).
If you’ve missed more than two weeks of shots, don’t take your next one. Contact your Ro-affiliated provider for the next steps.
If you’re taking daily shots of Saxenda:
If a dose is missed, the once-daily regimen should be resumed as prescribed with the next scheduled dose. An extra dose or increase in dose should not be taken to make up for the missed dose.
Example: If you forget to take your Monday dose, take your next dose on Tuesday as prescribed. Do not take an extra dose or higher dose on Tuesday to make up for missing Monday.
If more than 3 days have elapsed since the last dose, go back to taking 0.6 mg daily. Contact your Ro-affiliated provider to discuss how to start increasing your dose again.
Example: If you forget to take your dose on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, take 0.6 mg on Friday—no matter what dose you were taking before that. Contact your Ro-affiliated provider to discuss how to begin increasing your dose again.
If it’s been less than 4 days (96 hours) since your last shot, take your next one as soon as possible.
If it’s been more than 4 days (96 hours) since your last shot, do not administer the shot. Instead, wait until your next scheduled shot.
If it’s been more than 2 weeks since your last shot, do not take your next one. Instead, contact your Ro-affiliated provider for next steps, as your dose may need to be adjusted.
If you are having difficulty administering your injection or believe you may have done it wrong, contact your Ro-affiliated provider for guidance. They can work with you to determine the best next step for your individual situation.
If you believe you have taken more than the prescribed dose, contact your Ro-affiliated provider and monitor yourself for any severe symptoms. Overdoses have been reported with GLP-1 medications, and symptoms can include severe nausea, severe vomiting, and severe hypoglycemia (very low blood sugar).
Because these medications remain in your system for several days, you should monitor yourself for these symptoms over the next several days. If you develop severe side effects, seek urgent medical care.
If you run out of medication or don’t have enough for four complete shots, you will need to request additional doses from the pharmacy. You will likely need a new prescription for the dose—if you do, please contact your Ro-affiliated provider. Unfortunately, an additional shot may not be covered by your insurance plan. If this is the case, a pharmacist could file a lost medication request that would be at the discretion of the insurance company to grant.
If you take too much of your medication, you should let your Ro-affiliated provider know immediately. You may also develop severe side effects like severe nausea or vomiting. If this occurs, we recommend you seek in person medical attention, especially if you are unable to keep any food or liquids down.
Occasionally, patients who take too much of their medication can experience low blood glucose, also called hypoglycemia. The symptoms of this are light headedness, sweating, anxiousness, or a fast heart beat. If you experience these symptoms, eat a sugar containing candy, fruit juice, or sugar containing beverage to raise your blood sugar and seek medical attention immediately.