Where and how to inject Wegovy: a step-by-step guide

Swallowing a pill might feel more approachable than giving yourself a shot. But for many people, an injectable medication like Wegovy (semaglutide) can be essential for achieving weight loss and reducing cardiovascular risk. The good news? With some guidance on how to inject Wegovy, recommended injection sites, and more, the process can quickly go from unfamiliar and even intimidating to surprisingly manageable and second nature. You know what they say: Knowledge is power.

Consider this your go-to guide on injecting Wegovy, from choosing an injection site to the best time of day to take Wegovy. 

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To take Wegovy, you inject it under the skin (subcutaneously) once per week. Wegovy pens are prefilled with a single dose and have an attached needle—no assembly is required. Here’s how to inject Wegovy according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Step 1: Gather your supplies

Before injecting Wegovy, make sure you have all the necessary supplies: 

• A new Wegovy pen

• An alcohol swab or soap and water 

• A gauze pad or cotton ball

• A sharps disposal container

Then, check the expiration date—which is located on the back of your pen—and confirm that you have the dose prescribed by your healthcare provider. The dose should already be set on your pen and is typically listed on the label, under or near the word “Wegovy.” The pens are color-coded to make this easier. 

• 0.25 mg: green 

• 0.5 mg: pink

• 1 mg: brown 

• 1.7 mg: blue 

• 2.4 mg: black 

Inspect the prefilled pen for any damage and ensure the liquid inside is clear and colorless. If it is cloudy, discolored, or contains particles, do not use the pen and contact your pharmacist. Air bubbles are normal and do not affect your dose. 

Step 2: Wash your hands

Wash your hands with soap and water; dry them with a clean towel.  

Step 3: Choose and clean your injection site

The recommended Wegovy injection sites are your abdomen, front of your thigh, or upper arm. If you go with the third option, having someone else do the injection for you may be easier. The injection site should be free of bruising, tenderness, injury, scars, or stretch marks. 

Once you’ve chosen your injection site, clean the area with soap and water or an alcohol swab. Then, let it dry completely before proceeding to the next step. 

Step 4: Position the Wegovy pen

Remove the cap by pulling it straight off the pen without twisting it. Place the pen against your skin at the injection site so that you can see the pen’s window. 

Though not specified in the manufacturer’s instructions, the general recommendation for subcutaneous injections is to insert the needle (and, in this case, the pen) at a 90° angle to minimize leakage of the medication.   

Step 5: Inject your dose of Wegovy

To start the injection, push the pen firmly against your skin. You will hear a click, indicating the injection has started. The yellow bar in the pen’s window will begin moving. (If it doesn’t, press the pen more firmly against your skin.) 

As the pen continues delivering your dose of Wegovy, you will hear a second click. Continue applying pressure until the yellow bar stops moving, signaling the injection is complete. This process takes about 10 seconds from start to finish. 

If the yellow bar does not entirely fill the pen window, that’s okay. As long as it stops moving, you can trust the injection is complete. 

Step 6: Safely dispose of the pen

When the yellow bar stops, you can slowly lift the pen away from your skin. The needle cover will automatically lock when you remove the pen from your skin.

Each Wegovy pen can only be used once. After it’s used or the medication has expired, discard the pen in an FDA-cleared sharps container. Do not throw it into the regular household garbage or recycling. 

You can get an official sharps container from a pharmacy or medical supply retailer. Or you can use a heavy-duty plastic container as an alternative—just make sure it meets the FDA requirements for a sharps disposal container:

• Made of heavy-duty plastic

• Able to close with a tight-fitting, puncture-proof lid

• Stable when propped upright 

• Leak-resistant

• Properly labeled (i.e. clearly marked with a warning of the hazardous waste)

Unopened Wegovy pens can be stored in the refrigerator (36°F–46°F) until the expiration date shown on the packaging or at room temperature (46°F–86°F) for up to 28 days. Keep Wegovy away from extreme temperatures, such as the cooling element in your fridge or direct sunlight in the car, say, while traveling. Keep it in its original carton and away from light.

There are three recommended Wegovy injection sites on the body: 

• Stomach: The lower abdomen is one of the easiest sites to access for self-injection, and it has a good amount of subcutaneous fat, which can help ensure proper absorption of the medication. When administering in this area, choose a spot at least 2 inches away from your belly button and avoid your waistline to prevent irritation from clothing. 

• Thigh: If you choose the front of your thigh as a Wegovy injection site, select a spot on the front outer part of your upper thigh—about halfway between your knee and hip. Steer clear of the inner thigh, since clothing (or your thighs rubbing together) can irritate that area. 

• Upper arm: This option refers to the back of the upper arm, which is not exactly the easiest place to reach by yourself. That’s why this Wegovy injection site is typically best for people with assistance during injections—just make sure the administrator injects at least 3 inches below your shoulder and 3 inches above your elbow. 

As mentioned above, Wegovy is a subcutaneous injection. Meaning, it’s injected into the layer of fat just under your skin—and never into a vein or a muscle. 

Not sure which Wegovy injection site to choose? Good news: You can technically try ’em all—especially since rotating your injection site is recommended. Switching up the area of administration allows the location to heal between injections. Remember to ask for help if you are unable to reach any of the injection sites on your own.

How often should you rotate Wegovy injection sites? 

You should change your injection site every week (i.e. every time you inject Wegovy). This can mean rotating between the three areas of the body (thigh, stomach, and upper arm) or using different spots within the same region. If you choose the latter, make sure to inject at least 1 inch away from the previous week’s location. The goal is to avoid repeatedly injecting the exact same location because doing so can cause skin irritation, scarring, or tissue damage (think: lumps) over time. Those types of issues can be uncomfortable and even interfere with the absorption of the medication. 

Where is the best place to inject Wegovy?

There is no “best” place to inject Wegovy, as long as you use one of the three recommended injection sites (stomach, thigh, upper arm), where the medication can be absorbed effectively. Ultimately, the best place to inject Wegovy is the spot where you can easily, comfortably, and safely administer the injection. Some people prefer the stomach since it’s easy to reach during self-administration and can be less painful than the thigh area, though your experience may vary.

Do Wegovy injections hurt?

Injection site reactions can be a side effect of Wegovy. In clinical trials, less than 2% of people reported bruising, pain, irritation, rash, or skin thickening at the injection site. Because Wegovy is a subcutaneous injection, the medication goes just under the surface of your skin into the fatty tissue. This allows for a smaller, shorter needle than the one used for an intramuscular injection, such as a flu shot, which has to go deeper into the muscle and can be more painful. 

It’s also worth noting that the design of the Wegovy pen makes it so that most of the needle is hidden. In other words, you don’t have to worry about seeing the dreaded spike before your injection and feeling nervous. This, in turn, can help reduce anxiety and muscle tension, making the injection feel less painful overall. 

You can take Wegovy at any time of day that works for your schedule. It is a once-weekly medication and should be given on the same day each week. For instance, every Sunday. When you start Wegovy, consider the day and time that is convenient for you each week. The timing of meals doesn’t affect Wegovy.

If you want, you can change your selected day of the week to administer Wegovy. To do this, just move your next scheduled dose up to the new desired day of the week—as long as at least 48 hours have passed since your most recent dose of Wegovy. 

To make sure you receive your full dose of the drug, check that the yellow bar in the pen window has stopped moving. If it is stationary and you’ve already heard two clicks (the first upon starting your injection and the second during your injection), then you can be fairly confident that you’ve administered the entire dose. 

Follow these additional tips to ensure you get your full dose of Wegovy every time: 

• Inspect your pen for damage or expiration before each injection. 

• Confirm you have the right dose (see: pen label) before each injection. 

• Inject Wegovy into healthy skin that’s free of injuries, bruises, cuts, scarring, or swelling. 

• Inject your dose into one of the three recommended injection sites—thigh, abdomen, or upper arm—and rotate these areas to prevent complications. 

• Insert the needle into your skin at a 90-degree angle to prevent leakage, pressing down firmly until the yellow bar stops moving.

• Keep the pen in place for at least 10 seconds, starting from the moment you push it against your skin. 

If you’re unsure if you’ve delivered the full dose of Wegovy or have other questions about properly injecting the medication, contact your healthcare provider.

The typical dosing schedule of Wegovy looks like this:

Your schedule may vary, depending on how many side effects you experience.

If you miss a dose of Wegovy, you can still get back on track. Here’s what to do:

• If you miss one dose and your next scheduled dose is more than two days away, go ahead and administer Wegovy now. There should always be at least 48 hours between doses of Wegovy.

• If you missed one dose and your next scheduled dose is less than two days away, just skip the missed dose. Administer your usual dose on your next scheduled day.

If you miss two or more doses in a row, talk to your healthcare provider to discuss the next steps. They can advise you on restarting treatment at a lower dose to help prevent gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and vomiting that are common with Wegovy.

How to avoid missing your weekly Wegovy injection

Remembering to use Wegovy each week is essential. Missing doses may result in less effective treatment and side effects. In a study of a similar GLP-1 agonist drug called liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza), people who took the medication consistently lost 6.5% more weight over one year than those who missed doses. 

Several methods are proven to assist in remembering to take GLP-1 medications like Wegovy, such as:

• Setting up electronic or physical reminders to take Wegovy, such as a calendar notification or leaving yourself a note.

• Making Wegovy part of a once-weekly routine. For instance, if you already complete another weekly task, such as taking out the recycling every Tuesday, consider administering Wegovy directly before or after this activity to help you remember. 

• Taking Wegovy at the same time as other medications. If you take other medications, administering Wegovy at the same time may be helpful (but only once a week). 

Also, attend scheduled visits with your healthcare provider and consider setting up refill reminders or automatic refills with your pharmacy. This helps ensure you won’t run out of medication and keeps you in touch with your care team to monitor your progress and encourage you on your path to a healthier weight. 

Wegovy is a drug for long-term use. Obesity is a chronic disease that needs ongoing treatment, just like other chronic medical conditions (think high blood pressure or diabetes). Still, some people choose to stop or have to stop taking Wegovy. For example, some people find the side effects intolerable. And sometimes, drug shortages force people to stop their medication abruptly, or take less than they used to. 

When you stop taking Wegovy, you’ll get relief from any side effects you may have been experiencing, but you’ll also stop losing weight—and will likely regain at least some of the weight you’ve lost. The amount of weight gain depends on how long you were on the medication, how much weight you lost, and how long you stopped the medication. 

If you’re concerned about Wegovy side effects or drug shortages, talk to your healthcare provider about your options. They’ll likely be able to help you find an alternative, such as Saxenda, to help you reach your goals. 

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Giving yourself a shot of Wegovy may feel intimidating at first, but with a little practice, it can be a quick and simple part of your weekly routine. 

• Wegovy comes in a prefilled pen with an attached needle, making it easy to use without any assembly required. The only extra supplies needed are an alcohol swab or soap and water, a gauze pad or cotton ball, and a sharps disposal container. 

• There are three Wegovy injection sites to which you can inject the medication: the stomach, thigh, and upper arm. Make sure to rotate injection sites each week to prevent irritation. 

• Follow instructions carefully to make sure you get your full dose of Wegovy. While it’s important to understand each step in detail, the basic breakdown is as follows: press the pen firmly against your skin, wait for two clicks, and make sure the yellow bar stops moving before removing the pen.

• Dispose of used (and expired) supplies carefully. This means discarding your pen in an FDA-approved sharps container or another receptacle that meets the FDA’s requirements.