What to do if Wegovy leaked out of injection site

Wegovy (semaglutide) comes in two forms: oral pill or subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injection. If you’ve been prescribed the Wegovy shot for weight loss, you probably already know how to inject it. But do you know what to do if Wegovy leaked out of injection site? 

Though it can seem scary, leakage is a common issue with injectable medications. Plus, it’s usually just related to injection technique. Keep reading for what to do if Wegovy leaks from your injection site, why leakage occurs, and how to prevent future leakage.

If some Wegovy leaked out of the injection site after your shot, don’t panic — and don’t repeat the injection.  

If you lift the Wegovy pen too soon or do not keep steady pressure during the entire injection, medicine can appear on your skin or squirt from the needle. This can definitely be unsettling to see. But leakage often relates to injection technique and does not always mean something is wrong with the pen itself.  

It may be helpful to know you’re not alone. In a study of reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and online patient reviews device leakage was reported 207 times and injection site leakage was reported 454 times among people using semaglutide injections.

In a study of insulin use, up to 39% of subcutaneous injections resulted in a small amount of the medication leaking out onto the skin. 

The good news is that there are many resources available to help troubleshoot and improve your technique.

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There are a few reasons Wegovy can leak out during or after your shot, according to the drug manufacturer. Most have to do with poor injection technique. 

• Weak pressure. Not holding the injection pen firmly against your skin could result in medication leaking onto your skin rather than into your body.

• Pulling the pen away too quickly. Wegovy may leak onto the skin if the injection pen is removed before the yellow bar stops moving completely.

• Faulty injection pen. If you’re experiencing significant injection site leakage or notice medication dribbling from the pen, you might have a defective injection pen. Contact your pharmacy or call the drug company at 1-833-934-6891 for questions about a replacement. 

Other factors that may increase the risk of Wegovy leaking out of the injection site include: 

• Choice of injection site. Leakage tends to be less common when using firmer areas like the upper thigh and upper arm. 

• High dosage. The more medicine injected, the higher the chance of leakage. In theory, people on higher doses of Wegovy — e.g. 2.4 mg — may be more likely to experience leakage than those on lower doses. But this is unlikely to be a factor because there’s only a slight difference in volume between the lowest and highest dose (0.25 mg/0.5 mL vs. 2.4 mg/0.75 mL).

• Injection angle. Subcutaneous injections given at a diagonal angle are more likely to leak than those given straight on, at a 90-degree angle. 

It’s hard to say for sure. You may not get the full dose if the medicine squirts from the needle or appears on your skin, according to the drugmaker's instructions. Getting a partial dose may be less effective than a full one. 

Researchers have found that the amount of leaked fluid after subcutaneous injections of insulin is not enough to reduce the dose’s effectiveness. But this hasn’t been specifically studied with Wegovy. 

If you think you’re experiencing abnormal leakage or you repeatedly have issues with Wegovy leaking out during injections, tell your healthcare provider. They can help troubleshoot your administration technique or discuss whether an oral alternative, such as the Wegovy pill, might be a better fit for you. 

No, you should not re-inject Wegovy if it leaks out.  

Even with some leakage, it’s likely you received part of your dose. So repeating the injection is not recommended (unless your healthcare provider tells you to). 

This situation doesn’t usually count as a missed dose. Giving yourself a second injection could be more like double-dosing, which can increase the risk of side effects.  

Semaglutide overdose is possible. Symptoms may include extreme nausea and dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). If you take too much Wegovy, contact the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) and call your provider.

Using a proper subcutaneous injection technique can help keep Wegovy from leaking out after your shot. Here’s how to prevent Wegovy leakage: 

1. Try a firmer area

If you have trouble with Wegovy injection site leakage, it may help to choose a firmer area next time. The upper arm or thigh are usually more firm than the abdomen. Or if you prefer to inject Wegovy into your lower abdomen, it may help to stand up while giving the injection (not sitting down). 

2. Press the pen firmly against your skin

The manufacturer recommends holding the injection pen flush against your skin before administering Wegovy. This helps the needle penetrate at the right depth. It may also make it easier to hold the pen at the recommended 90-degree angle. 

3. Count to 10 and remove the pen slowly

Wegovy injections take about 10 seconds. It’s important to apply pressure the entire time. Do not start withdrawing the pen until you’ve heard two clicks and the yellow bar has stopped moving. 

Once you’ve counted to 10 and after the yellow bar has stopped moving, pull the injection pen away from the skin slowly. This can help prevent leakage or squirting from the pen itself. If you see blood at the injection site, gently press a fresh gauze pad or cotton ball on the area. 

4. Choose appropriate injection sites

Semaglutide injections can be administered in your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. Research on subcutaneous injections suggests that lower abdominal injections have the lowest risk of leakage. Wegovy’s manufacturer advises standing up while injecting into the lower abdomen. 

Wegovy is a subcutaneous injection, meaning that it should be injected into fatty tissue under the skin — not a muscle or vein.  According to the drug manufacturer, the best places to inject Wegovy are:

• Upper arm

• Upper leg (front of your thighs)

• Stomach (away from the belly button)

As for the best place to inject Wegovy to prevent leakage?The drugmaker suggests using a firmer area, such as your upper thigh or upper arm, or standing up when injecting into your lower stomach. 

But everyone is different. And some people also find it easier to hold the injection pen firmly on a harder, easy-to-reach body part, such as the front of the upper thigh. 

Regardless of the best injection site for you, remember to rotate Wegovy injection sites weekly to reduce the risk of lumps or thickened skin. Avoid injecting into scars, stretch marks, bruises, or any areas where your skin is irritated, tender, or hardened.

The best injection technique to prevent leakage is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely. Step-by-step instructions are included in your box of Wegovy. 

Here’s a recap:

1. Choose an appropriate injection site. The recommended sites are your abdomen, the front of the thigh, or the upper arm. Never inject in a spot with bruising, tenderness, scars, stretch marks, or injury.

2. Clean the site. Wash your skin with soap and water or rub it with an alcohol swab. Let it dry before moving on to the next step.

3. Ready the pen. Pull the cap straight off the pen. Next, place the pen firmly onto the injection site at a 90-degree angle. Make sure you can see the pen’s window.

4. Inject your Wegovy dose. Keeping the pen firmly pressed against your skin at a 90-degree angle, begin the injection. You will hear one click as the yellow bar starts to move. Continue steady pressure. You’ll hear a second click as the pen continues injecting the medication. The injection is finished when the yellow bar stops moving.

5. Slowly remove the pen. Lift the pen away only after the yellow bar has stopped moving — usually 10 seconds.

6. Optional: Lightly press a cotton ball or gauze onto the injection site. This step only applies when blood appears at the injection site.

It’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider if:

• You experience leakage after every injection, despite following the manufacturer’s instructions for proper injection.

• You’re concerned about the volume of liquid seeping from the injection site.

• You’re experiencing frequent or significant bleeding or leaking from the injection site.

• You want to switch to an oral weight loss medication because you feel uncomfortable injecting yourself. 

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Giving yourself a shot can be intimidating, especially if you’re concerned about what to do if Wegovy leaked out of injection site. It’s essential to be prepared for this scenario so that you don’t panic.

• The most common cause of injection site leakage is poor injection technique. Leakage can happen if you don’t press the injection pen down firmly, remove the injection pen too quickly, or don’t inject straight into the skin (at a 90-degree angle). 

• Some injection sites are more prone to leakage than others. Try using a more firm area, like the thigh or upper arm. Another strategy is to use your lower abdomen while standing up. But every body is different, and it’s important to rotate between injection sites that work best for you.

• Don’t re-inject Wegovy if you see leakage. Chances are high that your dose is still effective (at least partially). And giving yourself another full dose before it is scheduled could result in an overdose. 

• Follow instructions carefully to help prevent Wegovy leakage. Press the pen firmly against your skin, wait for two clicks, apply steady pressure the entire time, and make sure the yellow bar stops moving before removing the pen.