Explore the dosage and how to use Wegovy.
Weight loss medication
Weight loss medications are typically prescribed to adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Additionally those with a BMI of 27 or higher along with weight-related medical conditions, like type 2 diabetes.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is a once-weekly injectable medication intended for adults dealing with chronic weight management issues. It is a prescription medicine designed to assist individuals in losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight. Its active ingredient is semaglutide classified as a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist.
It’s important to understand that Wegovy is most effective when used in conjunction with a weight management plan. This plan often includes a balanced diet, increased physical activity, and support from healthcare professionals.
Information on Wegovy
Wegovy Dosing Schedule
Wegovy is administered once weekly and preferably on the same day each week. The day chosen to inject is up to the individual and their convenience. It is available in 5 different dose strengths.
The wegovy dosage ranges from 0.25 mg once weekly to a full maintenance dose of 2.4 mg, each dose slowly titrated over a few months.
Missed dose
If a dose is missed and the next scheduled dose is more than 2 days away, the missed dose can be taken. However, if it’s less than 2 days away, only the next scheduled dose must be taken.
How to Use Wegovy?
The pen
Before administering the injection, people should check that the pen is not expired and has been stored c correctly. If any irregularities or cloudiness is noticed, the doctor should be contacted and the pen discarded. Lastly the dose window should be checked to ensure that the correct strength is used.
The injection site
It is to be administered in the fatty tissue of the lower abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. The area chosen should be clean to reduce the risk of infection. The same body area may be used each week but a different spot is recommended.
Remove the cap
The cap can be pulled straight off the pen. The main advantage of Wegovy is it comes in a convenient disposable pen for easy use. Obviously this means a needle doesn’t need to be attached each time.
Inject
The pen should be at a 90 degree angle to the skin. The needle is fully injected into the chosen injection site. Firmly inject until the yellow bar stops moving and you hear two clicks. The first click signals the start of the injection, while the second click indicates that the injection is in progress
After injecting Wegovy, keep the pen in place for about 5-10 seconds to ensure the full dose is received.
Dispose
The pen should be safely disposed after use. It is important to throw it in a sharps disposal container and not the household trash.
Protecting and storing the pen
It is important to not drop the pen on hard surfaces or to expose the pen to any liquids. If there is a doubt that the pen could be damaged, it’s best to dispose and use a different one. The cap should be kept on until it’s time to inject to ensure it stays sterile.
Wegovy should be stored in a refrigerator within 2-8 degrees and not frozen. The Wegovy carton can be kept between 8-30 degrees for up to 28 days given the cap has not been removed. It should always be stored in the original carton to protect it from light.
Treatment with Wegovy
Wegovy, which gained registration in 2022, is not currently available in Australia. Since its introduction in other countries, Wegovy has demonstrated significant promise.
Clinical trials revealed that when adults with obesity combined Wegovy with reduced-calorie diets and exercise, they achieved substantial weight loss, up to 15%. Once Wegovy is available in Australia, it can be a good option, as studies have shown it’s as effective as Saxenda.
Wegovy received FDA approval and was released in the USA in 2021, in Europe in mid 2023 and is expected in Australia by early 2024.
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Resources:
Weight-Loss Prescription Medication | Wegovy® (semaglutide) Injection 2.4 mg
