How to take Wegovy
Wegovy is available in the form of a single-dose, pre-filled pen that you inject into your skin. Once a week, on the same day, you inject yourself with the Wegovy pen. You can do it at any time of day, as long as it is the same day each week. You can inject Wegovy with or without meals.
Wegovy for weight loss is designed to gradually increase dosage over time to minimize side effects. It is recommended to stay at each Wegovy dose for a minimum of four weeks. Your doctor will walk you through this process, and be there for you each step of the way. It is important to keep in contact with your doctor if you increase your dosage to make sure you have no adverse side effects.
There are multiple pens that contain different amounts; 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, or 2.4 mg of semaglutide. The standard dosing schedule is:
- Month 1: 0.25 mg once a week
- Month 2: 0.5 mg once a week
- Month 3: 1 mg once a week
- Month 4: 1.7 mg once a week
- Month 5 and beyond: 2.4 mg once a week
After you increase to 2.4 mg, you have completed the escalation process, and will continue to just use the 2.4 mg semaglutide for as long as you take the drug.
It is also important to know that for some patients, a dose increase may not be necessary as some individuals can have a good weight loss response to even low doses of medication.
What to avoid while taking Wegovy
Although Wegovy for weight loss has been proven to be safe, effective, and was approved by the FDA, there are still things that are unknown, such as drug interactions. There have not been clinical trials testing Wegovy in combination with:
- Insulin
- Prescription drugs
- Over-the-counter drugs
- Other products intended for weight loss
- Herbal weight loss products or other supplements
With Wegovy, there may be an increased risk for low blood sugar, especially when taken in combination with any of the above.
Because drug and insulin interactions with Wegovy have not yet been studied, it is vital to talk to your weight loss doctor. You must disclose any personal or family history of medical conditions as well as all the medicines you take, including anything else you take such as daily vitamins or herbal supplements, as they could have an effect on the efficacy or even safety of Wegovy.