How to inject Wegovy: FlexTouch pen steps from the official instructions

Before you start

• You need the pen, a new needle (a NovoFine Plus 32G 4 mm needle comes with the pen), an alcohol swab, cotton or gauze, and an FDA-cleared sharps container ^[1].
• Do not share the pen with anyone, even with a new needle ^[1].
• If you cannot read the dose counter because of poor eyesight, do not use the pen without help from a trained person ^[1].

Where to inject

• Choose a site on your upper arms, stomach or upper legs ^[1].
• Keep a distance of 2 inches (5 cm) from your belly button ^[1].
• You may inject in the same body area each week, but not in the same spot as the last injection ^[1].
• The prescribing information says to rotate injection sites with each dose ^[2]. See the site rotation planner.

The five steps

Step 1. Prepare the pen with a new needle

• Wash your hands, check the pen contains Wegovy, and pull off the pen cap ^[1].
• Check through the pen window that the medicine is clear and colorless. If it looks cloudy, do not use the pen ^[1].
• Attach a new needle straight onto the pen and turn until tight. Remove both the outer and inner needle caps, since forgetting one means no medicine is injected ^[1].
• Always use a new needle for each injection, never a bent or damaged one ^[1].

Step 2. Check the flow with each new pen

Before the first dose from a new pen, check the medicine flow. For the second, third and fourth doses from the same pen, go straight to Step 3 ^[1].

Step 3. Set your dose

This pen only has the 2.4 mg dose. If the dose counter stops before it reaches your prescribed dose, there is not enough medicine left for a full dose, so throw the pen away and use a new one ^[1].

Step 4. Inject

• Wipe the skin with an alcohol swab and let it dry. Insert the needle as your healthcare provider showed you, keeping the dose counter visible ^[1].
• Press and hold the dose button until the counter shows 0, keep pressing with the needle in your skin, and count slowly to 6. Removing the needle earlier means the full dose will not be delivered ^[1].
• Remove the needle. If blood appears, press lightly with cotton or gauze and do not rub. A drop at the needle tip is normal ^[1].
• If 0 never appears in the counter, you may have a blocked or damaged needle and have received no medicine. Change the needle and repeat from Step 1 ^[1].

Step 5. After your injection

• Unscrew the needle without putting the caps back on, and place it in a sharps container right away ^[1].
• Put the pen cap back on to protect the medicine from light ^[1].
• After all four doses there may still be medicine in the pen. It should be thrown away ^[1].

Keep a log of your own

Storing the pen

• Store in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) ^[1].
• After first use, store at 68°F to 77°F or in the refrigerator for up to 56 days ^[1].
• Throw it away if it has been frozen, exposed to light or temperatures above 86°F (30°C), or out of the refrigerator for 56 days or longer ^[1].
• Store the pen without a needle attached, and keep the cap on when not in use ^[1].

Missed an injection? The rule is about the next scheduled dose, see the missed dose checker and the Wegovy dosing schedule.