Wegovy

The recommended starting dose of Wegovy (Semaglutide) is 0.25 mg once a week, injected subcutaneously (under the skin) on your abdomen (stomach area ), upper thigh, or upper arm, exactly as instructed by your doctor.

After 4 weeks, your doctor will increase the dose to 0.5 mg once weekly, gradually increasing the dose every 4 weeks, to the recommended 2.4 mg weekly.

This gradual increase of the dose should minimize side effects on the digestive system.

Wegovy (Semaglutide) can be injected at any time of the day, without regard to meals.

It should be injected on the same day each week.

If it is necessary to change the day of administration, doses must be separated by at least 72 hours.

Your doctor or nurse will assist you in the preparation and injection of your first dose (or first few doses) and can teach you how to give yourself the injection at home.

Do not attempt to inject this medication on your own until you completely understand how to inject a dose.

If you are unsure of how to prepare or administer a dose, ask a health care professional to clarify for you.

If you are having difficulty giving yourself injections, ask a family member or other caregiver for help if they are willing to become involved with your treatment and are willing to learn how to give you your injections.

Use a different injection site for each dose.

Avoid injecting this medication into an area of skin that is sore, red, infected, or otherwise damaged.

Wegovy (Semaglutide) should be clear and colourless.

Do not use Wegovy (Semaglutide) if you notice particles or anything unusual in the appearance of the solution.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications.

If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

If you miss a dose and the next dose is at least 48 hours away, take the dose as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule.

If it is less than 48 hours until for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule.

If you miss 2 or more consecutive doses you may need to reduce the dose temporarily to reduce side effects.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store this medication in the refrigerator, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

After first use, the pen may be kept at room temperature for up to 4 weeks, or in the refrigerator for up to 8 weeks.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage.

Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause diarrhea or constipation, depending on the person; it may cause stomach ache; it may cause nausea and vomiting. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

Solution for Injection Multi-Use Pen

0.25 mg

Each prefilled pen contains 1 mg of Wegovy (Semaglutide) in 1.5 mL, delivering 4 doses of 0.25 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: disodium phosphate dihydrate, propylene glycol, phenol, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and water for injection.

0.5 mg

Each prefilled pen contains 2 mg of Wegovy (Semaglutide) in 1.5 mL, delivering 4 doses of 0.5 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: disodium phosphate dihydrate, propylene glycol, phenol, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and water for injection.

1 mg

Each prefilled pen contains 4 mg of Wegovy (Semaglutide) in 3 mL, delivering 4 doses of 1 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: disodium phosphate dihydrate, propylene glycol, phenol, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and water for injection.

1.7 mg

Each prefilled pen contains 6.8 mg of Wegovy (Semaglutide) in 3 mL, delivering 4 doses of 1.7 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: disodium phosphate dihydrate, propylene glycol, phenol, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and water for injection.

2.4 mg

Each prefilled pen contains 9.6 mg of Wegovy (Semaglutide) in 3 mL, delivering 4 doses of 2.4 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: disodium phosphate dihydrate, propylene glycol, phenol, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, and water for injection.

Do not take this medication if you:

• are allergic to Wegovy (Semaglutide) or any ingredients of the medication
• are pregnant
• are breast-feeding
• have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer
• have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (a disease where people have tumours in more than one gland in their body)

There may be an interaction between Wegovy (Semaglutide) and any of the following:

• acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
• antipsychotics (e.g., aripiprazole, cariprazine, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone)
• basiliximab
• beta adrenergic blockers (e.g., acebutolol, atenolol, carvedilol, labetalol, propranolol, sotalol)
• bismuth subsalicylate
• buserelin
• corticosteroids (e.g., beclomethasone, cortisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, prednisone)
• danazol
• decongestants (e.g., phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine)
• diazoxide
• disopyramide
• diuretics (e.g., furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide)
• elagolix
• epinephrine
• estrogens (e.g., estradiol, ethinyl estradiol, conjugated estrogen)
• everolimus
• GLP-1 agonists (e.g., dulaglutide, liraglutide)
• glucagon
• goserelin
• Hepatitis C antivirals (e.g., elbasvir and grazoprevir, glecaprevir and pibrentasvir, ledipasvir, velpatasvir, voxilaprevir)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, lopinavir, ritonavir, tipranavir)
• hydroxychloroquine
• insulin and insulin secretagogues (e.g., gliclazide, glimepiride, glyburide)
• leuprolide
• levothyroxine
• linezolid
• mifepristone
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs; e.g., moclobemide, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine)
• niacin
• pegvisomant
• progestins (e.g., cyproterone, levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, norethindrone, progesterone)
• protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., bortezomib, ceritinib, dabrafenib, nilotinib, sunitinib)
• quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin)
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline)
• sirolimus
• somatostatin analogues (e.g., lanreotide, octreotide, pasireotide)
• somatrogon
• somatropin
• sulfamethoxazole
• tacrolimus
• temsirolimus
• terbutaline
• testosterone
• tramadol
• venetoclax
• vilazodone
• vorinostat

If you are taking other medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Dehydration: Symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may be more common at the start of treatment and can result in loss of fluid from the body. If you experience symptoms of dehydration, such as thirst, decreased urine or tear production, dizziness or headaches, contact your doctor.

Gallstones: Wegovy (Semaglutide) has been associated with an increase in gallstone formation. Gallstones often form when there is significant or fast weight loss. If you experience symptoms of gallstones, such as nausea and vomiting, pain under the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades or severe abdominal pain, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Heart problems: This medication may increase heart rate and may affect how electrical impulses travel through the heart muscle. If you have heart disease (e.g., recent heart attack, angina, heart failure) or an abnormal heart rhythm (e.g., heart block or fast heart rate), discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Intestinal problems: Wegovy (Semaglutide) may slow down the speed that material passes through the digestive system. If you have digestive system problems, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Kidney function: Decreased kidney function has been reported with the use of Wegovy (Semaglutide). This may be more likely to occur if you have reduced kidney function when you start using this medication. If you have reduced kidney function or kidney disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication for people with reduced liver function have not been studied. If you have reduced liver function or liver disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia): People who use Wegovy (Semaglutide) may experience low blood sugar. This may be more likely if you are also taking a sulfonylurea (e.g., glyburide, gliclazide) to control high blood sugar. If you experience symptoms of hypoglycemia such as a cold sweat, nervousness or shakiness, fast heartbeat, headache, hunger, confusion, lightheadedness, weakness, and numbness or tingling of the tongue or lips, contact your doctor.

Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas): Wegovy (Semaglutide) can cause pancreatitis. If you experience symptoms of pancreatitis such as severe and persistent abdominal pain that may move to the back with or without vomiting, contact your doctor immediately. If you have previously had pancreatitis, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Thyroid cancer: In rare cases, people have developed thyroid cancer while using Wegovy (Semaglutide). People with a personal or family history of thyroid cancer or people who have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (a disease where people have tumours in more than one gland in their body) should not use this medication.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Use effective birth control while you are using this medication and for at least 2 months after your last dose of Wegovy (Semaglutide).

Breast-feeding: It is not known if Wegovy (Semaglutide) passes into breast milk. If you are breast-feeding and taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children less than 12 years of age. Adolescents must weigh at least 60 kg or have a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2.

Seniors: Seniors may be at an increased risk of experiencing side effects of Wegovy (Semaglutide).

This product must be injected under the skin (subcutaneously), according to the technique you were shown. Be sure to choose a different injection site each time. This medication is typically used only once a week. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Use it regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Dispose of used syringes and needles safely. Your pharmacist can tell you the best way to do this. If you forget a dose, contact your pharmacist. This medication may be taken with or without food. In order not to cause hypoglycemia, avoid excessive alcohol consumption.