1. What is Wegovy and how does it help with weight loss?

• Wegovy contains semaglutide.

• It reduces hunger, helps you feel fuller and can reduce food cravings.

• It should be used alongside changes to diet and physical activity. [1]

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2. What BMI do I need to use Wegovy?

For the licensed weight-management use in adults:

• BMI 30 kg/m² or above, or

• BMI 27 to below 30 kg/m² with at least one weight-related health problem. [1,4,5]

• Whether Wegovy is suitable still requires an individual clinical assessment.

• NHS access rules can be more restrictive than the medicine's licence.

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3. What are the Wegovy injection doses?

The usual dose increase is:

• Weeks 1–4: 0.25 mg once weekly

• Weeks 5–8: 0.5 mg once weekly

• Weeks 9–12: 1 mg once weekly

• Weeks 13–16: 1.7 mg once weekly

• From week 17: 2.4 mg once weekly

• For some adults with obesity, the dose may be increased to 7.2 mg once weekly if needed, after at least 4 weeks on 2.4 mg. [1,2]

Note: At WMIWM, our approach is not to increase Wegovy to the highest dose or continue treatment for longer than necessary. We aim to use the lowest effective dose for the shortest clinically appropriate period, with regular reviews and a plan to stop treatment when your agreed weight-management goals have been achieved and it is clinically appropriate to do so.

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4. Can I start Wegovy at 0.5 mg, 1 mg or a higher dose?

• The standard licensed starting dose is 0.25 mg once weekly for injection and 1.5mg Once Daily for oral Tablets.

• The dose is increased gradually to help your body adjust.

• Do not start at a higher dose or change your dose yourself. [1]

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5. Do I have to increase my Wegovy dose every 4 weeks?

• The usual schedule increases the dose every 4 weeks.

• If you are having significant side effects, your prescriber may delay an increase or return you to the previous dose.

• The dose should be based on your response and how well you tolerate treatment. [1]

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6. Does a higher Wegovy dose cause more weight loss?

• A higher dose does not guarantee more weight loss for every person.

• In a study, people taking 7.2 mg lost more weight on average than those taking 2.4 mg.

• Some side effects may also occur more often at the higher dose.

• Dose increases should therefore be based on individual need. [1]

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7. What is the best time of day to inject Wegovy?

• There is no specific best time.

• Wegovy injections can be taken at any time of day.

• They can be taken with or without food.

• Try to use it on the same day each week. [1,2]​​​​​

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8. Can I change the day I take Wegovy Injection?

Yes.

• You can change your injection day.

• There must be at least 3 days (more than 72 hours) between injections.

• After changing the day, continue once weekly. [1]

9. Can I take Wegovy injection every 5 days, every 10 days or twice a week?

• Wegovy injection is designed to be used once weekly.

• Do not routinely shorten, extend or split the dosing interval yourself.

• Follow the schedule prescribed for you. [1,2]

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10. Where should I inject Wegovy?

Wegovy can be injected under the skin of the:

• Stomach

• Upper leg (thigh)

• Upper arm

Change the exact injection spot rather than repeatedly injecting into the same place. [1,2]

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11. How many doses are in a Wegovy FlexTouch pen?

• A standard Wegovy FlexTouch pen contains 4 doses.

• Use a new needle for each injection.

• After the four doses have been used, the pen should be discarded. [1,2]

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12. Is there a fifth or "golden dose" in a Wegovy pen?

No official fifth or "golden dose" is recommended.

• Some liquid may remain after the four correct doses.

• The manufacturer states that the remaining amount is not enough for a full dose.

• The pen should be discarded after the four doses. [1,2]

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13. Should I use a Wegovy click chart or count clicks to change my dose?

No.

• The official instructions specifically state not to set the dose by counting clicks.

• Turn the dose selector until your prescribed dose is shown.

• Do not use click-counting or microdosing charts to create your own dose. [2]

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14. What should I do if I miss a Wegovy injection?

If it is:

• 5 days or less late: take the missed dose as soon as you remember.

• More than 5 days late: skip it and take your next dose on your normal day.

• Do not take a double dose.

• If several doses have been missed, your prescriber may consider restarting at a lower dose. [1,2]

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15. What should I do if I accidentally take too much Wegovy injection?

• Contact your doctor or healthcare professional straight away.

• Taking too much/overdose  may cause gastro-intestinal side effects leading to dehydration[1].

• Do not take extra doses to make up for a missed dose. [2]

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16. Do I need to gradually reduce Wegovy injection/tablets before stopping?

• Do not stop Wegovy without discussing it with your prescriber.

• The official information does not provide a routine "tapering" schedule.

• If treatment is restarted after several missed doses, restarting at a lower dose may need to be considered. [1,2]

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17. What are the most common side effects of Wegovy injection/tablets?

Common side effects include:

• Feeling sick

• Being sick

• Diarrhoea

• Constipation

• Stomach pain

• Headache

• Feeling weak or tired

These side effects often improve with time. [1,2]

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18. What can I do if Wegovy injection/tablets causes nausea or stomach problems?

• Make sure you drink enough fluid, especially if you are being sick or have diarrhoea.

• Side effects often improve with time.

• If symptoms are significant, your prescriber may delay your next dose increase or reduce you to the previous dose. [1,2,3]

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19. Which Wegovy (injection/tablets) side effects need urgent medical attention?

Seek urgent medical advice for symptoms such as:

• Severe, persistent stomach pain

• Serious difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat

• Sudden loss or worsening of eyesight

• Severe constipation with stomach pain, swelling and vomiting

These can be signs of rare but serious problems. [1,2,3]

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20. Can Wegovy (injection/tablets) be used during pregnancy?

No.

• Wegovy should not be used during pregnancy.

• It should be stopped at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.

• If you become pregnant while using Wegovy, contact your healthcare professional.

• Contraception is recommended while taking semaglutide. [1,2,3]

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21. Can I use Wegovy (injection/tablets) while breastfeeding?

• Wegovy injection should not be used while breastfeeding.

• Discuss alternative treatment with your healthcare professional. [1,2]

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22. Can Wegovy be taken with diabetes medicines or other medicines?

• Tell your prescriber about all medicines you take.

• Insulin and some diabetes medicines may increase the risk of low blood sugar when used with Wegovy.

• Wegovy should not normally be combined with other medicines from the same GLP-1 medicine group.

• People taking warfarin or similar blood-thinning medicines may need additional blood tests.

• No important effect was found on metformin in the studies described in the product information. [1]

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23. Can people with kidney or liver problems use Wegovy (injection/tablets)?

• Some people with kidney or liver problems can use Wegovy.

• The recommendations differ depending on how severe the problem is and whether injections or tablets are being used.

• Your kidney and liver health should therefore be considered during your clinical assessment. [1,3]

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24. How much weight can I lose with Wegovy?

Results vary considerably between people.

In one major study:

• People using Wegovy 2.4 mg lost around 14.9% of their starting body weight on average after 68 weeks.

• People receiving inactive treatment lost around 2.4%.

• Diet and physical activity were also part of the programme. [1]

A newer study found greater average weight loss with 7.2 mg than with 2.4 mg, but individual results vary. [1]

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25. What happens if Wegovy is not helping me lose enough weight?

• Your response should be reviewed regularly.

• If you have not lost at least 5% of your starting weight after 6 months, your healthcare professional should review whether continuing treatment is appropriate. [1]

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26. How can I get the best results from Wegovy?

Wegovy works as part of a wider weight-management programme.

• Take it exactly as prescribed.

• Follow a reduced-calorie eating plan.

• Increase your physical activity.

• Do not alter your dose using click-counting or unofficial dosing methods.

• Attend regular reviews so your treatment can be adjusted when needed. [1,2,6]

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27. How many calories, how much protein or how much water should I have while taking Wegovy?

• The approved sources do not give one fixed calorie, protein or water target for everyone.

• Wegovy should be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

• It is particularly important to drink enough fluid if you have vomiting or diarrhoea.

• Your individual food and protein requirements should be personalised. [1,2,6]

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28. Is Wegovy available as a tablet?

Yes.

Wegovy tablets are now licensed for weight management in adults. The usual dose schedule is:

• 1.5 mg once daily for the first month

• Then 4 mg once daily

• Then 9 mg once daily

• Then 25 mg once daily as the usual maintenance dose

Each stage should normally last at least one month. [3]

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29. How should I take Wegovy tablets and what is the best time of day to take them?

• Take tablet when your stomach is empty after at least 8 hours of fasting. For most people, this will be first thing in the morning.

• Take once daily on an empty stomach [3].

• Swallow the tablet whole with up to 120 mL of water [3].

• Do not crush, chew or split the tablet[3].

• Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking any other oral medicines[3].

• Taking it the same way each day helps ensure the medicine is absorbed properly[3].

30. What should I do if I miss a Wegovy tablet?

• Skip the missed tablet.

• Take your normal dose the following day.

• Do not take extra tablets to make up the missed dose. [3]

31. Can I switch from Wegovy injections to Wegovy tablets?

• The product information allows people taking Wegovy 2.4 mg injection once weekly to move to Wegovy 25 mg tablets once daily.

• The tablet can be started one week after the last injection.

• Other dose-to-dose conversions are not provided and should not be calculated yourself. [3]

32. How should Wegovy injection pens be stored?

Before first use:

• Store in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C.

• Do not freeze.

After first use:

• The FlexTouch pen can be kept for up to 6 weeks below 30°C or in a refrigerator.

• Keep the cap on to protect it from light.

• Never use Wegovy if it has been frozen. [1,2]

References

[1] Novo Nordisk Limited. Wegovy FlexTouch solution for injection in pre-filled pen – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC). Revised July 2026.

[2] Novo Nordisk Limited. Wegovy FlexTouch solution for injection in pre-filled pen – Patient Information Leaflet (PIL). electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC). Revised June 2026.

[3] Novo Nordisk Limited. Wegovy tablets – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC). Revised June 2026.

[4] NICE. British National Formulary (BNF): Semaglutide.

[5] NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS). Obesity: Management.

[6] Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). SIGN 172: Prevention and remission of type 2 diabetes. 2025.