Injecting yourself for the first time feels daunting for almost everyone, and by the second or third week most people barely think about it. The Wegovy pen is designed to be simple. This guide covers both pens: the FlexTouch pen used for the 0.25mg to 2.4mg doses, and the single-dose pen used for 7.2mg. The leaflet in your pack is the definitive source for your pen, so if anything here differs from it, follow the leaflet.
Which Wegovy pen do you have?
Wegovy FlexTouch (0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and 2.4mg). Each pen holds four weekly doses of one strength. You attach a new needle for each injection and set the dose on the pen's dose counter. Each FlexTouch pack contains one pen and four NovoFine Plus needles, one for each dose.
Wegovy 7.2mg single-dose pen. Wegovy 7.2 mg comes as a pack of four single-dose pens, so your whole weekly dose is one injection. You may still see it described elsewhere as three 2.4 mg injections, which was the earlier presentation. Use one 7.2 mg pen for each weekly dose. The needle is built in and hidden under a needle cover, so there is no needle to attach and no dose to set.
Every Solira order includes your prescribed Wegovy pen at your approved dose, all the injection needles you need, and antiseptic wipes.
Where should you inject Wegovy?
Wegovy goes just under the skin of your stomach area (abdomen), your thigh (upper leg), or your upper arm. Never inject it into a vein or a muscle. If you use your stomach, keep at least 5cm away from your belly button. You can use the same general area each week, but not the exact spot you used last time.
Use a new needle for every injection, and rotate between your abdomen, thigh, and upper arm. Inject on the same day each week. If you need to move your injection day, you can, as long as at least 3 days (72 hours) pass between two doses. Then inject on your new day each week.
Wegovy can be injected at any time of day, with or without meals.
How do you use the Wegovy FlexTouch pen?
These are the steps in the leaflet for the FlexTouch pen, the pen for doses from 0.25mg to 2.4mg.
- Check the pen. Check the label to make sure it is your prescribed dose, then pull off the pen cap. Look through the pen window: the solution should be clear and colourless. Do not use the pen if it looks cloudy or coloured.
- Attach a new needle. Tear off the paper tab, push the needle straight onto the pen and turn it until it is on tight. Pull off the outer needle cap and keep it for later. Pull off the inner needle cap and throw it away. Never use a bent or damaged needle.
- Check the flow, with each new pen only. Before your first injection with a new pen, turn the dose selector to the flow check symbol. Hold the pen with the needle pointing up and press and hold the dose button until the dose counter shows 0. A drop should appear at the needle tip. If it does not, check the flow again, no more than twice. If there is still no drop, change the needle and check once more. If there is still no drop, do not use the pen and contact your pharmacist.
- Set your dose. Turn the dose selector until the dose counter stops at your prescribed dose. Use the dose counter, not the clicks: the leaflet says not to set the dose by counting the clicks you hear. If the counter stops before your dose, there is not enough medicine left for a full dose, so use a new pen.
- Inject. Insert the needle into your skin at your chosen site, with the dose counter where you can see it. Press and hold the dose button until the counter shows 0. Keep pressing, with the needle in your skin, and count slowly to 6. If you take the needle out sooner, some medicine may come out of the tip and you may not get your full dose.
- Remove the needle. Take the needle out of your skin. If you see a little blood, press lightly on the spot. A drop of medicine at the needle tip afterwards is normal.
- Cap and remove the needle. With the outer needle cap on a flat surface, guide the needle tip into it without touching the cap, then push it fully on. Unscrew the needle and put it straight into your sharps bin. Never put the small inner cap back on. Put the pen cap back on, and never store the pen with a needle attached.
Each FlexTouch pen holds four doses. A little solution may be left after the fourth dose; it is not enough for another dose, so dispose of the pen.
How do you use the Wegovy 7.2mg single-dose pen?
The 7.2mg pen is used once and then disposed of. These are the steps in its leaflet.
- Check the pen. Do not use it if it is past its expiry date, looks damaged or used, or the medicine is cloudy. It should be clear and colourless.
- Pull the cap straight off. The needle is hidden under the needle cover, so there is nothing to attach.
- Press the pen firmly against your skin at your chosen site. A yellow bar appears in the pen window as the dose goes in. If the yellow bar does not start moving, press the pen more firmly against your skin.
- Keep holding until the yellow bar has stopped moving. The injection takes about 5 to 10 seconds. Do not lift the pen before the bar has stopped, or you may not get your full dose.
- Lift the pen slowly and dispose of it safely. It still has a needle inside, so it goes in your sharps bin, never in household waste.
For more on the higher dose itself, read our guide to Wegovy 7.2mg.
What if you miss a Wegovy dose?
Missed dose. Mounjaro: take it if fewer than 4 days have passed, otherwise skip. Wegovy pens: take it if fewer than 5 days have passed, otherwise skip. After a long gap, contact us before restarting: treatment resumes at the lowest dose.
In practice, for Wegovy: if fewer than 5 days have passed since your usual day, take it as soon as possible. If 5 days or more have passed, skip it and take your next dose on your usual day. Never take two doses in one week. Our Wegovy dose schedule guide covers missed doses and restarting in more detail.
How should you store Wegovy pens?
Storage: keep unopened pens in the fridge (2–8 °C) and never use a pen that has been frozen. Once in use: Mounjaro can stay out of the fridge for up to 30 days, not above 30 °C (then discard, even if medicine remains); Wegovy pens from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg keep for 6 weeks below 30 °C with the cap on. The Wegovy 7.2 mg single-dose pen can be kept out of the fridge for up to 28 days, not above 30 °C; throw it away after that.
In the fridge, keep pens away from the cooling element. Keep the FlexTouch pen cap on, and the 7.2mg pens in their carton, to protect them from light. Do not use a pen if the solution is not clear and colourless. For travel and what to do if a pen is left out, see Mounjaro and Wegovy storage.
How do you dispose of needles and pens?
Used needles and used 7.2mg pens go in a sharps bin, never in household rubbish. Remove the needle before you dispose of an empty FlexTouch pen. When your sharps bin is full, seal it and arrange disposal through your GP practice or your local council's sharps collection service. Never share your pen or needles with anyone, and never reuse a needle.
Common injection concerns
"I heard clicks while setting my dose. Should I count them?"
No. The FlexTouch pen clicks as you turn the dose selector, but the leaflet says to set your dose with the dose counter, not by counting clicks.
"The dose counter did not go back to 0."
The needle may be blocked or damaged, and you may not have had your dose. Do not inject again to make up for it until you have spoken to your pharmacist.
"There is medicine left in my FlexTouch pen after four doses."
That is expected. What remains is not enough for a full dose, so dispose of the pen rather than trying to use it.
"Can I change the day I inject?"
Yes, as long as at least 3 days (72 hours) pass between two doses. Then inject on your new day each week. If injecting brings on side effects, our guide to Wegovy side effects explains what helps. Moving from Mounjaro? Read switching between Mounjaro and Wegovy.