You can inject Wegovy (semaglutide) into your lower abdomen, upper arm, or upper thigh. Do not inject Wegovy into a vein or muscle. There are certain steps to follow to be sure you get the full dose of the drug.
Wegovy is a prescription drug used to help with weight loss in certain people. Wegovy comes as a liquid solution in prefilled single-dose pens. It’s given as an injection under your skin.
To learn more about Wegovy, check out this in-depth article.
You’ll inject Wegovy into your lower stomach (at least 2 inches from your belly button), upper arm, or front upper thigh. There’s no best place to inject this medication. All of these are equally effective injection sites for Wegovy.
You can use the same area of your body each time, but you should vary the exact location. For example, you can inject into your upper left thigh one week and your upper right thigh the next. Or you could inject into the same thigh each time, but choose a spot a few inches from your previous injection site.
Do not inject Wegovy into an area with stretch marks or scars or into skin that’s tender, hard, bruised, or discolored.
If you’re having trouble injecting into a soft area, choose a firmer location such as your upper thigh. Or stand up while injecting into your lower abdomen so your skin will be more taut.
Before injecting Wegovy for the first time, talk with your doctor or another healthcare professional. They’ll show you how to inject the drug and help you determine which injection sites are best for you.
Before injecting Wegovy, be sure that the pen is undamaged, the drug hasn’t passed its expiration date, and the fluid in the pen window is clear and colorless. If any of these do not apply, call the drug manufacturer at 833-934-6891.
To be sure you get the full dose of the drug, it’s important to follow the instructions for use that come with your Wegovy pen. The process is as follows:
- Clean the injection site with rubbing alcohol or soap and water, and then let it dry.
- Pull the cap straight off the pen, and then push the needle cover firmly against your skin.
- Apply pressure until the yellow bar stops moving. You’ll hear two clicks during this process. The first click means the injection has begun, and the second click means it’s still going.
- Keep pressing firmly until the yellow bar stops moving (about 5 to 10 seconds from the first click).
- Slowly lift the pen off your skin.
- If you have any bleeding, press a cotton ball or gauze pad lightly against the spot.
If you pull the pen away from your skin too soon or don’t press it firmly enough against your skin during the full injection, you may not get your full dose. You may notice liquid leaking or squirting from the needle or pooling on your skin.
Once you’ve stopped an injection, you can’t restart it. The needle cover locks as soon as you remove it from your skin.
Immediately dispose of used Wegovy pens in a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved sharps disposal container. If you don’t have one available, use a thick, leak-resistant plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Clearly mark the outside of the container with a warning that it contains hazardous waste. For more information about safe sharps disposal, check out
For step-by-step instructions on how to inject Wegovy, check out the “How to use the Wegovy pen” video on the manufacturer’s website.
You’ll inject a Wegovy dose once per week. You can inject the drug at whatever time of day works best for you, without regard to meals. You can change the day of the week that you take your dose as long as it’s been at least 2 days since your last dose.
It’s critical that you store Wegovy properly to ensure that the drug will be fully effective:
- Keep Wegovy in a refrigerator at a temperature of 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).
- Do not freeze Wegovy.
- Keep the drug in its original container to protect it from light.
You’ll need to discard your Wegovy pen if it’s been:
- frozen
- exposed to temperatures over 86°F (30°C)
- left out of the fridge for 28 days or more
- exposed to light
If you’re planning to travel with Wegovy, check out this article for tips on storage, security checks, missed doses, pen malfunctions, and more.
The Wegovy pen uses a tiny needle that injects the drug into an area of fat just under your skin. Because the needle is so thin and short, many people don’t even feel it.
However, some people are sensitive to the injection of cold fluid. If you’re concerned about this, you can take Wegovy out of the fridge an hour or two before you inject your dose. (Do not remove the cap until you’re ready to inject your dose.) Injecting the drug once it reaches room temperature will help eliminate any discomfort you might have from the injection.
You can inject Wegovy into your upper arm, the front of your upper thigh, or your abdomen (at least 2 inches from your belly button). Keep the pen pressed firmly against your skin until the yellow indicator stops moving to show that the full dose has been dispensed.
For detailed injection directions, check out the tutorial video on the manufacturer’s website. These instructions are also described on pages 38 to 44 of the drug’s prescribing information, and in the Instructions for Use that come with Wegovy.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about injecting Wegovy.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
