Wegovy (semaglutide) injection pens

Wegovy is a prescription injectable medicine used for chronic weight management in appropriate patients. This page summarizes how the medication works, how weekly dosing is commonly titrated, and what to know about handling and safety. It also explains how CanadianInsulin supports prescription referral and fulfillment steps.

What Wegovy Is and How It Works

This treatment is a once-weekly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that can reduce appetite and increase fullness by acting on brain satiety pathways and slowing gastric emptying. Ships from Canada to US is available through participating licensed pharmacies after documentation is complete. Prescriptions may be verified with your prescriber when required. Cash-pay access may help for people without insurance.

Semaglutide (the generic name) is the active ingredient. It is used along with reduced-calorie eating patterns and increased physical activity, as described in the product labeling. Because GLP-1 medicines can affect digestion and food intake, dose increases are typically gradual. The goal of gradual titration is to support tolerability, especially for stomach-related effects.

Why it matters: The class mechanism can affect appetite and stomach emptying, which influences side effects and interactions.

Who It’s For

This medicine is indicated for long-term weight management in adults with obesity, or adults who are overweight with at least one weight-related medical condition, when used with lifestyle changes. Some labeling also includes adolescents aged 12 years and older with obesity, under a prescriber’s supervision. For condition-specific browsing, the site groups related options under Obesity and Overweight.

It is not appropriate for everyone. Key contraindications on the label include a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma and multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). The therapy is also contraindicated in patients with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or any component. A prescriber should also review pregnancy status, breastfeeding considerations, and a history of pancreatitis or gallbladder disease before starting any GLP-1 medication.

Some patients compare multiple chronic weight management options across a broader list, such as the Weight Management category hub. Educational resources are also grouped in Weight Management Articles for background on medication classes and expected monitoring topics.

Dosage and Usage

Dosing is typically titrated over several months to reach a maintenance dose, following the official label and the prescriber’s plan. The Wegovy injection is administered subcutaneously (under the skin) once weekly, on the same day each week. Dose escalation is usually slower if gastrointestinal symptoms are difficult to tolerate, and prescribers may pause or adjust a step based on clinical judgment.

A commonly referenced label-aligned adult titration schedule is shown below for orientation. Exact schedules can differ by indication, product presentation, and patient factors.

1. Weeks 1–4: 0.25 mg once weekly
2. Weeks 5–8: 0.5 mg once weekly
3. Weeks 9–12: 1 mg once weekly
4. Weeks 13–16: 1.7 mg once weekly
5. Maintenance: 2.4 mg once weekly (or as directed)

Using the pen device

Administration is done with a single-dose prefilled pen and a new needle for each injection, per the product instructions. Typical injection sites include the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, and sites are rotated to reduce local irritation. The pen is not shared between patients, even if a new needle is used, due to infection risk.

For missed doses, labeling commonly provides timing-based instructions (for example, whether there is enough time before the next scheduled dose). Patients should follow the written instructions and their prescriber’s direction rather than doubling doses. Sharps are disposed of in an appropriate puncture-resistant container, following local regulations.

Licensed Canadian pharmacies dispense medication after documentation is confirmed.

Strengths and Forms

This product is supplied as single-dose prefilled pens for subcutaneous use. Each Wegovy pen delivers one fixed dose and is discarded after use, even if some solution remains. Packaging details can vary by market and supply chain, so the dispensed carton may not look identical across sources.

The labeled strengths for weekly injection are commonly presented as a fixed dose in a 0.5 mL pen. Availability of specific strengths may change over time, especially during shortages.

Patients using other semaglutide products should not assume doses are interchangeable. For context on oral semaglutide in obesity discussions, see Rybelsus For Obesity, noting that indications and dosing differ by product and jurisdiction.

Storage and Travel Basics

Store pens refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) in the original carton to protect from light, unless the label permits temporary room-temperature storage. Do not freeze, and do not use a pen that has been frozen. Avoid exposing the pen to direct heat, and check solution clarity before use as directed in the instructions.

Many labels allow limited time at controlled room temperature (for example, up to 28 days at temperatures not exceeding 30°C/86°F). Exact limits can vary, so the carton insert should be treated as the controlling reference. A pen should be kept capped when not in use, and needles are typically removed after injection to reduce leakage and contamination risk.

Quick tip: Keep the carton insert with travel supplies for easy reference.

For travel planning, consider how refrigeration will be maintained during long flights, road trips, or hotel stays. A cooler with cold packs can help, but the pen should not sit directly against a frozen pack. If security screening is involved, bringing the original prescription label and the manufacturer carton can simplify documentation questions.

Side Effects and Safety

Common side effects with GLP-1 receptor agonists are gastrointestinal. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal discomfort, and reduced appetite are frequently reported, particularly during dose escalation. Headache, fatigue, dizziness, reflux symptoms, and injection-site reactions can also occur. Symptoms often relate to the dose level and how quickly titration occurs.

Serious risks and warnings are described in the Wegovy prescribing information and should be reviewed with a healthcare professional before starting. Important safety topics include the boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors (based on rodent studies), possible pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, acute kidney injury (often in the setting of dehydration), and severe allergic reactions. Some labeling also highlights mood changes or suicidal thoughts, and patients should seek urgent care for concerning symptoms such as persistent severe abdominal pain or signs of anaphylaxis.

Monitoring is individualized. Clinicians may review weight trajectory, tolerability, blood pressure, and heart rate, and may reassess other medicines if appetite and intake change. Patients with diabetes or prediabetes may need additional monitoring if other glucose-lowering drugs are used concurrently.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

GLP-1 medicines can slow gastric emptying, which may affect absorption of some oral drugs. This is most relevant for medications with a narrow therapeutic window or where timing is critical. A prescriber or pharmacist can review whether spacing doses is needed for specific therapies.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is more likely when semaglutide is used with insulin or insulin secretagogues such as sulfonylureas. Although this medication is not indicated for type 1 diabetes, some patients have overlapping metabolic conditions that require careful medication reconciliation. Related background reading is organized under Type 2 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Articles.

Tell surgical and anesthesia teams about GLP-1 use before procedures that involve fasting or sedation. Because stomach emptying may be slowed, teams may provide specific pre-procedure instructions to reduce aspiration risk. Alcohol intake and dehydration risks should also be discussed if vomiting or diarrhea occurs.

Compare With Alternatives

Several prescription therapies are used for chronic weight management, and they differ by mechanism, dosing frequency, and contraindications. Wegovy weight loss injections are one option in the GLP-1 class. Another weekly injectable in the incretin category is tirzepatide, and a daily injectable alternative is liraglutide. Oral combination therapies for weight management also exist, but they follow different safety rules and interaction profiles.

For product-level overviews, see Zepbound and Saxenda. Decisions about selection usually consider medical history, current medicines, pregnancy plans, tolerability of prior therapies, and whether a weekly or daily regimen is feasible. The comparison is not only about expected weight change; safety warnings and contraindications often drive the choice.

For deeper context on incretin classes, these guides can help frame discussions with a clinician: Tirzepatide Vs Semaglutide, Mounjaro Vs Ozempic, and Saxenda Vs Ozempic. These resources are not a substitute for labeling, but they can clarify terminology and class differences.

Pricing and Access

Wegovy cost can vary based on dose strength, supply availability, and dispensing pharmacy policies. Coverage rules also differ by plan, and some insurers require clinical criteria or prior authorization for weight management therapies. For patients paying cash, overall expense may depend on the month-to-month titration step and the maintenance dose selected by the prescriber.

CanadianInsulin operates as a prescription referral platform that coordinates documentation and routes requests to participating licensed pharmacies. US delivery from Canada may be offered when the prescription and patient information meet dispensing requirements. The platform also supports cash-pay access for some patients without insurance coverage, when clinically appropriate and legally permitted.

If a promotion is available for a related service, it will be listed on Current Promotions. Any savings programs are separate from clinical decision-making and do not change product safety requirements.

Authoritative Sources

For the most accurate details on indications, contraindications, and dosing, rely on official labeling and regulator information. These sources describe the boxed warning language, titration schedules, and storage limits, and they are updated when new safety data are reviewed. If there is a conflict between secondary summaries and the label, the label should be treated as primary.

Neutral references that support key facts on dosing, warnings, and storage include:

• Read the FDA application and label details: Drugs@FDA Application Overview
• Review the manufacturer document for full directions: Novo Nordisk Prescribing Information PDF
• See consumer-friendly safety counseling points: MedlinePlus Semaglutide Injection

To submit a prescription request through the site, complete the required details; prompt, express, cold-chain shipping is used when appropriate.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.