Wegovy is the brand name for a medication called Semaglutide. The NHS has approved it for use, alongside a balanced diet and exercise, to help manage excess weight in some people. Wegovy comes as a pre-filled injector pen, which is used weekly, and can be injected under the skin in the upper arms, stomach or thighs.

Wegovy has proven to sustain a mean average of 15% weight loss at 2 years.

Everybody is different. Studies show that most people start to see results within the first month of use*, but it can take up to around month 2-3 following starting your prescribed medication, alongside following nutritional and movement guides.

Wegovy works by mimicking the action of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone, which regulates your appetite. GLP-1 works in your brian to regulate your appetite, meaning the medication increases feelings of fullness and reduce feelings of hunger. It also reduces blood sugar, by promoting the release of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Ultimately, this results in reduced appetite, feeling fuller, and reduced blood sugar levels, all of which contribute to weight loss.

Make sure you read the Instructions for Use that come with your medication. Wegovy is designed to be taken via an easy-to-use injection pen. You inject your GLP-1 medication pen under your skin, in your upper arm, stomach (keeping 5cm away from the belly button) and front of thigh, on the same day every week. Find out more at www.hanxofficial.com/GLP1-how-to-inject on how to inject safely and effectively.

Your Wegovy injection pen has 4 doses, meaning it can be disposed of after one month (4 uses).

You can inject your medication under the skin (subcutaneously) in your upper arm, stomach (keeping 5cm away from the belly button) and front of thigh, weekly. Rotate the injection site each time to decrease the chances of reactions e.g. tenderness.

Once a week, on the same day each week. Make a note in your diary at a time that makes it easier to remember. You can take Wegovy at any time of the day, with or without food - though some people find that taking it around mealtimes can reduce potential nausea as a side effect.

The injection pen will click twice and will take around 10 seconds to administer. Make sure you read the Instructions for Use included with your pen.

If you have issues with your injection, it's important to speak with our pharmacy team for further advice. They can help guide you with further adice such as ensuring you inject in a firm site, such as the upper arm, stomach (keeping 5cm away from the belly button) and front of thigh. Other tips they may discuss include considering standing up when injecting, and making sure you apply pressue until the yellow bar on your injection pen has stopped moving.

Before your first use, store your injection pens in a refrigerator (2° C to 8° C) (making sure to keep away from the cooling element). After your first use, store below 30° C or, preferably, in a refrigerator (2° C to 8° C). Do not freeze Wegovy and do not use your medication if it has been frozen. When the pen is not in use, make sure to keep the pen cap on. Do not expose the pen to direct sunlight.

As with all medications, there are potential side effects with weight loss medication. The most common side effects of Mounjaro include nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion, and stomach (abdominal) pain. For anything urgent, please call 999 or attend A&E. Make sure you talk to your GP or prescriber (via hello@hanx.co.uk) about anything that bothers you, or doesn’t go away.

If you miss a dose and the next scheduled dose of Wegovy is due within 48 hours (2 days), then do NOT take the missed dose of Wegovy, and simply resume on your scheduled day of the week. However, if you are not due your next Wegovy dose in the next 48 hours (2 days), and have realised you've missed a dose of Wegovy, then administer the missed dose as soon as possible.
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If you miss two or more doses of Wegovy, you should let HANX know via hello@hanx.co.uk and your prescribing pharmacist will contact you, as you may need to restart from the initiation dose.

No. Wegovy may cause fetal harm, so it's really important not to fall pregnant whilst taking the medication. If you do find you're pregnant, discontinue Wegovy striaght away and see your doctor. Stop taking Wegovy at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.

You will start off taking the lowest dose (0.25mg) of Wegovy, once a week. HANX will follow up regularly with advice and guidance to help you settle into the weight management programme. We will send you check-ins, which you'll be asked to complete to share your progress and experiences with your prescriber. If you are experiencing no major side effects, and your prescribing pharmacist deems it suitable for you, you will increase your dose of Wegovy each month until you reach a 'maintenance' dose. Your prescriber will keep you on this dose and check in with you every three months.

There has been a small amount of research into patients taking Wegovy (1mg at a steady state) alongside the combined oral contraceptive pill, and no drug interaction was noted. However, as Wegovy slows the rate at which your stomach empties, it's important to take caution when taking the contraceptive pill, due to the potential impact Wegovy has on the Pill's absorption. Consider using a contraceptive barrier method, such as condoms, whilst using Wegovy medication to avoid pregnancy. It is paramount you do not fall pregnant whilst taking Wegovy due to the potential of harm to the foetus.

It's important to dispose of your needles safely and not to throw them away in general household waste. You will receive a sharps bin with your medication, so please make sure to place finished needles in this, keeping the sharps bin upright. Please follow your local community guidelines for the right way to dispose of your sharps bin. The used pens go into household waste or the PenCycle box, which you can post back to the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk.

You should stop taking Wegovy immediately if you experience extreme stomach pain, pancreatitis, low blood sugar (hypoglucaemia), kidney problems, or an allergic reaction. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop a severe rash, trouble breathing, a very fast heartbeat or swelling in the face, tongue or throat. If you find out you're pregnant, you must also stop taking Wegovy immediately and speak to your GP. Once you stop taking Wegovy, your appetite will likely return and you will notice any potential side effects subside within a couple of days.

You can stop taking Wegovy at any point in time, but it's important to note that the medication is designed to be used long-term for both weight loss and weight maintenance. The rate of weight loss plateaus over time and once you reach your target weight it is recommended to discuss your treatment plan with your prescriber to adjust dosing where necessary.

Wegovy may cause serious side effects. It is currently unknown whether Wegovy may cause tumours in the thyroid, including thyroid cancer, in people. It's important to watch for any swelling in the neck, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing or hoarseness of the voice. Do not take Wegovy if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Other serious risks include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), kidney problems (kidney failure), hypersensitivity reactions, changes in vision, heart rate increase, and suicidal behaviour or ideation. For anything urgent, please call 999 or attend A&E. For other health advice, speak with your GP.

As with all medications, there are potential side effects when taking Wegovy. The most include nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion, and stomach (abdominal) pain. For anything urgent, please call 999 or attend A&E. Otherwise, make sure you talk to your prescriber about anything that bothers you, or doesn’t go away. Please contact hello@hanx.co.uk and we will raise your concerns with the prescribing team.