How to use the Wegovy FlexTouch Pen
Injecting yourself can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. We are here to help and support you before, during, and after you begin treatment. As using the medication correctly is the best way to achieve your desired results, we want to ensure that you can use this medication easily and without any hassle.
Important: Wegovy 7.2mg Pen Update
The Wegovy 7.2mg pen works slightly differently from the Wegovy 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and 2.4mg FlexTouch pens shown in this guide.
Unlike these multi-dose pens, the Wegovy 7.2mg pen is single use and comes with a pre-attached needle that is only exposed during the injection process. This means there’s no need to attach the needle, prime the pen or turn the dial.
After use, the pen automatically locks and should be disposed of in a sharps bin.
Always follow the instructions supplied with your prescription and Patient Information Leaflet.
Preparing to Use the Pen
If you haven’t injected yourself before, the first step is to familiarise yourself with how and where to do it, and how to use the pen.
There is a user guide for the Wegovy FlexTouch pens and a user guide for the Wegovy 7.2mg dose that is included with the pen that you can review online for ease.
Why Should I Use a New Needle Each Time?
It may feel much easier to simply leave the needle attached to the pen and reuse it for each injection. Especially as it's only you using the device, so what does it matter?
Well, there are serious consequences to reusing the needle.
What Are the Risks Involved in Reusing Needles?
- Bacterial growth on the needle
- Likelihood of experiencing pain when injecting
- Risk of lipohypertrophy (lumpy skin) occurring
- Risk of the very fine tip of the needle breaking off
What Does a Reused Needle Look Like Under the Microscope
The naked eye cannot see the damage you are causing to your needle.
Parts of a damaged needle can fragment upon injection and lodge under the skin. This will be difficult to remove and will lead to pain and other complications.
Patient education and safety are our top priority.
We provide you with a pack of 100 pen needles so you will have a supply that you can use and not have to worry about reordering each time you order a pen.
If you need help, support or even more needles due to loss or damage contact us and our friendly team will be happy to help you.
Next Steps
Hopefully after reading and watching the links above you are now familiar with the device and how to use it.
Do not panic if you are still unsure - our expert team are here to help - please call or email us and we will talk you through the process.
Please also read: Your first month on Wegovy.
Troubleshooting
Sometimes things can go wrong, so, we’ve put together a list of the most common issues and how to ensure that you avoid them.
1. Injecting straight out of the fridge
Cold injections are not a problem but are certainly more painful than injections at room temperature.
2. Not washing your hands first
Before medical procedures including subcutaneous injections practice good hygiene to reduce the risk of infection.
3. Not checking the medication window before injecting
Wegovy should be colourless - if the medicine is cloudy, discoloured or there are particles in it, do not use it.
Do not worry about air bubbles these will be removed during the priming phase (aka air shot).
4. Not using a new needle each time you inject
Pen needles should only be used once. Reusing them can make injections more painful, increase the risk of irritation and affect how well the dose is delivered.
This applies to the Wegovy 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and 2.4mg FlexTouch pens.
This does not apply to Wegovy 7.2mg. The 7.2mg pen is single use and comes with a pre-attached needle, so the entire pen should be disposed of in your sharps bin after use.
5. Not taking the needle cap off
The pen needle comes with both an outer and inner needle cap, these both need to be removed to expose the needle.
Ensure you retain the outer needle cap as you will need it to help dispose of the needle once you have given yourself the injection.
This does not apply to the 7.2mg dose as the needle is hidden and doesn’t require you to remove a needle cap. This pen is also single use so the entire pen needs to be put into the sharps bin when you’ve finished with it.
6. Not priming the pen first
This is an important part of the process before your first injection with each new pen - it ensures that you receive the correct dose, the pen is working correctly and that any air bubbles are removed.
Here is the full guide on how to do this after you have attached the needle:
- Turn the dose selector until you see the flow check symbol.
- Make sure the flow check symbol lines up with the dose pointer.
- Hold the pen with the needle pointing up.
- Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter returns to [0]. The [0] must line up with the dose pointer.
- A drop of Wegovy should appear at the needle tip. This drop indicates that your pen is ready for use.
DO NOT go past the flow check symbol in the window, if you start seeing a dashed line, this is guiding you to your dose and you will be priming your pen with a full dose.
This is an expensive way of priming the pen and means that you will need to purchase the pen more frequently.
Note: These instructions for priming the pen do not apply to the 7.2mg dose.
7. Choosing the wrong injection site
Ensure that you only choose your stomach, the front of your thighs or the outside of your upper arm. These are all places where it is easiest to give a subcutaneous injection.
Using another site increases the chance of you not receiving the correct dose.
Ensure that you use a different location each time you inject. Not rotating the injection site will lead to hard lumps forming.
8. Not holding the dose button down for long enough
After the needle is in the skin you need to push down onto the dose button until it stops then slowly count to 6 while holding the dose button.
If you let go too soon or do not wait the full 6 seconds you will not receive the correct dose. The [0] icon must be shown in the dose window BEFORE you remove the needle.
If, for whatever reason, the dose indicator shows anything other than [0] reinsert the needle and finish the injection by pressing on the dose button. DO NOT REDIAL THE DOSE.
Overdosing (i.e giving yourself more than one dose)
You cannot dial the pen to a dose greater than your prescribed amount e.g. 0.25mg. However, if you half press the pen and inject it then redial to the dose number and repeat this process you can give yourself more than one dose.
It is vital that you only dial the pen up to a single dose and then fully inject this amount. If after pressing the button at the end of the pen the dose window does not return to [0], do not twist the pen again as this can give you more than 1 dose.
These instructions do not apply to the 7.2mg dose, which requires you to hold it for 5–10 seconds and wait until you hear 2 clicks. You need to make sure the yellow bar has moved down the side of the pen, indicating the dose has been given.
9. Not putting the needle into a sharps bin
Needles are a risk to waste contractors and other people if they are not disposed of responsibly. Please use the sharps bin provided. If you do not currently have a sharps bin please contact us.
10. Forgetting to use an injection
Using a medication reminder app or associating the dose with a weekly activity can be helpful.
If you forget to take your dose, please contact us via your account for advice on what to do next, depending on how long it has been since your last dose and how many doses you have missed.
Other miscellaneous issues
If the dose button is hard to push:
- Pushing the dose button more slowly will make it easier to inject
- Your needle may be blocked. Put on a new pen needle and prime the pen
Recent Wegovy Storage Update
Following a recent update from the MHRA, Wegovy can now be stored at temperatures below 30°C for up to 48 hours. We are currently reviewing what this means for our packaging and delivery processes to ensure everything remains safe, effective and in line with guidance. In the meantime, please continue to follow the storage instructions provided with your treatment. If anything changes, we’ll update our guidance and let you know.
