Yes. As the dose rises, appetite control generally strengthens, but gastro-intestinal side effects (nausea, reflux, constipation or...

The usual maximum recommended dose is 2.4 mg once weekly. Some people remain at 1.7 mg if that’s better tolerated; higher weekly doses...

Place used needles straight into a sharps container — never in household rubbish or recycling. Many pharmacies provide take-back schemes...

No — use abdomen, thigh, or upper arm only, into the fatty layer under the skin. Avoid veins, muscles, moles, scars, stretch marks, or...

Watch for persistent or worsening nausea, repeated vomiting, dizziness, or dehydration (very dark urine, feeling faint). Severe, constant...

Wegovy may be considered for adolescents in specialist services when strict criteria are met, but this is not the same as routine adult...

No — Wegovy is intended as a single weekly dose. Splitting or repeating injections can upset the dosing schedule and increase side-effect...

If a little fluid appears on the skin, it’s usually from the needle track rather than a full dose loss. As a rule, don’t inject an extra dose; note what happened and continue with your next scheduled injection. For clear device errors (pen not primed correctly, needle blocked, or you know the dose didn’t deliver), contact your pharmacist or clinic for specific advice before re-dosing. To prevent repeats, ensure the needle is new, the pen is pressed flat against the skin, and

Keep unopened pens in the refrigerator (2–8 °C) in their carton, away from the freezer compartment. For in-use pens, store below 30 °C, cap on, and note the 6-week in-use limit on the box so you don’t lose track. Don’t store with a needle attached, and keep all pens and sharps out of children’s reach. Why correct storage matters Wegovy is a protein-based medicine, and like other injectables, it is sensitive to changes in temperature, light, and handling. That means how you st

Unopened pens are stored in the fridge (do not freeze). After first use, the pen can be kept below 30 °C and should be discarded 6 weeks...

Moderate alcohol is generally acceptable, but keep it sensible while you settle into treatment. Alcohol can irritate the stomach and may worsen nausea or reflux during dose increases. If you have diabetes or take medicines that can lower blood sugar, be extra cautious with alcohol and discuss safe limits with your team. Why alcohol and Wegovy can interact Wegovy (semaglutide) works by slowing how quickly food leaves the stomach, which is part of why people often feel fuller f

Pack Wegovy in hand luggage, not in the hold, and keep it protected from heat. Take your prescription label or a clinic letter for airport security, plus a travel sharps container and spare needles. Many people use a small medical cooler for unopened pens; in-use pens can be kept below 30 °C if your leaflet confirms this (do not freeze, and keep the cap on). Set a phone reminder in the destination time zone so your weekly schedule stays on track. Keeping your medicine safe in

If you remember within 5 days, take the missed dose as soon as you can and then resume your normal weekly schedule. If more than 5 days have passed, skip that dose and take the next one on your usual day. Don’t double up to “catch up” — that raises the chance of side effects without helping results. Why missed doses happen No treatment plan is perfect, and it is common to forget a dose of medicine occasionally. Wegovy is taken once a week, which makes it easier to fit into li

It doesn’t matter — Wegovy can be taken with or without food. Some people feel more comfortable injecting after a light meal or a protein-rich snack, especially early in treatment when mild nausea is more likely. Choose the routine that keeps you consistent and comfortable. Why food timing doesn’t matter Wegovy is not swallowed like a tablet but injected under the skin, where the medicine is absorbed gradually over a week. This means its effectiveness is not affected by what

In major STEP trials, Wegovy led to about 15% weight loss over 68 weeks. Contrave (called Mysimba in the UK) generally achieves around 6–9% across pivotal studies. This means semaglutide tends to provide greater weight reduction than naltrexone/bupropion combinations. Two very different medicines Although both Wegovy and Contrave are used for weight management, they belong to very different drug families and work in different ways. Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 recepto

Wegovy contains semaglutide at a higher dose and is licensed for weight management, while Trulicity (dulaglutide) is prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Weight changes with dulaglutide are usually modest compared with the significant reductions seen in trials of semaglutide for obesity. Different active ingredients and purposes The first key difference is that Wegovy and Trulicity contain different GLP-1 receptor agonists. Wegovy delivers semaglutide at doses up to 2.4 mg weekly,

Use once weekly, same day each week, with or without food, alongside a reduced-calorie eating plan and regular activity. Keep hydrated,...

Many people on Wegovy report fewer food cravings and better control over eating, which can reduce stress around meals. Other drugs like Mysimba may also affect mood and cravings, but semaglutide’s impact on appetite tends to have the strongest indirect psychological benefit. Why psychological effects matter Weight management is never only about the body. Emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, and the stress of managing food choices all play a big role in how people experience

Clinical trials included adults up to their mid-70s, and weight loss benefits were seen across age groups. There’s limited evidence directly comparing older versus younger adults, but no major differences in effectiveness have been noted, though older people may be more sensitive to side effects. Who was included in the trials The large clinical trials of semaglutide, such as the STEP programme, included adults with overweight or obesity up to about 75 years old. This means w

Both Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) improve blood sugar, but semaglutide generally produces greater reductions in HbA1c and body weight. NICE recommends semaglutide more widely for people needing weight-focused management. Two GLP-1 medicines, one key difference Wegovy and Trulicity both belong to the GLP-1 receptor agonist family of medicines. They mimic the hormone GLP-1, which reduces appetite, slows digestion, and stimulates insulin release when b