How do you take Wegovy (semaglutide)?

How you take Wegovy depends on whether you want to inject your treatment every week or swallow it as a daily tablet. So, whether you’ve been prescribed Wegovy or are interested in learning more about it, we’ve written this guide to break down how both options are taken, so you can start your treatment without a hitch.

Key points

• Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is available as a weekly injection or daily tablet.
• Wegovy injections are slightly more effective on average, but pills may be more convenient and easier to take, depending on your preferences.
• Consistency is key. Take your injections the same time every week, and your tablets the same time every day.

Is Wegovy (semaglutide) used for weight loss or diabetes?

Wegovy has been licensed as a weight-loss treatment, but other forms of semaglutide are currently only licensed for treating diabetes.

Wegovy brings along many health benefits as a weight loss medication, such as a reduced risk of obesity-related conditions such as stroke, heart attack and some cancers.

You should only consider Wegovy for weight loss if you have already tried to manage your weight by eating a healthy, balanced diet and incorporating exercise into your daily routine.

If this method hasn’t helped you achieve the desired results, you may consider medical treatments such as Wegovy.

However, to be eligible for this medication, you must have a BMI above 30 or a BMI above 27 with certain medical conditions.

How to take Wegovy

Whether you've been prescribed Wegovy injections or semaglutide tablets, it's important to use your medication exactly as directed. While both treatments contain semaglutide, they are taken differently and have their own instructions to help ensure you receive the full dose.

Wegovy injections

To inject Wegovy, you’ll use a pre-filled pen that’s designed to be easy to use as home. Following the correct steps can help ensure you receive your full dose and reduce the risk of issues like leaking medication or injection site discomfort.

Check your pen

Before injecting Wegovy, you need to check your pen. Make sure the pen is in date and the fluid is clear and colourless. Don’t use your pen if it’s cloudy or coloured – if this has happened contact customer support for more advice.

You should also double check that you’ve got the right dose for your injection pen. They are usually colour-coded, and have the dosage written on the side.

Attach the needle

Although you only use one pen a month, you’ll need to attach a new needle every time you inject. To attach the needle, tear off the paper tab and push the needle straight onto the pen, turning it until it’s tight and secure.

Two tabs will cover the needle, which you must remove before using. Pull the outer cap off, but do not throw it away – you will need it later. Then, pull the inner cap off and dispose of it.

Important: Never reuse a needle or use a damaged, bent or broken needle.

Prime your Wegovy pen

When using a new pen for the first time, you may need to prime it first. To do this, you'll need to check the flow by:

• Turning the dose knob very slightly until you see two dots displayed in the window.
• Holding the pen with the needle pointing upwards.
• Pressing the dose button in until '0' is displayed again.

You should see a tiny of drop of liquid at the tip of the needle, if you don't; repeat this process until you do.

Choose injection spot

Once you are ready to inject your medication, choose the area you wish to inject. There are three areas to choose from:

• stomach
• thigh
• upper arm

If you decide that you are going to inject Wegovy into your stomach, then you must make sure you keep it two inches away from your belly button. On the other hand, for injections in your upper arm another person should inject the medication for you.

Administer the Wegovy injection

When you are ready to inject, insert the needle into your skin. Make sure that the dose counter is still visible.

Hold down the dose button until ‘0’ shows on the dose counter. This means you have injected the full dose.

Keep the needle pressed into your skin while continuing to hold the dose button and slowly count to 6. Once the time is up, you can remove the needle.

Important: You might not receive the full dose if you remove the needle too soon.

Wegovy tablets

For the best results when using Wegovy pills:

• Take your tablet first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
• Swallow it whole with a small amount of water (up to 125ml).
• Do not crush, split or chew the tablet.
• Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything other than water, or taking any other oral medication. This is to make sure your medication is fully absorbed.

If you forget to take a tablet, skip the missed dose and take your next tablet at the usual time the following day. Do not take an extra tablet to make up for a forgotten dose.

When is the best time to take Wegovy?

When you take Wegovy depends on whether your using injections or tablets.

• Wegovy injections: you should inject on the same day, at the same time, each week, as this helps maintain a consistent level of medication in your body. The actual day or time, however, is up to you. Pick something that’s easy to fit into your weekly routine, while allowing you a chance to comfortably manage any side effects.
• Wegovy pills: because the tablets have to be taken on an empty stomach, the best time is often in the morning, after you wake up.

Is it possible to overdose on semaglutide?

As long as you don’t inject yourself again, or take more than one tablet a day, you shouldn’t overdose on semaglutide.

If you do have too much semaglutide, you may experience adverse effects. If this happens, you should contact your healthcare provider for advice.

Too much semaglutide can cause the following symptoms:

• hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose)
• nausea
• vomiting
• other side effects may be more intense or frequent

How to safely dispose of your medication

How you dispose of your Wegovy depends on whether you are using injections or tablets.

Injections

Between injections, your Wegovy injection pen should always be stored in the fridge. As soon as you have injected your medication, you must safely dispose of your needle. Replace the plastic needle cap and unscrew the needle from the pen.

Dispose of the needle using a sharps bin, preventing injury or cross-contamination. After using your last dose of your monthly pen, you can dispose of your empty pen in your regular household waste.

Tablets

Unused, expired or unwanted Wegovy pills should not be disposed of in household waste or flushed down the toilet.

Instead, return any unwanted medication to your local pharmacy, where it can be disposed of safely and responsibly. This helps prevent accidental ingestion by children or pets and reduces the risk of medicines entering the environment.

Summary of how to take Wegovy

“There is no one best way to take Wegovy. Regardless of how you choose to go through your weight loss journey, what matters most is that it works for you and your lifestyle.

“With that being said, now Wegovy tablets have been made available in Ireland, you’ve got more options with how you choose to approach medicated weight loss.”

Ayesha Bashir, weight loss expert at myBMI

Sources

• Wegovy PIL. EMC. [Accessed 29 July 2026]
• 5 steps for using your Wegovy® pen. Novo Nordisk. [Accessed 29 July 2026]
• Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (2026). NEJM. [Accessed 29 July 2026]
• Once-weekly semaglutide 7·2 mg in adults with obesity (STEP UP): a randomised, controlled, phase 3b trial (2025). The Lancet. [Accessed 29 July 2026]
• Early Responders to Oral Semaglutide 25 mg: A Post Hoc Analysis of the OASIS 4 Trial (2026). Novo Nordisk. [Accessed 29 July 2026]