Can you inject Wegovy cold?
Yes, you can inject Wegovy cold. The fridge temperature of the pen does not change the therapeutic effect or cause any damage.
However, a cold injection of Wegovy can cause discomfort. For your comfort you can leave the pen at room temperature for a few minutes before use.
What is the dose of Wegovy?
The recommended dosage of Wegovy is progressive. That means that the amount of the drug increases with time.
The dosage of Wegovy for adults and children from 12 years old is as follows:
- for the first 4 weeks: 0.25 milligrams (mg) once per week
- weeks 5 to 8: 0.5 mg once per week
- weeks 9 to 12: 1 mg once per week
- weeks 13 to 16 (or maintenance): 1.7 mg once per week
- weeks 17 onwards: 2.4 mg once weekly; this is the recommended maintenance dose.
The maintenance dose depends on how you tolerate the drug and on your general health state.
What to do when you miss a dose of Wegovy?
The dosage of Wegovy is very comfortable. You need to administer the medication only once a week.
However, this comfort can make you forget to take Wegovy.
The course of action when you miss the weekly dose of Wegovy depends on the time of the next scheduled dose.
When the next dose is more than two days (48 hours) away, you should take your missed dose as soon as possible.
In a situation where your next dose of Wegovy is less than two days (48 hours) away, you should not take the missed dose. You don’t have to stress. You can continue with the next scheduled dose of Wegovy.
On the other hand, in cases where you missed two or more consecutive dosages of Wegovy, the approach is different.
You can resume the planned weekly plan of injections. However, in some cases, you will have to start with a lower dosage. If the break is long, you might have to start from the beginning.
The best for you would be to consult your doctor. They will determine which approach will be most suitable for you.
When should I not use Wegovy?
There are several conditions and circumstances under which Wegovy use is not recommended.
One of them is when you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Similarly, when you or someone in your family has multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 [1].
In both of these situations, taking Wegovy carries a potential risk of thyroid cancer [1].
Another problematic condition with Wegovy is pancreatitis. If you have experienced pancreatitis in the past, you are not recommended to take Wegovy. Taking the injection can lead to a second inflammation of your pancreas [2, 3].
Also, when you have diabetes type 2, kidney problems, or diabetic retinopathy, you have to tell your doctor. Wegovy can lead to low sugar in the blood, kidney damage, and can worsen diabetic retinopathy [1, 3].
You should not take Wegovy when pregnant or breastfeeding. The drug can lead to fetal damage, and its safety in breastfeeding has not been researched [3].
Wegovy can cause allergic reactions. You can be allergic to the active substance or any other support substance found in the injection. If you experience an allergic reaction after Wegovy, you should stop the therapy and report the event to your doctor [1, 3]
Also, when you have suicidal thoughts or attempts, the use of Wegovy is not recommended [1, 3].
Additionally, you should not take Wegovy with other semaglutide or GLP-1 drugs. For instance, Ozempic and Rybelsus both contain semaglutide. Therefore, you should not take them with Wegovy [2].
Risks of Wegovy
Risks of Wegovy include:
- the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors [1, 3],
- pancreatitis [3],
- hypoglycemia [3],
- damage to the kidneys[3],
- worsening of diabetic retinopathy[3],
- suicidal thoughts and attempts [3],
- allergic reactions (like itchiness, rashes, redness, swelling of face or tongue) [3].
What are the side effects of Wegovy?
In some individuals, Wegovy can cause a range of side effects.
Commonly reported side effects include:
- headache,
- abdominal pain,
- nausea and vomiting,
- diarrhea,
- constipation [3].
Other side effects that are caused by Wegovy but are less reported are:
Also reported are mild side effects, including stomach flu, hair loss, and mild allergic reactions [1, 3].
In children, the side effects include:
- sinus infection,
- urinary tract infection,
- anxiety,
- itching and skin rash,
- sprained ligaments [3].
Although not commonly, Wegovy can lead to serious side effects. They can be:
- hypoglycemia,
- Kidney damage,
- gallbladder stones,
- pancreatitis,
- allergic reactions,
- potentially thyroid cancer [1].
Additionally, a special aesthetic side effect can occur. It is named Ozempic Face and is caused by fast weight loss. The disappearance of fat tissue from the face can change the facial appearance [4].