Wegovy® (Semaglutide) 0.25mg Flextouch

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure how to use this medicine.

Read the instructions for the pen carefully before using Wegovy FlexTouch.

Each FlexTouch contains 4 doses of Wegovy 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg, 2.4mg and 7.2mg.

The starting dose is 0.25mg Wegovy once weekly. After 4 weeks the dose should be increased to 0.5mg once weekly. After at least 4 weeks with a dose of 0.5mg once weekly, the dose can be increased to 1.0mg once weekly. After at least 4 weeks with a dose of 1mg once weekly, the dose can be increased to 1.7mg once weekly. After at least 4weeks with a dose of 1.7mg once weekly, the dose can be increased to 2.4mg once weekly. If needed, a dose increase to the next maintenance dose 7.2mg once weekly (3 injections of 2.4mg) can be made after a minimum of 4 weeks on 2.4 mg. The maximum dose is 7.2mg once weekly.

You can use your pen at any time of the day, with or without meals. You should use it on the same day each week if you can. To help you remember, when to use Wegovy, you may wish to tick the day of the week when you inject your first dose on the medication box or mark it on a calendar.

Wegovy FlexTouch pen is designed to be used with NovoFine Plus, NovoFine or NovoTwist disposable needles up to a length of 8mm.

For the wegovy 7.2mg weight management dose:

• You will need to inject three doses of 2.4 mg, one after each other on the same day.
• The injections can be given in the same body area but should be at least 5cm apart
• You must change the needle between each dose.
• You may need to use multiple pens. Do not discard the pen until it is empty. Partially used pens must be stored in the fridge with the needle removed.
• Make sure you have a sufficient supply of pens to complete your dose before you start injecting.

Site of Injection

Wegovy is injected under the skin (subcutaneous injection):

• Stomach area (abdomen) – 5cm away from the belly button in any direction
• Upper leg (thigh)
• Upper arm

It is important to rotate the sit of injection each week to reduce likelihood of skin irritation.

Missed dose

• If a dose is missed, it should be administered as soon as possible and within 5 days after the missed dose.
• If more than 5 days have passed, the missed dose should be skipped, and the next dose should be administered on the regularly scheduled day. In each case, patients can then resume their regular once weekly dosing schedule

Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Side Effects

Very Common

• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Feeling weak or tired

These usually go away over time.

Common

• Feeling dizzy
• Upset stomach or indigestion
• Burping
• Gas (flatulence)
• Boating
• Inflamed stomach (gastritis)
• Reflux or heartburn
• Gallstones
• Hair loss
• Injection site reactions
• Change in the way food or drink tastes
• Changed skin sensation
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in patients with diabetes

Symptoms of gastritis include: Stomach ache, nausea or vomiting.

Symptoms of hypoglycaemia include: Dizziness, sweating, feeling tired, tingling lips, feeling hungry, feeling shaky or trembling, headache, nausea, cold sweat, changes in vision, feeling nervous,, anxious or confused, difficulty concentrating, fast or pounding heartbeat and turning pale.

Serious Side Effects

Common

Complications of diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy). If you have diabetes you should inform your doctor if you experience eye problems, such as changes in vision, during treatment with this medicine.

Uncommon

Inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis) which could cause severe pain in the stomach and back which does not go away. This is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition.

Symptoms of acute pancreatitis are:

• Severe and persistent pain in the abdomen which might reach through to the back
• Clay like stools
• Nausea and vomiting

If these symptoms are experienced, discontinue treatment and seek medical advice by calling 111 or attending your local A & E department. If acute pancreatitis is confirmed, Wegovy treatment should not be restarted.

Kidney or bladder stones. Signs may include back or lower abdomen pain, difficulty in urination or change in colour of your urine.

Rare

Severe allergic reactions (e.g. anaphylactic reaction, angioedema). You should get immediate medical help and inform your doctor if you experience symptoms such as:

• Breathing problems
• Rapid swelling of the lips, tongue and/or throat with difficulty swallowing
• A fast heartbeat.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Warning & Precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using wegovy or during treatment if you have

Dehydration

During treatment with wegovy, you may experience nausea or vomiting or have diarrhoea. There is a potential risk of dehydration in relation to gastrointestinal side effects and please take precautions to avoid fluid depletion.

Symptoms of dehydration include: dizziness, headache, fatigue, infrequent urination of small amounts, and dry mouth, lips and eyes.

Surgery

If you know that you are due to have surgery where you will be under anaesthesia (sleeping), please consult with your doctor/anaesthetist that you are taking Mounjaro.

Blood glucose levels

Wegovy can cause low blood sugar.  If you have diabetes and are taking a sulfonylurea or an insulin with wegovy the risk of getting low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia) might increase. Your doctor may ask you to test your blood sugar levels. Wegovy must not be used as a substitute for insulin. This will help your doctor decide if the dose of the sulfonylurea or insulin needs to be changed to reduce the risk of low blood sugar.

Diabetic eye disease (retinopathy)

Fast improvements in blood sugar control may lead to a temporary worsening of diabetic eye disease. If you have diabetic eye disease and experience eye problems while taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.

Changes to eyesight

Sudden changes to your eyesight If you notice a sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight during treatment with semaglutide, urgently contact your doctor. This may be caused by a very rare side effect called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Your doctor will refer you for an eye examination by an ophthalmologist and you may have to stop treatment with semaglutide.

Driving and using machines

It is unlikely that this medicine will affect your ability to drive and use machines. However, if you use Wegovy in combination with a sulphonylurea or insulin, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) may occur which may reduce your ability to concentrate.

Avoid driving or using machines if you get any signs of low blood sugar.

Age Restrictions

Wegovy is supplied to eligible patients aged 18 to 75 years, where treatment is considered clinically appropriate.

Other Medicines and Conditions

Wegovy delays gastric emptying and has the potential to impact the rate of absorption of concomitantly administered oral medicinal products.

Diabetes and Wegovy

Please consult your GP if you are taking Metformin, sulfonylurea medicines for diabetes e.g. glimepiride or glibenclamide or if you are taking insulin – you may experience hypoglycaemia when you use these medicines with Wegovy.

Symptoms of hypoglycaemia include: Dizziness, sweating, feeling tired, tingling lips, feeling hungry, feeling shaky or trembling, fast or pounding heartbeat and turning pale Therefore, your GP may adjust the dose of the diabetes medicine to prevent you from experiencing hypoglycaemia.

Wegovy and Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome

Wegovy has been shown to regulate menstrual cycles in some individuals when weight loss occurs, which may increase fertility. If you are not planning a pregnancy at this time, please be aware that this medication could enhance your chances of conception.

Additionally, Wegovy is a relatively new medication, and there is currently not enough data on its effects during pregnancy or on a developing foetus. For this reason, we strongly advise using an additional barrier method of contraception (such as condoms) alongside your regular form of birth control to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy.

If your period is more than five days late, we recommend that you see your GP and take a pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your reproductive health while taking Wegovy, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are happy to discuss your options and provide further guidance.

Wegovy and Warfarin, Digoxin and Lithium

The absorption of some medications like Warfarin, Digoxin and Lithium may be affected when taken together with Wegovy. The manufacturer advises that patients should be closely monitored, as changes in absorption can alter how well the medication works and may affect your blood clotting levels.

For this reason, we recommend that you inform your GP or blood clinic so that they can arrange more frequent blood tests to monitor your INR or blood levels and ensure your treatment remains safe and effective.

Please keep an up-to-date list of all the medications you are taking and share it with your GP or clinic at your next appointment.

For Warfarin: If you notice any unusual symptoms, such as unexpected bruising, bleeding, or changes in your health, please contact your healthcare provider promptly.

Syncope

Fainting can occur as a psychogenic response to needle injection. This can be accompanied by several neurological signs such as light-headedness, incontinence and tonic-clonic limb movements. Caution should be taken when considering treatment for patients with a history of fainting.

Thyroid Cancer

Wegovy may cause tumours in the thyroid, including thyroid cancer. Watch for possible symptoms, such as a lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. If you have any of these symptoms, please speak to your GP straight away.

Please note: If you have a diagnosis of a benign thyroid condition you are at higher risk of developing thyroid cancer.

• Do not use Wegovy if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
• Do not use Wegovy if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
• Do not use Wegovy if you are allergic to it or any of the ingredients in Wegovy.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

This medicine is not suitable for use in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

This medicine should not be used during pregnancy, as it is not known if it may affect your unborn child.

Wegovy should not be used during pregnancy or in women of child bearing potential not using contraception. If you wish to become pregnant, you must stop using Wegovy at least 3 month before a planned pregnancy due to the long half -life of Wegovy.

It is recommended to use contraception while using this medicine. If you take oral contraceptives, should consider also using a barrier method of contraception (e.g., a condom) or switching to a non-oral contraceptive method.

If you become pregnant when using Wegovy, you should contact your GP and treatment provider.

Patient information Leaflet

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.13799.pdf

Ingredients

• Active ingredients: Semaglutide
• Other ingredients: Disodium phosphate, dihydrate, Propylene glycol, Phenol, Hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment), Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment) and Water for injection

Product Information

• Brand Name: Wegovy FlexTouch
• Route of Administration: Subcutaneous
• Legal Classification: Prescription Only Medication (POM)
• Strength: 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg 2.4mg and 7.2mg
• Dosage Form: Solution for injection

Storage

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
• Store in original package in order to protect from light.
• Wegovy should be stored in a refrigerator (2°C – 8°C).
• Do not freeze. Keep away from the freezer compartment.
• After first use, Wegovy may be stored unrefrigerated for up to 6 weeks at a temperature not above 30°C and then the pre-filled pen must be discarded.
• Do not use this medicine if you notice that the pen is damaged, or the medicine is cloudy, discoloured or has particles in it.

Disposal

• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste.
• Please discard the pre-filled pen and sharps needles into a sharps box.

Advice & Helpful Links

It is vital that Wegovy is used as part of an integrated approach to weight management, with the appropriate support, counselling and behavioural strategies available to you. Wegovy should be used alongside a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle to support weight loss and overall wellbeing.

Protein intake: Including enough protein (100g of protein) in your diet may help maintain muscle mass and increase feelings of fullness. Protein-rich foods include lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy, legumes, and plant-based alternatives.

Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE): Weight loss occurs when calorie intake is lower than energy expenditure. Understanding your estimated daily calorie needs (TDEE) may help with planning meals and managing portion sizes. Reducing calorie intake should be done in a safe and sustainable way.

Please adhere to the dietary recommendations that are given. This includes a nutritionally balanced, mildly hypocaloric diet of 500-600 calorie deficit, in addition to a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and protein.

Water intake: Staying well hydrated is important, 2-3L a day, particularly while using appetite-reducing medicines. Drinking water regularly throughout the day may help support digestion and reduce the risk of dehydration, especially if you experience reduced appetite or gastrointestinal side effects.

Exercise: Gradually add more activity to your routine. Even small increases in resistance training or cardio can make a difference.

Regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and consistent eating patterns can support weight management. Making gradual, sustainable changes can help aid with long term maintenance.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/

https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/lose-weight/