How long you take Wegovy injections for weight loss depends on your weight goal and how well you tolerate the medication. Because you start Wegovy injections at the lowest dose and gradually increase, many patients need to take Wegovy injections for several months, including a maintenance period at the maximum recommended dose.

As a licensed treatment for weight loss in the UK, it’s safe to take Wegovy injections long-term so long as it’s supporting effective weight loss or maintenance and not causing severe side effects. If you want to come off Wegovy injections, speak to your prescriber, who can help you safely stop your treatment.

If you have not lost at least 5% of your starting body weight after 6 months, your prescriber may recommend you stop Wegovy treatment. This is because Wegovy may not be an effective option for you. They may discuss alternative options, such as Mounjaro.

You do not necessarily have to increase your Wegovy injection dose in line with the recommended schedule. The recommended treatment schedule suggests increasing your Wegovy injection dose every four weeks until you reach the maintenance dose, which is 2.4mg or 7.2mg, depending on BMI. This is because the most effective weight loss is seen at this dose. 

But, there are circumstances where your prescriber may recommend staying at a lower dose for longer, such as if you’re losing a significant amount of weight or you’re struggling with side effects at a higher dose. Your prescriber closely monitors your weight and overall condition to make sure your Wegovy treatment and weight loss progress remains safe and beneficial.

Some side effects of Wegovy are very common and usually pass with time, such as a headache, feeling and being sick, and stomach problems (e.g. diarrhoea or constipation). Many people find they have side effects when they first begin treatment with Wegovy and when they move up a dose. As the body adjusts, mild side effects eventually get better and pass. For some people, this can be after a few days but for others it could take a few weeks. 

Side effects of Wegovy injections range from mild and temporary, to more serious side effects that require urgent medical care. Your prescriber will help you understand the risks and benefits of Wegovy treatment, including the signs to look out for.

Serious side effects of Wegovy injections include:

• Any gradual or sudden changes to vision – you may have a higher risk of this if you have diabetes
• Inflammation to the pancreas (acute pancreatitis), which may feel like severe pain in the abdomen and feeling or being sick 
• Kidney or bladder stones, which may show as back or lower tummy pain and changes to urination and urine colour 
• A severe allergic reaction (also called anaphylaxis) 
• Hip fractures 
• Severe constipation (also called a bowel obstruction)If you notice any of these symptoms, seek urgent care and speak to your prescriber.

In the UK, the cost of Wegovy injections varies depending on the dose and the seller. At My Chemist Plus, you can order Wegovy injections online after a medical consultation with a specialist prescriber. After your consultation, we can write you an online prescription for Wegovy injections, or offer suitable alternatives, such as Mounjaro. Simply fill out our quick online form to get started with your weight loss journey.

In the UK, you can buy Wegovy injections with a prescription at online pharmacies, such as My Chemist Plus. When you buy Wegovy injections online, check that the pharmacy:

• Is a registered pharmacy with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Offers a medical consultation with a registered prescriber 

At My Chemist Plus, you can be sure that you’re always receiving MHRA-approved Wegovy injections and expert healthcare from UK-registered prescribers with specialist experience. Fill out our simple online form and start your consultation today to order Wegovy online.

While Wegovy injections can be an effective addition to a weight loss or management plan, it may not be suitable for everybody. 

Let your prescriber know if you have any of the following as Wegovy may not be suitable for you:

• Diabetes 
• Kidney problems
• A history of pancreas issues, for instance pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• A condition affecting your digestive system, such as gastroparesis where the stomach empties slowly
• You take certain medication, such as levothyroxine for thyroid disease or anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin, acenocoumarol)
• You’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to have a child

If Wegovy is not suitable for you, there are alternatives available, such as Mounjaro. At My Chemist Plus, our specialist prescribers will help you explore options to find a treatment that’s safe and effective for you, whether that’s Wegovy or an alternative. Fill out a simple medical form to get started.

Do not take Wegovy if you’re allergic to semaglutide, if you or a family member have had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2).

It’s important to keep your unopened Wegovy injection pens in the fridge. Once opened, a Wegovy injection pen can be stored out of the fridge for up to 28 days in temperatures below 30°C. If your Wegovy pen has been out of the fridge for longer than 28 days or at temperatures higher than 30°C, do not use it and safely throw it away.

Yes, you can inject Wegovy cold immediately after taking it out of the fridge. 

There are certain medications that need to be managed carefully when used alongside Wegovy injections. To make sure your treatment is safe and appropriate for you, speak to your prescriber if you take any of the following:

• Levothyroxine for thyroid issues
• Oral blood-clotting medication (also called anticoagulants), such as warfarin
• Other GLP-1 agonist treatments, such as Saxenda or Mounjaro

While you can drink alcohol during treatment with Wegovy injections, it’s not recommended. This is because alcohol can make side effects of Wegovy worse, such as nausea and diarrhoea. It can also impact your weight loss progress as alcohol tends to be high in calories and can affect your blood sugar levels. 

If you do decide to drink alcohol while having Wegovy treatment, drink in moderation and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Yes, the active ingredient in Wegovy injections is semaglutide.

Once you open your Wegovy injection, it can last for six weeks at room temperature (below 30°C) or in the fridge. Do not use your Wegovy injection past its expiration date, which you can find on the pen itself or the medicine box it came in. 

While Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide, they are not the same. In the UK, Wegovy is licensed for weight loss and management whereas Ozempic is licensed for diabetes treatment. Because they’re used to treat different conditions, they have different doses and treatment schedules. You should never use Wegovy or Ozempic as a replacement for the other.

Generally, you cannot start Wegovy at 0.5mg, 1.0mg or 1.7mg. When you first start treatment with Wegovy injections, your prescriber will start you at the lowest dose. The starting dose for Wegovy injections is 0.25mg for four weeks. After four weeks, your prescriber reviews your condition before increasing to 0.5mg. This continues until you reach the maintenance dose of either 2.4mg, or an optional maximum dose of 7.2mg (for a BMI of 30 or more).

Gradually increasing your dose allows your body to adjust to the medication and reduce treatment-related side effects. Your prescriber may extend how long you stay at a dose or lower your dose if you’re struggling to cope with side effects or if you’re losing a significant amount of weight. This makes sure your treatment remains effective, safe and sustainable for you and your body.

If you’ve had weight loss injections before, your prescriber may consider starting your Wegovy treatment at a different dose to the starting dose if it’s safe to do so.