How to Use the Wegovy FlexTouch Pen

The Wegovy FlexTouch pen is a pre-filled, once-weekly injection pen that delivers semaglutide under the skin. In the UK, each pen holds four weekly doses of a single strength. Using it involves attaching a new needle, doing a flow check the first time you use each new pen, selecting your dose, injecting into your stomach, thigh or upper arm, and holding the button down while you slowly count to six. This guide walks through each step, based on the UK patient information leaflet, and covers storage, missed doses, travel and the 7.2mg dose. Always follow the leaflet in your own pack and the instructions from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Getting to know the pen

The FlexTouch pen is a multi-dose, pre-filled pen. You do not need to draw up liquid or mix anything. The main parts are:

• Pen cap, which protects the medicine from light.
• Pen window, where you can see the liquid, which should be clear and colourless.
• Dose selector, which you turn to set your dose or the flow check.
• Dose counter and dose pointer, which show what you have selected.
• Dose button, which you press to inject.

Needles are separate. The UK leaflet describes NovoFine Plus needles supplied in the pack, each with an outer needle cap, an inner needle cap and a paper tab. You use a new needle for every injection.

Pen strengths

Wegovy pens come in five strengths that match the dose-escalation schedule: 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and 2.4mg. Each pen delivers only the dose it is labelled for. The pens are colour-coded, but you should always read the label rather than rely on colour, especially when moving to a new dose.

This is the standard schedule in the SmPC. Your prescriber may keep you on a dose for longer if side effects are a problem. The 7.2mg dose is only for some adults with a BMI of 30 or more; see the section below. Our Wegovy dosing schedule guide explains the reasoning behind the step-up.

Before your first injection

Check the pen

Each time you start a new pen:

• Check the label to make sure it is Wegovy and the strength you have been prescribed.
• Check the expiry date.
• Look through the pen window. The liquid should be clear and colourless. Do not use it if it looks cloudy or coloured, or contains particles.
• Make sure the pen has not been frozen and has been stored correctly.

If anything looks wrong, do not use the pen. Speak to your pharmacist.

Wash your hands and prepare the site

Wash your hands with soap and water. Choose your injection site (see below). The skin should be clean and dry; you do not need to use an alcohol wipe unless your healthcare professional advises it.

Step-by-step: how to inject with the FlexTouch pen

The steps below summarise the UK instructions for use. The leaflet in your pack contains illustrations and is the definitive guide.

Step 1: attach a new needle

1. Pull off the pen cap.
2. Take a new needle and tear off the paper tab.
3. Push the needle straight onto the pen and turn it until it is on tightly.
4. Pull off the outer needle cap and keep it; you will use it to remove the needle safely later.
5. Pull off the inner needle cap and throw it away. Never try to put the inner cap back on, as you could injure yourself.

A drop of liquid may appear at the needle tip. That is normal.

Step 2: flow check (first use of each new pen only)

The flow check makes sure medicine comes through the needle. You only need to do it before the first injection with each new pen.

1. Turn the dose selector until the counter shows the flow check symbol.
2. Hold the pen with the needle pointing up.
3. Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter returns to zero.
4. Check that a drop appears at the needle tip.

If no drop appears, the leaflet says you can repeat the flow check up to two more times. If there is still no drop, change the needle and try once more. If a drop still does not appear, do not use the pen; contact your pharmacist.

Step 3: select your dose

Turn the dose selector until the counter shows your prescribed dose and it lines up with the dose pointer. The pen clicks as you turn it, but the leaflet advises not to count clicks to set your dose; always check the counter. If you turn past your dose, simply turn back.

Step 4: inject

1. Insert the needle into your skin as shown by your healthcare professional, at a right angle to the skin.
2. Make sure you can see the dose counter.
3. Press and hold the dose button down until the counter shows zero.
4. Keep pressing the dose button with the needle in your skin and slowly count to six. This helps make sure you get the full dose.
5. Remove the needle from your skin.

If blood appears at the injection site, press lightly with a clean cotton ball or gauze. Do not rub the area.

Step 5: remove and dispose of the needle

1. Carefully put the outer needle cap back on the needle, using the technique in the leaflet, without touching the needle.
2. Unscrew the needle and dispose of it safely in a sharps bin.
3. Put the pen cap back on the pen.

Never store the pen with a needle attached. This can lead to leaks, blocked needles and inaccurate doses. Never share your pen or needles with anyone, even if the needle has been changed, because of the risk of passing on infections.

Your first injection: what to expect

Many people find the first injection the hardest, mostly because of anticipation. A few things can help:

• Choose a calm time. Pick a day and time when you are not rushed. Many people choose a weekend morning or evening so they can rest if they feel nauseous afterwards.
• Read the leaflet first. Go through the instructions for use once before you start, with the pen in front of you but the needle still sealed.
• Have everything ready. Pen, new needle, sharps bin, and a cotton ball or gauze.
• Relax the area. Sitting comfortably and relaxing the muscle in the area you are injecting can make the injection feel more comfortable.
• Expect a small sensation. Most people feel a brief scratch or pressure. Some feel nothing at all.

Afterwards, it is normal to feel little or nothing on the first day. Side effects such as nausea, if they happen, tend to appear over the following days and are usually mild at the 0.25mg starting dose. The starting dose is designed to help your body adjust rather than to cause significant weight loss.

Set a weekly reminder on your phone for your injection day. Keeping a simple record of the date, dose and injection site can help you rotate sites and spot any patterns in side effects.

Choosing and rotating injection sites

Wegovy is injected subcutaneously, meaning into the fatty layer just under the skin. The three recommended areas are:

• Stomach: at least 5cm (about two finger-widths) away from your belly button.
• Thighs: the front of the upper legs.
• Upper arms: the outer back of the arm. This area can be awkward to reach yourself, so some people ask someone else to help.

Rotate the exact spot each week. You can stay in the same general area, such as the stomach, but avoid injecting into exactly the same place every time. Avoid skin that is bruised, tender, scarred, hard or affected by stretch marks.

Repeatedly injecting into the same spot can lead to lumps under the skin (lipohypertrophy), which may affect how the medicine is absorbed.

Does the site affect how well Wegovy works?

The SmPC states that Wegovy can be injected into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, and that the injection site can be changed without dose adjustment. Choose whichever site is most comfortable and practical for you.

The 7.2mg dose: three injections on one day

In January 2026 the MHRA authorised a higher maximum weekly dose of 7.2mg for adults with obesity (BMI of 30 or more) who are using Wegovy for weight management. It is not authorised for people with a BMI below 30 or for those taking Wegovy only to reduce cardiovascular risk.

According to the MHRA and the UK leaflet:

• The 7.2mg dose is given as three separate 2.4mg injections on the same day, using the 2.4mg pen.
• You need a new needle for each injection.
• The injections should be at least 5cm apart if given in the same body area.
• Make sure you have enough doses left in your pen, or a second pen ready, before you start.

Because each pen contains four 2.4mg doses, a 7.2mg weekly dose uses pens much faster, which affects supply planning and cost. The STEP UP trial found greater weight loss with 7.2mg than with 2.4mg, but gastrointestinal side effects and changes in skin sensation (dysaesthesia) were more common. Whether this dose is suitable for you is a prescriber's decision.

Storing your Wegovy pens

Correct storage protects the medicine. The UK leaflet's guidance is summarised below.

A few practical tips:

• Do not store pens in the fridge door if it gets very cold, or at the back next to the cooling element.
• Do not leave pens in direct sunlight, in a hot car or on a radiator.
• Make a note of the date you start each pen, so you know when six weeks have passed.
• Keep pens out of the sight and reach of children.

Missed doses and changing your injection day

If you miss a dose

The UK leaflet says:

• If five days or fewer have passed since you should have taken your dose, take it as soon as you remember, then take your next dose on your usual day.
• If more than five days have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on your usual day.
• Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

If you miss several doses in a row, talk to your prescriber before restarting. You may need to restart at a lower dose because your tolerance to side effects may have reduced.

Changing your injection day

You can change the day of your weekly injection if needed, as long as at least three days have passed since your last injection. After changing, continue once a week on your new day.

Travelling with Wegovy

• Carry your pens in hand luggage, not in the hold, where temperatures can drop below freezing.
• Keep a pen in use below 30°C. An insulated bag or travel cool case can help in hot climates; avoid direct contact with ice packs, which could freeze the pen.
• Bring a copy of your prescription or a letter from your prescriber, especially when travelling abroad, and check the rules of your destination country.
• Pack spare needles and a portable sharps container.
• Plan around time zones. As long as your doses stay at least three days apart, small shifts are not usually a problem.

Our Mounjaro storage and travel guide covers many of the same practical points for tirzepatide pens.

Common problems and what to do

Leakage at the injection site

A small amount of liquid at the site after injection can happen if the needle is removed too soon. Make sure you count slowly to six after the counter reaches zero. If a significant amount of medicine leaks, do not inject again; speak to your pharmacist or prescriber.

Dose button will not press

This may mean the needle is blocked or not attached properly. Check the needle, and change it if needed. If the problem continues, contact your pharmacist.

Not enough medicine for a full dose

The dose counter will not let you select more than remains in the pen. If the pen does not contain enough for your full dose, use a new pen. Do not try to combine doses from two pens unless your prescriber has specifically instructed you, as for 7.2mg using two 2.4mg pens.

Injection site reactions

Redness, itching or mild swelling at the injection site can occur and usually settles. Rotating sites helps. See our Wegovy side effects guide for more.

Needle anxiety

Many people feel nervous about self-injecting, especially at first. The needles are very fine and short. Your pharmacist or prescriber can demonstrate, and some services offer video consultations to talk you through your first injection.

Safety: where your pens come from

Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine. Only use pens supplied by a UK-registered pharmacy against a valid prescription. The MHRA has warned about fake and unlicensed "weight loss pens" sold online and through social media, which may contain the wrong dose, the wrong substance or harmful contaminants. Our guides to fake weight loss jabs and getting weight loss injections online safely explain how to check a provider. Our provider comparison only lists regulated UK services.

If you are interested in how costs differ between strengths and providers, our prices page explains the factors involved.

Other useful guides

• Wegovy in the UK: the complete guide
• Wegovy doses explained
• How to use the Mounjaro KwikPen
• Back to the Wegovy hub

When to speak to a professional

Speak to your pharmacist or prescriber if:

• You are unsure how to use your pen or would like a demonstration.
• Your pen has been frozen, dropped, damaged or stored incorrectly.
• You are not sure whether you received your full dose.
• You have missed several doses and need to restart.
• You develop lumps, persistent redness or pain at injection sites.
• Side effects such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea are making it hard to eat or drink.

Seek urgent medical help (NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency) if you have:

• Severe, persistent abdominal pain, which may spread to your back, with or without vomiting (possible pancreatitis).
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, or a rapid heartbeat.
• Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea with signs of dehydration, such as dizziness or passing very little urine.
• Pain in the upper right abdomen, fever, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
• Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one eye.

If you think you have injected too much Wegovy, contact your doctor, pharmacist or NHS 111 straight away, and take the pen and pack with you if you need to be seen.