How to use weight loss injections

Reviewed by Dr Bhavini Shah

This article will explain what weight loss injections are, and, if you’ve been prescribed, how to safely inject yourself.

Not everyone can take weight loss medication. Safe prescribers, like LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, require that you complete a medical consultation. We also check BMIs (body mass index) - Wegovy® and Mounjaro® are available if you have a BMI of 30+, or 27+ if you also have a weight related condition.

What are weight loss injections?

Weight loss injections are injectable medicines designed to help people lose weight. They work by mimicking natural hormones found in the body. When the hormones are mimicked:

• Your appetite is suppressed
• Blood sugar is better regulated
• Food leaves the stomach more slowly 

The weight loss injections available at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor include Mounjaro® and Wegovy®. You can learn about their key differences here. We’ll now talk through how to store and use them.

How to store medicated weight loss

• Store your Mounjaro® and Wegovy® pens in the fridge - 2°C to 8°C
• Keep pens in their original packaging to protect the medicine from light
• Do not freeze the pens (check your fridge isn’t a lot colder at the back)
  • Before using a pen, it’s important that you check it’s not frozen
• Because the pen has glass parts, if you drop it on a hard surface, do not use it – use a new pen 

Our storage guide and your Patient Information leaflet will have more information on storing your medication.

Mounjaro®

Mounjaro® is a weekly injection available in five doses. Your dose will depend on where you are in your treatment journey. The starting dose is 2.5mg. This increases in increments of 2.5mg until you reach 15mg.

• Weeks 1 - 4: 2.5mg weekly
• Weeks 5 - 8: 5mg weekly
• Weeks 9 - 12: 7.5mg weekly
• Weeks 13 - 16: 10mg weekly
• Weeks 17 onwards: 15mg (maintenance dose) 

You will only move up in dose if you’re tolerating the treatment and been on your current dose for at least four weeks. If you’re struggling with side effects, contact your prescriber for information on what you should do. Message us in your Patient Record if you’re a LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor patient.

Mounjaro® is packaged as a single dose pen. You do not need to mix anything or handle a needle.

Injecting Mounjaro® – step by step

How to prepare

• Choose a day: use Mounjaro® once a week, at any time of day. If things change and you need to change your day, make sure you leave three days (72 hours) between doses. Read about what to do it you forget to take a dose.
• Wash your hands
• Inspect your pen: Check the expiry date and that the pen contains the right dose. Check the liquid inside is colourless to a slightly yellow tone. Don’t use the pen is the liquid has been frozen, has particles in it, is discoloured or cloudy. Don’t use the medication if the name or dose doesn’t match your prescription. Or if the pen is expired, damaged or the medication has been frozen.
• Pull off the grey base cap: This should come off easily. Wipe the red inner seal with a swab.
• Select a new pen needle: Always use a new needle for each injection. Then pull off the paper tab from the outer needle shield. Push the capped pen needle straight onto the pen. Then twist the pen needle until it’s tight. Pull off the outer needle cap and keep it. Then pull off the inner needle cap, this can go in the bin.
• Priming your pen: Slowly turn the knob dose, you’ll hear 2 clicks, and the extended line will be shown in the dose window. Hold your pen with the needle upwards and tap the cartridge holder gently. Then release some medicine into the air by pushing the dose knob until it stops. Slowly count to 5 while you do this. The 0 icon must be shown in the dose window.
• Choose where to inject: Mounjaro® should be injected in your stomach, thighs, or the back of your upper arms. If you decide to inject the back of your upper arm, get someone to help you. Clean the injection site with an alcohol wipe. You may inject in the same area each week – but make sure it’s not the same spot each time. 

How to inject

• Place the clear base on your skin, then unlock: hold the base firmly in place on your skin then unlock by twisting the top of the pen. You should be able to see the lock and unlock icons on the pen to help you.
• Press and hold: inject the medicine by pushing the dose knob in until it stops then slowly count to 5 while holding the dose knob. The 0 icon must be shown in the dose window before removing the needle.
• Throw away the pen: do not throw the pens in your household rubbish. You should have been provided with a sharps bin.  

Your dose was properly administered if the grey plunger at the top end of the pen is visible.

What if there is a drop of blood or liquid on my skin after the injection?

This is normal. Do not rub the injection site – press it with a cotton wool ball.

Wegovy®

Wegovy® is a weekly injection available in five doses. Your dose will depend on where you are in your treatment journey. The starting dose is 0.25mg. The dose increases until you reach 2.4mg.

• Weeks 1 - 4: 0.25mg weekly
• Weeks 5 - 8: 0.5mg weekly
• Weeks 9 - 12: 1mg weekly
• Weeks 13 - 16: 1.7mg weekly
• Weeks 17 onwards: 2.4mg (maintenance dose) 

You will only move up in dose if you’re tolerating the treatment and been on your current dose for at least 4 weeks. If you’re struggling with side effects, contact your prescriber for information on what you should do. Message us in your Patient Record if you’re a LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor patient.

Each pen contains four doses and comes with four needles – enough for one month’s supply.

Injecting Wegovy® – step by step

How to prepare

• Choose a day: use Wegovy® once a week, at any time of day. If things change and you need to change your day, make sure you leave three days (72 hours) between doses. Read about what to do it you forget to take a dose.
• Wash your hands
• Inspect your pen: check the name and dose of your pen to make sure it contains your prescribed dose of Wegovy. Pull off the pen cap. You should also check the Wegovy in your pen is clear and colourless through the pen window and for any signs of freezing or damage. Because the pen has glass parts, if you drop it on a hard surface, do not use it – use a new pen. 
• Choose where to inject: Wegovy® should be injected in your lower stomach (keep a 5cm distance from your belly button), thighs, or the back of your upper arms. If you decide to inject the back of your upper arm, get someone to help you. You may inject in the same area each week – but make sure it’s not the same spot each time.
• Attach a new needle: when you’re ready to take your injection, tear the paper tab off the needle and push it straight onto the pen. Turn until it is on tight.
• Remove the outer needle cap and the inner needle cap: you must remove both caps or you will not be able to inject Wegovy®.
  • Pull off the outer needle cap and keep it for later: you will need it to safely remove the needle from the pen after the injection.
  • Pull off the inner needle cap and throw it away: a drop of Wegovy® may appear at the tip. If you’re using a pen for the first time you must check the flow.  

How to check the flow

• Only check the wegovy flow before your first injection with each new pen. Turn the dose selector until you see the flow check symbol. Make sure the flow check symbol lines up with the dose pointer.
• Hold the pen with the needle pointing up: hold the pen upright.
• Press and hold the dose button: hold until the dose counter returns to 0. The 0 must line up with the dose pointer. You should see a drop of Wegovy® at the tip - this means it’s ready for injecting).
• Check the flow again if the drop does not appear: you should only do this twice. If the drop still does not appear, change the needle. Do not use the pen if a drop does not appear - contact your prescriber. 

How to inject

• Select your dose: turn the dose selector until it stops and shows your prescribed dose. When your prescribed dose lines up with the dose pointer, you have selected your dose.
• Inject: Insert the needle into your skin. Make sure you can see the dose counter. Press and hold down the dose button until the dose counter shows 0. Keep pressing the dose button with the needle in your skin and slowly count to 6. You may hear or feel a click.
• Remove the needle from your skin: if blood appears, dab gently with cotton wool.
• Disposing of the needle: Lead the needle tip into the outer needle cap on a flat surface without touching the needle or the outer needle cap. Once the needle is covered, carefully push the outer needle cap completely on. Unscrew the the needle from pen and dispose of the needle in sharps bin.
• Store the pen: put the pen cap back on and you can put it back in your fridge. 

What if there is a drop of blood or liquid on my skin after the injection?

This is normal. Do not rub the injection site – press it with a cotton wool ball.

References

https://Mounjaro.lilly.com/how-to-use-Mounjaro
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13799/xpil/print