Learn all about your medicine in plain, simple words. No confusing doctor talk here!
💊 What is it?
⚙️ How it works
💉 How to use
😬 Side effects
🚨 When to call
🗄️ Storage
📅 Staying on track
✅ Quiz yourself
01
💊 What is it?
Meet Semaglutide
You may have heard it called Wegovy®. Semaglutide is a medicine your doctor prescribed to help you reach a healthy weight.
🏷️
Brand Name
Wegovy®, approved by the FDA for teens 12 and older who need help with weight
📋
Type of Medicine
It copies a hormone your body already makes. It helps you feel full and satisfied.
🎯
Used For
Helping teens 12 and older manage their weight, along with healthy eating and moving your body
📅
How Often
One shot per week. Pick the same day every week, any time that works for you.
✨ Why did my doctor prescribe this?
Having too much weight is a health condition. It is NOT your fault. This medicine helps your body find a healthier balance. It works best when you also eat well and stay active. Think of it as a tool that helps you, not a quick fix.
02
⚙️ How it works
The Science, Simply Put
Your body makes a natural hormone after you eat that helps you feel full. Semaglutide works just like that hormone, but it lasts a whole week!
1
Helps your pancreas 💉
Your pancreas is an organ that helps your body use food for energy. Semaglutide helps it work better so your body handles food more easily.
2
Slows a "store energy" signal 🛑
Your body has a hormone that tells it to store extra energy. Semaglutide lowers that signal, which helps your body keep a healthier balance.
3
Slows down digestion 🐢
Food stays in your stomach longer. That means you feel full sooner and stay full longer, so you eat less without feeling hungry all the time.
4
Talks to your brain 🧠
Semaglutide sends a "I'm full!" message to the part of your brain that controls hunger. This helps cut down on cravings and the urge to overeat.
📈 How will I know it's working?
After a few weeks, you might feel full faster, have fewer cravings, and notice slow, steady weight changes. Your doctor will check in with you along the way. Most people start to see changes within 3 to 6 months.
03
💉 How to use it
Injection Step-by-Step
Wegovy® comes in a pen that you inject once a week. It sounds scary at first, but most people say it's quick and easy once they get used to it!
🧰 What you'll need
Your Wegovy® pen, alcohol swab, gauze or cotton ball, and a sharps container
1
Pick a spot on your body
Good spots are: your upper arm, your stomach (at least 2 inches away from your belly button), or your outer upper thigh. Switch spots each week. Don't use skin that is red, sore, bruised, or has scars or stretch marks.
2
Clean the skin
Wipe the spot with an alcohol swab. Let it dry for a few seconds before you inject.
3
Take off the pen cap
Pull off the cap. Make sure the liquid in the pen looks clear. If it looks cloudy or has tiny bits floating in it, don't use it. Get a new pen.
4
Press and inject
Push the pen firmly against your skin. You'll hear a click. Keep holding it there for about 10 seconds. Wait until the yellow bar at the bottom of the pen stops moving.
5
You're done! Throw it away safely
Put the used pen right into your sharps container. Never put it in the regular trash. Press gently on the spot with gauze if needed.
04
😬 Side effects
What to Expect
Most side effects happen in the first few weeks and get better over time. Your body is getting used to the medicine. This is normal!
🤢Most Common
Feeling Sick to Your Stomach (Nausea)
This is the most common side effect. Eat smaller amounts of food at a time. Skip greasy or spicy foods. Eat slowly and sit up after eating.
💡 Nurse tip: Try eating 5 or 6 small meals a day instead of 3 big ones. Ginger tea can help calm your stomach too.
🚽
Bathroom Troubles (Diarrhea or Constipation)
This medicine slows down how fast food moves through your body. That can cause loose stools or make it hard to go. Drink lots of water and eat foods with fiber like fruits and veggies.
💡 Nurse tip: Try to drink 8 glasses of water a day. If you can't go to the bathroom for more than a week, tell your doctor.
😴
Feeling Tired or Dizzy
Your body is adjusting. Rest when you need to. Don't skip meals. When you stand up, do it slowly so you don't feel lightheaded.
💡 Nurse tip: Don't ride a bike or drive if you feel dizzy. Tell your doctor if the dizziness is bad or doesn't go away.
⚠️ Other side effects you might notice
Stomach painHeadacheBurping or gasHeartburnThrowing upRunny nose or sore throat
05
🚨 When to call
Stop & Get Help
Some signs mean you need to see a doctor right away. Don't wait to see if these get better on their own.
⬛ Serious Warning — Thyroid Lumps
In animal studies, this medicine caused growths on the thyroid (a gland in your neck). Tell your doctor right away if you feel a lump in your neck, your voice sounds different, it's hard to swallow, or you have trouble breathing. Don't use this medicine if anyone in your family has had thyroid cancer.
🫁
Very Bad Stomach Pain
Severe pain in your belly that won't stop, especially if it goes to your back. Go to the ER right away. This could mean a serious problem called pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas).
🫀
Heart Racing at Rest
If your heart is beating really fast while you're just sitting or lying down and it keeps going, call your doctor right away.
🟡
Yellow Skin or Eyes
If your skin or the whites of your eyes look yellow, or your poop looks pale or clay-colored. Get help right away. This could be a sign of a gallbladder problem.
😵
Serious Allergic Reaction
Rash, swelling of your face, lips, or tongue, or trouble breathing. Call 911 or go to the ER immediately.
📞 Also tell your doctor if...
You keep throwing up or have diarrhea for more than a few days. You feel like your condition is getting worse. Anything feels really wrong. Always trust your gut and speak up!
🆘 Need Help? Here are some resources
Your doctor or nurse: Always call them first with any questions Wegovy.com: Helpful guides and support for patients SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (mental health support) Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 Obesity Action Coalition: obesityaction.org
06
🗄️ Storage & Disposal
Keep It Safe
Storing and throwing away your medicine the right way keeps you and everyone around you safe.
❄️
Before First Use
Keep it in the fridge (between 36°F and 46°F). Don't freeze it. Keep it away from light.
🌡️
After First Use
You can keep it at room temperature (up to 77°F) for up to 28 days, or keep it in the fridge.
🔒
Keep It Out of Reach
Store it somewhere kids and pets can't get to. Your medicine is private. Keep it in a safe spot.
🚫
Never Share
Never let anyone else use your pen, even if they take the same medicine. Sharing needles can spread germs and cause serious illness.
🗑️ How to Throw It Away Safely
✓
Use a sharps container
Put your used pen right into a sharps container (a hard plastic container made for needles). Never throw it in the regular trash or recycling bin.
✓
No sharps container? Use a thick bottle with a lid
A strong plastic bottle with a tight lid works too (like a laundry detergent bottle). Write "Sharps: Do Not Recycle" on it.
✓
Find a drop-off spot near you
Go to SafeNeedleDisposal.org or ask your pharmacy. Many pharmacies take sharps containers for free.
07
📅 Staying on track
Build Your Routine
This medicine only works if you take it every week. Skipping doses can slow down your progress. Here are some easy ways to remember!
📱
Set a Phone Reminder
Pick one day a week and set a repeating alarm. Give it a fun name like "Wegovy Wednesday" or "Shot Sunday." Stick to the same day every week.
🪥
Link It to Something You Already Do
Connect your shot to a habit you already have, like after your Sunday shower, before breakfast on Mondays, or right after practice.
📓
Keep a Simple Log
Write down when you took your shot, which spot you used, and how you felt. This is great info to share with your doctor at your next visit.
👥
Tell Someone You Trust
A parent, sibling, or close friend can give you a friendly reminder, not pressure. Just someone who has your back.
⏰ What if I forget a dose?
If it has been less than 5 days, take it as soon as you remember. Then go back to your regular schedule.
If it has been more than 5 days, skip that dose. Just take your next shot on your regular day. Never take two shots at once.
✅ Your weekly checklist. Tap to check off!
✓
I set my weekly reminder on my phone 📱
✓
I checked my sharps container and there's room for this week's pen 🗑️
✓
I used a different spot for this week's shot 💉
✓
I drank enough water this week 💧
✓
I wrote down how I've been feeling 📓
✅ Knowledge Check
Quiz Yourself
Let's see what you learned! Answer all 8 questions to get your score and earn your badge. You've got this! 💪
Question 1 of 8
What kind of medicine is semaglutide (Wegovy®)?
Question 2 of 8
How often do you take a Wegovy® shot?
Question 3 of 8
Which spot on your body is NOT okay to inject into?
Question 4 of 8
What is the most common side effect of Wegovy®?
Question 5 of 8
Which of these means you need to go to the doctor right away?
Question 6 of 8
Where should you keep a Wegovy® pen that you haven't opened yet?
Question 7 of 8
You forgot your shot and it's been 6 days. What should you do?
Question 8 of 8
Where should you throw away your used Wegovy® pen?