What is Wegovy

Wegovy PF Pen is a prescription-only, pre-filled injection pen containing Semaglutide, manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It is designed to support significant and sustainable weight loss. Semaglutide works by interacting with your brain to help you feel fuller for longer and reduce cravings. When combined with a calorie-controlled diet and increased exercise, Wegovy has been shown to enhance weight loss more than diet and exercise alone.

Who is Wegovy for

Wegovy PF Pen is intended for adults aged 18 to 74 who meet specific criteria:

1. Previous weight management attempts
   Individuals who have not achieved sufficient weight loss through supervised diet, behaviour changes, and increased physical activity.
2. Body Mass Index (BMI) requirements *
   • BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher or
   • BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher with at least one weight-related health condition, such as:
     • High blood pressure (hypertension)
     • High cholesterol levels (dyslipidaemia)
     • Obstructive sleep apnoea (a sleep disorder)
     • Type 2 diabetes

Consultation process

To obtain Wegovy PF Pen without a traditional prescription, you will go through the following steps:

1. Complete a health questionnaire:

Fill out a form providing detailed information about your health, medical history, and previous weight loss efforts.

2. Pharmacist assessment:

Our pharmacist will review your responses and contact you via phone or video call to discuss your suitability for the medication.

3. Confidential consultation:

The consultation is private and confidential. You'll have the opportunity to ask any questions and ensure that Wegovy is appropriate for you.

4. All-inclusive pricing:

The price you pay includes the consultation fee; there are no additional costs.

5. Identity verification:

You will be asked to provide identification during the consultation to confirm you are the intended user. This is a one-time-only process during your first order.

6. Photographic evidence request:

You will be asked to provide photographic evidence of your weight, height, and relevant medical history to ensure accurate and safe consultation. This is a one-time-only process during your first order.

Dosage

Wegovy uses a gradual, step-by-step dosing schedule to help your body adjust and minimize potential side effects as you progress to a higher, effective dose. You’ll start at a low dose and gradually increase it every four weeks until reaching your maintenance level.

Please select the Wegovy dose recommended in your personal treatment plan, starting with the 0.25 mg dose. If you're unsure about the appropriate dosage, please consult our pharmacist (pharmacy@medino.com) before placing your order.

*For individuals with a BMI over 50, we advise consulting with a doctor or specialist for a comprehensive treatment plan, as our online pharmacy cannot provide the multidisciplinary care required; prescriptions from an NHS specialist would be free of charge.

Patient information leaflet

Each dose contains 1mg of semaglutide in 0.75mL solution.

One pre-filled pen contains 4 mg (four doses) of semaglutide in 3 mL solution.

*Semaglutide is a human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells by recombinant DNA technology.

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

4 needles are included in the box.

Inject 1mg subcutaneously once per week for 4 weeks (28 days).

Wegovy FlexTouch pen is designed to be used with NovoFine or NovoTwist disposable needles up to a length of 8 mm - these are included in the box.

The day of weekly administration can be changed if necessary, as long as the time between two doses is at least 3 days (>72 hours). After selecting a new dosing day, once-weekly dosing should be continued.

Wegovy is for subcutaneous use only and should not be administered intravenously or intramuscularly.

It should be injected in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. The injection site and timing can be changed without dose adjustment.

Wegovy should not be mixed with other medicinal products.

Gastrointestinal Effects:

Sometimes, this medicine might cause stomach issues. This can lead to dehydration in rare cases, which can affect your kidneys. If you notice any stomach problems, be aware of the risk of dehydration and make sure to drink enough water.

Acute Pancreatitis:

In rare cases, our medication can cause a problem with your pancreas called acute pancreatitis. It's essential to know the symptoms of this issue. If you ever suspect you have it, stop taking the medication and talk to your doctor. If it's confirmed, don't restart the medication. Be cautious if you've had pancreatitis before.

For Patients with Diabetes:

If you have diabetes, remember that this medication isn't a replacement for insulin.

Hypoglycemia in Patients with Diabetes:

If you have diabetes and you're taking this medication along with insulin or certain other diabetes drugs, you might be at a higher risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). To reduce this risk, your doctor might adjust your insulin or other medications. We haven't studied adding this medication if you're already taking insulin.

Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes:

If you have type 2 diabetes and you're using this medication, you should be aware that there's a slightly higher risk of complications with your eyes. Rapid improvement in your blood sugar control can sometimes temporarily worsen diabetic retinopathy. Make sure to keep a close eye on your eye health and follow your doctor's advice.

Populations Not Studied:

We don't have enough information about how this medication affects people with severe heart problems (New York Heart Association class IV) or people who are 75 years or older.

Sodium Content:

The medication has very little sodium, so you don't need to worry about your salt intake when using it.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

This product should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

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

Serious side effects

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• 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: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• Inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis). Signs of inflamed pancreas may include severe and long-lasting pain in your stomach, which may move to your back. You should see your doctor immediately if you experience such symptoms.
• Kidney or bladder stones. Signs may include back or lower abdomen pain, difficulty in urination, or change in colour of your urine.

Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• Severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic reactions, angioedema). You should seek immediate medical help and inform your doctor straight away if you get symptoms such as breathing problems, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat with difficulty swallowing, wheezing, fast heartbeat, pale and cold skin, feeling dizzy or weak.
• Hip fractures.

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)

• Bowel obstruction. A severe form of constipation with additional symptoms such as stomach ache, bloating, vomiting, etc.

Other side effects

Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people

• headache
• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• stomach pain
• feeling weak or tiredThese usually go away over time.

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

• feeling dizzy
• upset stomach or indigestion
• burping
• gas (flatulence)
• bloating of the stomach
• inflamed stomach (gastritis) – symptoms include stomach ache, nausea, or vomiting
• reflux or heartburn – also called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
• gallstones
• hair loss
• injection site reactions
• change in the way food or drink tastes
• change in skin sensation
• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in patients with diabetes

The warning signs of low blood sugar may come on suddenly. They can include cold sweat, cool pale skin, headache, fast heartbeat, feeling sick (nausea) or very hungry, changes in vision, feeling sleepy or weak, feeling nervous, anxious, or confused, difficulty concentrating, or shaking.

Your doctor will tell you how to treat low blood sugar and what to do if you notice these warning signs. Low blood sugar is more likely to happen if you also take a sulfonylurea or insulin. Your doctor may reduce your dose of these medicines before you start using this medicine.

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

• fast heartbeat
• increase of pancreatic enzymes (such as lipase and amylase) shown in blood tests
• a delay in the emptying of the stomach
• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in patients without diabetes
• increased levels of bilirubin in your blood