How to take semaglutide
Injection or pill — the practical guide
Quick read · 5 min
Semaglutide comes in two forms: a once-weekly injection pen (Wegovy or Ozempic) and a once-daily pill (Wegovy 25mg). The injection can be taken any time of day, with or without food. The pill must be taken on an empty stomach, with a sip of water, waiting 30 minutes before anything else.
- •Injection: once weekly, any day, any time, with or without food
- •Pill: once daily on an empty stomach with a sip of water; wait 30 minutes before eating
- •Rotate injection sites (belly, thigh, upper arm) week to week
- •Injection pen lasts 28 days at room temperature once opened
- •Missed injection: take within 2 days, otherwise skip to next week
Based on clinical trials · No rankings · Every claim linked to source
Two forms — pick one
Semaglutide is the only GLP-1 that comes as both an injection and a pill.
- How often
- Once a week
- With food?
- Any time, any day
- Storage
- Refrigerate until first use, then room temperature is fine
- Monthly cost
- ~$1,350 self-pay
- How often
- Once a day
- With food?
- Empty stomach only
- Storage
- Room temperature in a cabinet
- Monthly cost
- ~$149 self-pay
The injection, step by step
Most people master this in 2–3 tries.
Take the pen out of the fridge 5–10 minutes before you inject. Cold medicine stings more. Never microwave or run it under hot water.
Look through the pen window. The medicine should be clear and colourless. If it looks cloudy or has particles, don't use it.
Always use a fresh needle. Remove both caps, keep the outer cap nearby for disposal.
Dial to "2 units" and press the button until a drop appears at the tip. This clears air and confirms the pen is ready.
Pinch a small fold of skin. Push the needle straight in at 90 degrees. Press the button and hold for 3 seconds.
Keep the needle under the skin for 3 more seconds after you release the button. Pull straight out. Don't rub the spot.
- Belly (abdomen) — at least 2 inches from your belly button
- Front or outer thigh
- Back of the upper arm
Rotate sites week to week so the same spot doesn't get sore or thickened.
- •Use a new needle every injection
- •Let the pen reach room temperature first
- •Rotate sites (belly, thigh, arm) week to week
- •Inject on the same day each week if you can
- •Store unopened pens in the fridge
- •Reuse needles — this hurts and risks infection
- •Warm the pen in hot water or a microwave
- •Inject into bruised, scarred or tender skin
- •Rub or massage the injection site afterwards
- •Double-dose to make up for a missed week
Storage
Fridge before you start, then room temperature is fine.
If you miss a dose
Simple rules — no double-dosing.
Taking the Wegovy pill
The timing rule matters more than with any other weight-loss drug.
Take it first thing after waking, before any food or drink other than water. Even a sip of coffee or juice reduces how much medicine you absorb.
Use no more than 4 ounces of plain water (about half a small glass). No mineral water, no sparkling water.
Don't split, chew or crush the pill. It's designed to dissolve in a specific part of your stomach.
No food, no coffee, no other medication for at least 30 minutes. Longer is better. Only then can you eat breakfast.
Semaglutide is a large molecule that stomach acid quickly destroys. Taking it with food slows stomach emptying, giving acid more time to break the medicine down — reducing how much reaches your bloodstream by up to half. The empty-stomach rule is why the pill works at all.
Next step most people take
Based on clinical trials · No rankings · Every claim linked to source
Last reviewed: March 2026