Wegovy 1.7mg Injection contains semaglutide 2.27mg/mL and is a once-weekly prescription injection used as part of a weight-management programme. The 1.7mg presentation is supplied as a pre-filled pen and is injected under the skin.
Importantly, Wegovy is registered in Australia. The TGA lists Wegovy FlexTouch 1.7mg as an ARTG-registered medicine, and Healthdirect provides current Australian medicine information for this strength.
What Is Wegovy 1.7mg Used For?
Like Ozempic, Wegovy is based on semaglutide, a class of GLP-1 receptor agonists used to manage body weight in the long term, weight loss, and after having lost the weight, staying at lower weight.
Adults can also get a prescription for weekly subcutaneous Wegovy injections to help them lose weight if:
- they are at BMI 30 or above or
- BMI of 27 to less than 30 and at least one weight-related comorbid condition is present.
Weight management with Wegovy is also approved in Australia for some adolescents (i.e., aged 12 years and above) who have a diagnosis of obesity and body weight above 60 kg
The 1.7mg strength is part of a slow and step-wise dose increase schedule rather than the first dose.
How Does Wegovy Work?
Semaglutide targets the GLP-1 receptors, the ones that help regulate hunger, eating behavior, and blood sugar levels.
Some of the main benefits of a GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy are:
- Helps reduce starvation pangs
- Boosts sensations of satiety
- Decreases overall eating
- Gastric emptying is slowed down
- Promotes weight management over a longer time period
The mechanism of action makes maintaining low caloric intake easier. As Wegovy’s main aim is weight loss it comes along with a dietary and exercise plan, not as an alternative to them.
How To Use Wegovy 1.7mg
Wegovy 1.7mg is administered once weekly by subcutaneous injection.
It can be injected under the skin of the:
- Abdomen
- Thigh
- Upper arm
It does not matter if you take it during the day or whether you eat or not.
A subcutaneous injection has to be given.
You can switch injection sites without decreasing your dose.
In addition, your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will help you demonstrate and explain how to operate the pen device. This demonstration will be especially helpful in case you decide to prepare the injections yourself.
Wegovy 1.7mg Dosage
For weight management, semaglutide is gradually increased over 16 weeks:
| Treatment period | Weekly dose |
| Weeks 1–4 | 0.25mg |
| Weeks 5–8 | 0.5mg |
| Weeks 9–12 | 1mg |
| Weeks 13–16 | 1.7mg |
| Maintenance | 2.4mg |
Therefore, 1.7mg once weekly is normally reached during weeks 13–16. The gradual increase is designed to reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal side effects.
If the 2.4mg maintenance dose is not tolerated, Australian product information allows the dose to be temporarily reduced to 1.7mg once weekly, with re-escalation to 2.4mg when appropriate.
Do not change your Wegovy dose without medical advice.
What Happens If You Miss a Wegovy 1.7mg Dose?
Missing a dose? According to the product information in Australia, get your dose as soon as possible even up to 5 days after the scheduled dose.
If you were 5 days late or more, just forget about the lost injection and proceed to the next dose on your usual dosing day.
When you have forgotten several doses, a doctor might advise a restart with a lower dose rather than resuming with 1.7mg straight away.
Possible Side Effects
Common side effects of Wegovy include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Indigestion
- Injection-site reactions
During the increased period of the dosage the digestive system issues, e.g. diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal pain might get worse or become more apparent.
Reach out to an experienced person of your health team if you feel a really strong or constant stomachache that especially spreads to your upper back area.
Continued vomiting or persistent diarrhea lead to dehydration and also might harm kidney function.
Precautions Before Using Wegovy
Tell your doctor if you have:
- A history of pancreatitis
- Severe gastrointestinal disease or delayed stomach emptying
- Kidney problems
- Gallbladder problems or gallstones
- Diabetic retinopathy
- A history of serious allergic reactions to semaglutide
- A planned operation or procedure involving general anaesthesia or deep sedation
- Diabetes treated with insulin or sulfonylureas
It is advised that Wegovy not be taken as a weight control regimen during gestation.
Contact your physician to evaluate therapy if you are intending to undergo pregnancy.
The medication may slow down the stomach’s emptying, hence informing your surgeon or physician that a patient is currently taking Wegovy will have to be the matter as it could be done via general anesthesia or deep sedation.
Wegovy 1.7mg and Other Medicines
Make sure to inform your doctor about all types of prescription medicines, diabetes medications, dietary supplements and other treatments for managing your weight that you are taking.
Hypoglycaemic risk may be a side effect of combining Wegovy with insulin or insulin secretagogues like sulfonylureas. Depending on that, your physician might decrease the amount of these medicines you take daily.
It is not advised to take Wegovy on top of another semaglutide-based medication or another GLP-1 receptor agonist, unless otherwise instructed by your health care professional.
Storage
Wegovy should be stored carefully to maintain the quality of the medicine.
Australian information states:
- Store at 2°C to 8°C
- Keep refrigerated
- Protect from light
- Do not freeze
- Keep away from the cooling element
The Australian product information also states that Wegovy can be stored unrefrigerated for up to 28 days at temperatures not above 30°C, provided the relevant storage conditions are followed. The pen should remain in its original carton to protect it from light.
Do not use Wegovy if it has been frozen or if the solution does not appear clear and colourless.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Wegovy 1.7mg considered an escalation dose?
The 1.7mg strength is reached after the initial 0.25mg, 0.5mg and 1mg stages. Gradually increasing semaglutide gives the body time to adjust and can improve tolerability.
Can I change the day of my weekly Wegovy injection?
Yes. If necessary, the weekly injection day can be changed as long as there are at least 72 hours between two doses. After changing the day, continue with once-weekly administration.
What should I do if I cannot tolerate 1.7mg?
Do not reduce or stop the dose on your own. Contact your prescriber. If significant gastrointestinal symptoms occur, the dose escalation can be delayed until symptoms improve.
Does Wegovy 1.7mg need to be taken with meals?
No. Wegovy can be administered with or without food and at any time of day. The important part is maintaining the prescribed once-weekly schedule.
Can the injection site be changed from one week to the next?
Yes. Wegovy can be injected into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, and the injection site can be changed without requiring a dose adjustment.
References
- TGA – Wegovy FlexTouch 1.7mg – TGA Wegovy FlexTouch 1.7mg
- TGA – Australian Product Information for Wegovy – Wegovy Product Information
- Healthdirect – Wegovy FlexTouch – Healthdirect Wegovy FlexTouch
- TGA – GLP-1 medicine safety information – TGA GLP-1 safety information
Medical Disclaimer
Wegovy 1.7mg is a prescription medicine and should only be used under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. This information is provided for educational purposes and does not replace personalised medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
