Why Wegovy may leak out of the injection site and how to stop it

For over a year, people in the UK have had access to Wegovy, a weight loss medication that helps regulate your appetite and slow down 'gastric mobility'.

All things considered, it's a pretty easy medication to take. Wegovy injections come as a pen with a preset dose of medication that is taken once per week.

The prescribing doctor or health team usually instruct patients on how to take their medicine, which is a big help. But, what if you experience problems injecting Wegovy?

From a pen malfunction to injection site reactions or medication leaking — there are lots of potential issues you might come up against. Our ultimate advice is to speak with your doctor about your concerns.

But, we can also offer a bit of help when it comes to fluid leaking out of your injection site and tips to prevent leakage.

How to use the Wegovy pen: 8 steps

Before we dive in with all things leakage, we wanted to give you a quick refresher on how to take a Wegovy injection.

Wegovy is one of a few weight loss medications that are approved by the NHS. It’s a brand name for the drug, semaglutide [1].

Semaglutide is taken in a single dose, once per week. It needs to be prescribed by a health professional, such as a specialised weight management service or your doctor.

Taking the medication is pretty simple and it’s best to follow the manufacturers’ instructions.

Here are the basic steps for injecting Wegovy [2][6]:

1. First things first, always wash your hands before performing an injection
2. Remove the cap from the Wegovy pen
3. Choose your injection site; such as the lower stomach, thigh or upper arm
4. Press the pen firmly against your skin until you hear a click (this means the injection has started)
5. Hold the pen in place for at least 10 seconds — you should hear a second click during this time (this means the injection is in progress)
6. You'll notice a yellow bar moving throughout the injection — when this bar stops, the injection has finished
7. When the yellow bar stops moving; wait a few seconds before gently removing the pen
8. Dispose of the pen in an approved container

Something that surprises a lot of people is that the yellow bar does not fill the entire pen window. This is normal and as long as the yellow bar has stopped moving, you can be sure the injection has finished [2].

 Things to check before using your pen

It’s important to check before injecting Wegovy that the pen you’re using is in good condition. Some things to look out for include [3]:

• Check the expiration date on the back of the pen
• Confirm that the medication name and dosage are correct
• The pen window should be clear and colourless; it may have some air bubbles which is normal
• When you remove the cap, the needle should be hidden inside the pen

If any of these things are not correct, do not use the pen. If the pen has been dropped, knocked or appears damaged, do not use the pen.

Finally, make sure to keep the pen cap firmly in place until you’re ready to inject. This helps ensure your medicine stays sterile.

How to dispose of Wegovy safely

Did you know; you can’t throw needle pens in the household rubbish bin? You need to make sure they are disposed of safely, in an approved container.

Any sturdy household container (plastic or metal) with a tight-fitting lid can be used for storage [2][6]. 

Make sure to keep this container away from children and pets. When the container is more than half full of used pens, you can bring it to your healthcare provider or a local facility for disposal.

Where should you inject Wegovy?

Wegovy is a subcutaneous injection, which means that you want to inject it into the layer of fat just beneath your skin [2][6].

The recommended injection sites include the front upper thigh, the upper arms, and the lower stomach.

You can use the same body area each week, but it’s important to avoid injecting into the exact same spot.

You should also avoid damaged skin, whether it’s from scars, stretch marks, bruising, redness or tenderness [3].

Some people find it easier to rotate injection sites — swapping between the arms, thigh or abdomen each week.

Using the upper arm

An ideal injection site for the upper arm is between your shoulder and your elbow. Choose a spot about 1 hands-width away from each of those endpoints [6].

Using the front of the thigh

For the front of the thigh, find a spot between the top of your kneecap and the top of your thigh. Again, 1 hands-width from either end is best.

Using the lower stomach

In the lower stomach, choose any place that is below the bottom of your ribs and at least 2 inches from your belly button [2][6].

What causes Wegovy to leak out?

Not only is a leaking injection site a bit of a mess, but it can also seem kind of scary. You might wonder if you messed it up somehow.

While leakage does have a lot to do with injection technique, it’s not usually something to worry about.

According to the manufacturers, a common reason for Wegovy leaking is that you removed pressure too soon. This often means that medicine appears on the skin or squirts from the needle [2].

In this case, the best thing to do is make sure the yellow bar has definitely stopped moving before you remove the needle.

There is also some research, using insulin injections, that explored a few of the factors making leakage more likely. These include [4][5]:

• Injection site: Leakage seemed to be more common in the upper arms and thigh, and less common in the lower stomach.
• Injection volume: A higher volume of medicine was more likely to lead to fluid leaking.
• Insertion angle: Injecting at a 90-degree angle (straight) seems to work better than a 45-degree angle (diagonal).
• Withdrawal technique: Waiting at least 3 seconds before removing the pen, ideally up to 10 seconds, could help reduce fluid leaking.

Want some good news? A lot of these factors can be adjusted to help you reduce the chances of a leaking injection site. We’ll get to those tips soon.

What to do if Wegovy leaks out of the injection site

Uh oh, your medication leaked — what now? Luckily, you don’t need to do anything special if some of your medication leaks out during injection. Simply clean yourself up and go about your day.

You might also notice a little bit of blood appears on occasion, which is normal. Simply grab a cotton ball or gauze pad and press down lightly to stop the bleeding [3].

If you experience injection leaking or bleeding often, it might be worth checking in with your healthcare provider who can help you decide how to handle it.

For example, when you join Juniper’s Weight Reset Programme — you have access to approved weight loss medication and unlimited consultations with your prescribers.

This means professional support whenever you have questions about side effects, injection techniques, or other medication and health concerns.

We believe that successfully keeping weight off is just as important as losing it in the first place.

This is why our programme focuses on 3 key areas: a biological reset, behavioural changes, and a supportive community to help you stay focused and reach your weight loss goals.

Should you re-inject Wegovy if it leaks out?

The simple answer is no; there’s no need to re-inject Wegovy or take any extra doses because a small amount has leaked out.

A lot of people worry that if their injection leaks out, they haven’t had a full dose. Let us put your mind at ease — a little bit of leaking is not going to make Wegovy less effective.

Research tells us that even when an injection leaks out, the amount of medicine lost makes very little difference [4].

How to prevent Wegovy from leaking out

Whether you've noticed an injection leak with every dose or just occasionally, you’re probably wondering how to stop it.

There are a few simple tricks you can try, and as always, we recommend speaking with your doctor for personalised advice.

Keep applying pressure

Probably the most common reason for leakage is withdrawing the needle too soon.

You need to keep light pressure on the injection site for a few seconds after the injection finishes to allow the medication to absorb.

The simplest way to do this is to keep applying pressure until the yellow bar stops moving. If you find that's not working for you, try counting to 10 before you slowly lift the pen away from your body [5].

Another option is to keep a gauze pad or cotton ball nearby. As soon as you remove the needle, place the cotton ball over the injection site and press lightly.

This helps to seal the punctured tissue, which in turn can prevent leakage [6].

Change injection sites

Research tells us that leakage is more common in certain injection sites. If you’re using the upper arms or thigh, it might be helpful to swap to the lower abdomen [4].

It’s also important to use a different injection spot each time. For example, even if you choose to inject your abdomen every week, make sure you’re finding a new spot on your stomach to place the pen. 

This helps prevent scar tissue and hardened skin which can make it difficult for your body to absorb the medication [6].

When choosing a new spot to use, make sure it is at least 1 inch away from your previous injection site.

Inject straight into the body

Some experts say insertion angle matters, others say not really. It’s not a hard and fast rule — but there is evidence that injecting straight into the body (at a 90-degree angle) helps reduce leakage [4].

To get this angle right, hold the pen cap straight in front of your body.

Remember, all of these tips are general advice. If you have ongoing concerns with how to take Wegovy, any side effects or problems injecting, make sure to book in with your doctor for a personalised chat.