Read this information before starting Wegovy Pen and keep the patient leaflet supplied with your medicine. This page does not replace advice from your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
Wegovy is a prescription medicine. It is not suitable for everyone. Completing a DarDoc assessment does not guarantee a prescription.
Do not use Wegovy if
You are allergic to semaglutide or any other ingredient in Wegovy.
You are pregnant.
You are breastfeeding.
Do not use Wegovy with another GLP-1 receptor agonist. Wegovy must not be used as a substitute for insulin.
Tell your clinician before using Wegovy
Tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse about every health condition and all medicines you use. In particular, tell them if you:
Have type 1 diabetes.
Have severely reduced kidney function.
Have severely reduced liver function.
Have severe heart failure.
Have diabetic eye disease or unstable diabetic retinopathy.
Have or have previously had pancreatitis.
Have delayed stomach emptying, or gastroparesis, especially if it is severe.
Have inflammatory bowel disease.
Use another treatment for weight management.
Are 85 years of age or older.
Take insulin or a sulfonylurea for type 2 diabetes.
Take warfarin or another similar oral anticoagulant. More frequent blood-clotting tests may be needed.
Are planning surgery or another procedure involving general anaesthesia or deep sedation. Delayed stomach emptying may increase the risk of stomach contents entering the lungs.
Are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, are planning pregnancy, or are breastfeeding.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Wegovy should not be used during pregnancy. Use contraception while receiving treatment. Stop Wegovy at least two months before a planned pregnancy. If you become pregnant while using Wegovy, contact your clinician promptly so treatment can be stopped and reviewed.
Do not use Wegovy while breastfeeding because a risk to the breastfed child cannot be excluded.
Stop using Wegovy and seek urgent medical help if you experience
Possible pancreatitis
Severe, persistent pain in the stomach area, which may move to the back. Acute pancreatitis requires immediate medical assessment.
A severe allergic reaction
Difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, throat, arms, or legs; rapid swelling under the skin; light-headedness; fast heartbeat; sweating; or loss of consciousness.
Sudden loss or rapid worsening of vision
Sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight requires urgent eye assessment. Semaglutide has been associated with a very rare condition called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, or NAION.
Possible bowel obstruction
Severe constipation together with stomach pain, bloating, or vomiting requires urgent medical assessment.
New or worsening vision problems, especially if you have diabetes or diabetic retinopathy.
Ongoing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea that makes it difficult to drink enough fluid.
Signs of dehydration, such as reduced urination, dark urine, or persistent dizziness.
Persistent severe digestive symptoms or symptoms of delayed stomach emptying.
Possible gallbladder symptoms, including persistent upper abdominal pain, fever, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
A fast heartbeat, faintness, or persistent dizziness.
Any severe or persistent adverse effect.
Low blood sugar
Using Wegovy with insulin or a sulfonylurea can increase the risk of low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Your clinician may adjust your diabetes medicine and ask you to monitor your blood sugar.
Warning signs may include:
Cold sweat or cool, pale skin
Headache
Fast heartbeat
Hunger or nausea
Changes in vision
Sleepiness or weakness
Nervousness, anxiety, confusion, or difficulty concentrating
Shaking
Ask your clinician how to recognize and treat low blood sugar. Avoid driving or using machinery if you have symptoms that affect concentration or vision.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Wegovy can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Very common
These may affect more than 1 in 10 people:
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Stomach pain
Feeling weak or tired
These effects are mainly reported while the dose is being increased and often improve over time. They should not be described as proof that Wegovy is working. Vomiting and diarrhoea can cause dehydration and may worsen kidney function.
Common
These may affect up to 1 in 10 people:
Dizziness
Indigestion
Burping
Gas or bloating
Gastritis
Reflux or heartburn
Gallstones
Hair loss
Injection-site reactions
Changes in taste
Changes in skin sensation
Low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes
Complications of diabetic eye disease
Uncommon
These may affect up to 1 in 100 people:
Acute pancreatitis
Low blood pressure
Dizziness or light-headedness when standing or sitting up
Fast heartbeat
Increased pancreatic enzymes on a blood test
Delayed stomach emptying
Rare, very rare, or frequency not known
Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema
NAION, which may cause sudden loss of vision
Bowel obstruction
Read the leaflet supplied with your Wegovy pack for the complete current list.
How to use Wegovy safely
Use Wegovy exactly as prescribed. Your clinician will normally start treatment at a low dose and increase it gradually to reduce gastrointestinal effects. Do not change your dose yourself.
Inject Wegovy under the skin once weekly, preferably on the same day each week.
It may be used at any time of day, with or without meals.
Inject into the upper arm, upper leg, or stomach. Do not inject into a vein or muscle.
Rotate injection sites.
A doctor, pharmacist, or nurse should show you how to use the pen before your first injection.
Check the medicine name, strength, expiry date, and appearance before use. The solution should be clear and colourless.
Do not use a pen that is expired, damaged, previously used, stored incorrectly, frozen, or contains cloudy solution.
Do not share a pen.
Follow the instructions supplied with your pen because pen systems can differ.
If you miss a dose
If five days or less have passed since the missed dose, inject it as soon as you remember. Take the next dose on the usual scheduled day.
If more than five days have passed, skip the missed dose and take the next dose on the usual scheduled day.
Do not use a double dose.
If you use more than prescribed
Contact your doctor promptly. Overdose may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and dehydration and may require observation and supportive treatment.
Storage and disposal
Keep Wegovy out of the sight and reach of children.
Store it in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C, away from the cooling element.
Do not freeze it.
Keep the pen cap on when the pen is not in use to protect it from light.
After first use, store the pen for up to six weeks below 30°C or in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C.
Do not use Wegovy after the expiry date or if the solution is not clear and colourless.
Dispose of used pens safely and ask your pharmacist how to dispose of unused medicine. Do not place medicine in wastewater or household waste.
Report a suspected side effect in the UAE
Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any suspected side effect.
Emirates Drug Establishment: pv@ede.gov.ae · EDRUG call centre 800 33784
Novo Nordisk UAE safety: nnuaesafety@novonordisk.com
Seek emergency care first for severe or life-threatening symptoms.
Sources and review date
This page was medically sourced on 21 July 2026 from:
- Novo Nordisk UAE Wegovy SmPC, December 2025
- Novo Nordisk UAE Wegovy SmPC, labelling and patient leaflet
- EDE registered medical product directory
- Novo Nordisk UAE safety reporting
This page should be updated whenever the product information or safety guidance changes.