LONDON, Jan. 16 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
It isadministered as 3 injections of 2.4 mg for weight management in adultpatients with obesity only, in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise, who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30kg/m² or higher.
This does not apply tooverweightpatientswith a BMI of less than 30kg/m² using Wegovy for weight management or for patients using Wegovy to lower their risk of serious heart problems.
Patients should always use this medicine exactly as theirprescribertells them and to check with their doctor,pharmacistor nurse ifthey'renot sure.
When a patient with obesity first starts usingWegovy, the starting dose is 0.25mg per week. Aprescribing healthcare professionalwill then instruct a patient togradually increasetheirdose every 4 weeks untiltheyreach the dose of 2.4 mgper week.
If needed,a dose increase to 7.2 mgper week(3 injections of 2.4 mg) can be made after a minimum of 4 weeks on 2.4 mg.Themaximumdose is 7.2 mg per week.
For theWegovy7.2 mg weight management dose, patientswill need to inject three doses of 2.4 mg, one after each other on the same day.The injections can be given in the same body area but should be at least 5cm apart.Patientsmust change the needle between each doseandmay need to use multiple pens.
Each pencontainsfour2.4 mgdoses.Patients shouldnot discard the pen untiltheir fourth dose has been taken. Partially used pensshould bestored in the fridge with the needle removed.Patients shouldmake suretheyhave a sufficient supply of pens to completetheirdose beforetheystart injecting.Once all four 2.4mg doses have been used, patients shoulddispose ofthe pensafely, asinstructed by theirprescriber.
Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicineshouldtalk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to theMHRAYellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
Notes to editors
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Information on weight management is available on theNHS website
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Patients should be told to follow the relevant table below from thePatient Information Leaflet (PIL)found with the packaging.
For weight management:
Dose escalation
Weekly Dose
Week 1-4
0.25mg
Week 5-8
0.5mg
Week 9-12
1mg
Week 13-16
1.7mg
From week 17
2.4mg
From week 21 -for adult patients with obesity, if needed
7.2mg
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
