Posology : מינונים

4.2     Posology and method of administration

Posology

Adults
The maintenance dose of semaglutide 2.4 mg once-weekly is reached by starting with a dose of 0.25 mg. To reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal symptoms, the dose should be escalated over a 16-week period to a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once weekly (see Table 2). In case of significant gastrointestinal symptoms, consider delaying dose escalation or lowering to the previous dose until symptoms have improved. Weekly doses higher than 2.4 mg are not recommended.

Table 2 Dose escalation schedule
Dose escalation      Weekly dose
Week 1–4             0.25 mg
Week 5–8             0.5 mg
Week 9–12            1 mg
Week 13–16           1.7 mg
Maintenance dose 2.4 mg

Adolescents
For adolescents ages 12 years and above, the same dose escalation schedule as for adults should be applied (see Table 2). The dose should be increased until 2.4 mg (maintenance dose) or maximum tolerated dose has been reached. Weekly doses higher than 2.4 mg are not recommended.


Patients with type 2 diabetes
When initiating semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes, consider reducing the dose of concomitantly administered insulin or insulin secretagogues (such as sulfonylureas) to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia, see section 4.4.

Missed dose
If a dose is missed, it should be administered as soon as possible and within 5 days after the missed dose. If more than 5 days have passed, the missed dose should be skipped, and the next dose should be administered on the regularly scheduled day. In each case, patients can then resume their regular once weekly dosing schedule. If more doses are missed, reducing the starting dose for re-initiation should be considered.

Special populations

Elderly (≥65 years old)
No dose adjustment is required based on age. Therapeutic experience in patients ≥75 years of age is limited, and greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be excluded.

Patients with renal impairment
No dose adjustment is required for patients with mild or moderate renal impairment. Experience with the use of semaglutide in patients with severe renal impairment is limited. Semaglutide is not recommended for use in patients with severe renal impairment (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73m2) including patients with end-stage renal disease (see sections 4.4, 4.8 and 5.2).

Patients with hepatic impairment
No dose adjustment is required for patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment. Experience with the use of semaglutide in patients with severe hepatic impairment is limited. Semaglutide is not recommended for use in patients with severe hepatic impairment and should be used cautiously in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment (see sections 4.4 and 5.2).

Paediatric population
No dose adjustment is required for adolescents ages 12 years and above.
The safety and efficacy of semaglutide in children below 12 years of age have not been established.
Safety and efficacy data in paediatric (12 to less than 18 years) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are limited.

Method of administration

Subcutaneous use.
Wegovy is administered once weekly at any time of the day, with or without meals.

It is to be injected subcutaneously in the abdomen, in the thigh or in the upper arm. The injection site can be changed. It should not be administered intravenously or intramuscularly.

The day of weekly administration can be changed if necessary, as long as the time between two doses is at least 3 days (>72 hours). After selecting a new dosing day, once-weekly dosing should be continued.

Patients should be advised to read the instruction for use included in the package leaflet carefully before administering the medicinal product.

For further information before administration see section 6.6.