Clinically reviewed: Wed 31 July
Each pen contains 4 full doses and a deliberate amount of extra liquid. The extra medicine is not a 5th dose. It is there to accommodate for the priming stage before each injection.
Why is there extra liquid?
There is some extra liquid in the pen on purpose, but it’s not designed as an additional dose. The extra liquid is to allow you to remove air bubbles to make it safe to inject - sometimes known as ‘priming’ the pen. You should only prime your pen a maximum of 2 times per injection, otherwise the pen may jam. See full details in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your pen.
Read the Mounjaro injection user guide and follow all the steps – read here.
Read the Wegovy injection user guide and follow all the steps – read here.
Can I just inject the extra liquid as a 5th dose anyway?
When the plunger is at, or just after the final notch (nearest the end where the needle is attached), this means that 4 doses have been given from the pen. The remaining liquid is not suitable for administration and the pen is designed to not deliver this. At this point it is time to order your next pen (if needed and if not already done so).