If you’ve been researching weight loss injections such as Wegovy, you may have come across the term “golden dose”. This refers to extracting and administering a fifth dose of semaglutide (Wegovy’s active ingredient) when the injection pen is only designed for four.
But is this practise actually possible, and does Wegovy have a golden dose? Join us as we delve into this subject matter and discuss whether a Wegovy 5th dose is possible, and, more importantly, if it’s safe to take.
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The ‘golden dose’ refers to the residual fluid left in a weight loss injection pen after the user has administered all their prescribed doses. Some users attempt to extract and inject this excess medicine to make their injection pen stretch further and, therefore, reduce their overall treatment costs.
This risky practice is most often seen among Mounjaro users, as the Mounjaro KwikPen is designed to include an additional 0.6 ml of solution. The Wegovy FlexTouch pen has a different design, but does it contain enough fluid to constitute a golden dose?
Wegovy injection pens contain a tiny amount of excess medication. This accounts for small amounts lost during the priming process, in which the user checks the flow by expelling a drop of fluid from the needle. The extra solution included in each pen ensures that each administered dose is full.
However, the amount of residual fluid in a Wegovy pen isn’t enough to constitute a 5th dose. When people talk about a ‘golden dose,’ they are typically referring to Mounjaro pens. Unlike Wegovy pens, which only need priming before the first use, Mounjaro pens work differently and must be primed before every injection. Therefore, they contain a larger quantity of extra medicine to account for this.
If you'd like to find out more about the Wegovy dosage schedule, please check out our dedicated article.

There is not enough residual fluid in a Wegovy pen to constitute a complete 5th dose. Wegovy pens contain less excess medication than Mounjaro pens, which most people refer to when they talk about the ‘golden dose.’ Even if Wegovy pens contained a greater volume of extra solution, official guidelines instruct users to dispose of their pen after administering all the prescribed doses.
The reason for this is that attempting to extract and inject the leftover medicine carries serious safety risks. Breaking or damaging a Wegovy pen can introduce contaminants, such as pathogens, plastic, or even glass, into the medicine, increasing the risk of injury and infection. Those using the ‘golden dose’ also expose themselves to the danger of accidental under- or overdosing, as there is no way to accurately determine the quantity of medicine in the leftover fluid.
There is no 5th Wegovy dose, as the FlexTouch pen design doesn’t include enough extra solution to constitute a full dose. Some users report injecting the last few drops of fluid on top of their final prescribed dose in an effort to boost their weight loss results. Unfortunately, this practice carries a significant risk of accidental overdose.
Semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy) frequently causes gastrointestinal side effects, which are most common at the start of treatment and during dose increases. Injecting the residual solution in a Wegovy pen in addition to your prescribed dose can cause these side effects to flare up and can lead to severe nausea and vomiting.

Accidentally taking too much Wegovy can also lead to hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). This is a greater risk for people using other anti-diabetes medications alongside weight loss injections and, if severe, may require urgent medical attention.
Many Wegovy users notice that their spent pens still contain a small amount of fluid, and throwing this extra medicine away can seem like a waste. However, healthcare providers strongly advise against trying to extract the residual solution from an injection pen.
Tampering with or breaking a Wegovy pen can introduce bacteria and packaging fragments to the medicine. Attempting to extract the medicine with a syringe can also contaminate the solution and, potentially, lead to injection site infections. Official guidelines direct Wegovy users to dispose of used pens in a designated sharps container.
The Mounjaro KwikPen design includes up to 0.6 ml of additional solution to ensure each prescribed dose is full, even after small amounts are lost during priming. This quantity is greater than that included in the Wegovy FlexTouch pen, and is what people usually refer to when talking about a ‘golden dose.’
Mounjaro pens may contain enough fluid to constitute a ‘5th dose,’ but it is still not safe to extract or use the medicine. The pens are designed to deliver four complete doses, and the exact quantity of tirzepatide in any remaining solution is impossible to determine. Therefore, people who inject the excess fluid are vulnerable to accidental overdose.
Furthermore, the leftover fluid is not accessible unless the user tampers with or breaks the Mounjaro pen. This can introduce packaging fragments and other contaminants to the medicine, increasing the risk of infection.
As the price of weight loss injections rises, many users are seeking ways to reduce their treatment costs. You may have heard of the Mounjaro ‘golden dose,’ but the practice of extracting residual medicine is less commonly discussed among Wegovy users. This leads many to ask whether Wegovy pens contain a 5th dose, how much extra fluid they include, and whether they should try to inject it. We’ll examine the answers to these questions and more below.
Wegovy FlexTouch pens include 1.5 ml of solution, with each of the four prescribed doses containing 0.37 ml. Therefore, the pen has no more than 0.02 ml of extra medicine. This is nowhere near enough to constitute a full 5th Wegovy dose.
The ‘5th dose’ of Wegovy refers to the small amount of fluid left in the pen after the user has injected all four of the prescribed doses. It contains at most 0.02 ml of solution, which is far less than the 0.37 ml required to constitute a complete dose.
Some users report injecting these few drops of medicine on top of their last prescribed dose to increase weight loss. However, this method involves users taking more medicine than recommended by their prescribing clinician, which may lead to accidental overdose.
The amount of leftover medicine in a Wegovy pen is too small to form an additional dose, and it won’t enhance your weight loss results. Using the residual solution instead of your usual prescribed dose will not produce the same appetite-suppressing effects and may disrupt your weight loss progress.
Tampering with your Wegovy pen to extract excess solution can contaminate the medicine, potentially causing injury or infection if injected. Taking more medicine than prescribed can also lead to an accidental overdose, which may require urgent medical attention.
Taking too much semaglutide can cause severe nausea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration. It can also increase your risk of hypoglycemia, which can lead to serious health complications if left untreated.
Wherever you are on your weight loss journey, Prescription Doctor is here to help. Since 2013, we’ve supported countless individuals in achieving their goals, whether they’re just getting started or have already begun treatment elsewhere.
We’ve made it our mission to make accessing the healthcare you need as hassle-free as possible. With us, there’s no need for potentially lengthy waiting times or face-to-face appointments. Simply complete a brief online medical questionnaire, and our experienced clinicians will determine whether Wegovy is suitable for your circumstances. Once approved, your medication is dispatched from our General Pharmaceutical Council-registered dispensing pharmacy in plain packaging. Orders verified before 3pm on a weekday are also eligible for next-day delivery.
Our service doesn’t stop there, however, as our clinicians are also available to support you at every stage of your journey. They will regularly check in with you to keep an eye on progress and ensure your treatment schedule is working as planned. You can also contact us whenever you have any medical questions or require some advice.

In addition, our website has an extensive library of information about Wegovy injections, including what to eat while taking semaglutide, how much weight you could lose, and warnings about microdosing. We also compare Wegovy with other weight loss injections like Mounjaro and Nevolat and highlight customer reviews so you can make a more informed decision about whether the treatment is right for you.
Ready to get started? Begin a weight loss consultation with Prescription Doctor today.
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