What we’ll cover: 

• Simple solutions for common problems
• When to seek urgent help

Starting injectable weight management medications can feel daunting, so it’s important to give yourself time and space to understand how to do this. You will have been sent the patient information leaflet when you started medication. It is important that you review this in full before taking your first dose. 

In this article, we wanted to share a few simple tips to troubleshoot any potential issues you may experience with your pen and what to do if you think there is a problem. 

We recommend giving yourself some uninterrupted time to focus on your first injection. To make sure you have access to support if you need it, doing this on a weekday during working hours can be a good idea. This means we’ll be here to help if you need it. 

Many problems that patients experience with injectable weight management medications can be solved by following the simple steps and talking to a clinician. 

If you are concerned that your pen is faulty, please do not dispose of it. This is because our clinical team will need to review any pens with you on the call before a replacement can be issued.

1. Difficulty pushing down the dose button:

• This almost always means the needle isn’t attached properly. Do not try to force the button as this can damage the pen.
• Try:
  
  • Attaching a new needle (make sure it’s straight and secure).
  • Trying again to depress the button gently until the counter returns to 0.
  • This will ‘waste’ the medication that has already been dialled up, so remember to always dial up a ‘test dose’ or ‘priming dose’ before each injection. This is a small amount, used to check that the pen is working properly before dialling up the full dose. (see the manufacturer's guide and the instructional video for details on how to dial up a test dose for your pen)

Important:

• If the above instructions do not work and you think your pen is faulty, stop using it and send a message to your clinician in the conversation channel of your App. 
• If you are unable to access the app for any reason, you can contact our support team below.
  
  • If you are UK based: support.uk@roczen.com
  • If you are Malaysia based: support.my@roczen.com
• It is really important that you do not dispose of the pen as we will need to review it at your appointment to advise on next steps.
• Make sure you remove the needle after each injection, replace the pen lid, and store it in the fridge.

2. Remaining Medication: 

• You may notice that some medication is left in your pen, even after the fourth dose. This is normal. 
• This ‘extra’ medication is there for your priming or ‘test’ doses.. It is not equal to a full dose, so it is important not to use it as one. 

This means - if you have injected 4 doses, the pen is finished. Make sure you throw it away safely in your sharps bin.

Summary: 

Getting familiar with your new medication can take time, but with a few simple steps, you can build your confidence. The clinical team is always here to help with any questions you may have.