How to Use the Semasize, Obeda and Semaglyn Pens: Indian Generic Semaglutide, Step by Step
The Indian generic semaglutide pens from Alkem, Dr. Reddy's and Zydus work like Ozempic's: you dial the dose, prime with a flow check, and hold for six seconds. Here is the routine, the dose-dial mistakes that matter most, and how to handle the reusable cartridge pen at higher doses.
ALTRcare Medical Team
Clinical Editorial
Since March 2026 most new semaglutide patients in India are on a generic pen: Alkem's Semasize, Dr. Reddy's Obeda, Zydus's Semaglyn, or one of the other DCGI-approved brands. The molecule is the same as Ozempic and Wegovy. The pen is the Ozempic-style multi-dose design with a dial, which means one extra step compared with the Mounjaro KwikPen, and one extra way to get it wrong. This is the routine, dial included.
Two pen types
Alkem sells Semasize as a disposable pre-filled pen for starter doses and a reusable pen with replaceable cartridges for higher doses. Obeda and Semaglyn are pre-filled. The injection steps are the same; the reusable pen adds a cartridge change, covered below.
Know your dose before you touch the dial
Semaglutide is stepped up: 0.25 mg for four weeks, 0.5 mg for four weeks, then 1 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg as your doctor decides. The dial on the pen shows the dose in mg, and a pen of one strength can deliver more than one dose. So the number on the dial must match the number your doctor gave you for that week, not the number on the box. Write the current dose on a sticky note on the fridge. Most dosing errors we see are a patient dialling the box strength instead of the prescribed dose.
Before the first dose from a new pen
- 1Out of the fridge 15 to 30 minutes early; a cold injection stings.
- 2Check the label against your prescription and the expiry date. Look through the window: the liquid should be clear and colourless.
- 3Wash your hands. Choose a site: abdomen 5 cm from the navel, front of thigh, or back of upper arm. Rotate weekly.
- 4Attach a new pen needle (4 mm, 32G is standard). Pull the paper tab, screw on straight, remove the outer cap and keep it, remove the inner cap and discard.
The flow check
Do this once with every new pen, before the first dose from it. Turn the dial to the flow-check symbol (a small dot or line before the first dose mark, depending on brand). Hold the pen needle-up, tap so bubbles rise, and press the button fully. A drop should appear at the tip. If not, repeat up to six times. If there is still no drop, change the needle and try again; if still nothing, the pen is faulty and should not be used. You do not repeat the flow check for later doses from the same pen.
The injection
- 1Turn the dial to your prescribed dose. It clicks. Check the number in the window twice. If you go past, turn back; you will not lose medicine.
- 2Clean the site with an alcohol swab and let it dry.
- 3Insert the needle straight in at 90 degrees. No pinch needed with a 4 mm needle unless you are lean.
- 4Press the button fully and hold for a slow count of six. The dial turns back to 0 as the dose goes in. Keep holding after it reaches 0; the six seconds are for the last of the medicine to leave the needle.
- 5Withdraw. A drop at the site is normal. Confirm the window shows 0.
- 6Remove the needle with the outer cap and drop it in a sharps container or a hard, lidded plastic bottle. Cap the pen. Never store a pen with the needle on; it lets air in and medicine out.
Changing a cartridge on the reusable Semasize pen
- 1Unscrew the cartridge holder from the pen body. Remove the empty cartridge.
- 2Check the new cartridge's label and expiry. Insert it with the metal cap end first, then screw the holder back on until it stops.
- 3Attach a new needle and do the flow check; a new cartridge always needs one.
- 4Store the assembled pen in the fridge between doses, needle removed.
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Dialling the box strength instead of the prescribed dose | A 0.25 mg patient injects 0.5 or 1 mg; nausea, vomiting | Sticky note on the fridge with this week's dose; check the window twice |
| Skipping the flow check on a new pen | First dose is short | Flow check until a drop appears, once per pen or cartridge |
| Letting go before six seconds | Medicine left in the needle every week | Count to six after the dial reaches 0 |
| Leaving the needle on the pen | Air enters, medicine leaks, dose accuracy drops | Remove after every injection |
| Injecting cold | Stinging, bruising | 15 to 30 minutes out of the fridge |
| Same site weekly | Lumps, slower absorption | Rotate abdomen and thighs |
Storage
Unopened pens and cartridges: fridge, 2 to 8°C, middle shelf, not the door. In use: most Indian generic semaglutide pens can be kept at room temperature below 30°C for up to 56 days, but confirm the figure on your brand's leaflet, and in summer keep the pen refrigerated between doses regardless. Never freeze. Travel with an insulated pouch and a gel pack, in cabin baggage.
Missed or partial doses
- Missed a dose: take it within 5 days of the scheduled day. Beyond 5 days, skip it and take the next dose on the normal day. Never take two doses within 2 days of each other.
- Dial did not return to 0: the dose was partial. Note the number, do not top up, and message your doctor.
- Leaked at the site: a drop is normal. A visible run means the hold was short; carry on with the next dose as scheduled.
Starting a generic semaglutide pen?
ALTRcare patients get their first injection walked through live and can message their doctor any time. Not a patient yet? Take the free assessment and book a consultation.
Key takeaways
- Dial the dose your doctor prescribed for this week, not the strength printed on the box.
- Flow check once per new pen or cartridge; hold for six seconds after the dial reaches 0.
- New needle every time, remove it after injecting, rotate sites, fridge in summer.
- Missed dose: within 5 days take it, otherwise skip; never double up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set the dose on the Semasize pen?
Turn the dial until the number in the window matches the dose your doctor prescribed for that week, such as 0.25 or 0.5. If you overshoot, turn back. Check the window twice before injecting.
Do I need to prime Semasize every time?
Do a flow check once when you start a new pen or a new cartridge, until a drop appears. Later doses from the same pen do not need it.
Are Semasize, Obeda and Semaglyn used the same way?
Yes. All three are dial-type multi-dose semaglutide pens with the same flow check, dial, six-second hold and storage rules. Only the flow-check symbol and room-temperature limit differ slightly by brand.
How long can generic semaglutide stay out of the fridge?
Once in use, most brands allow up to 56 days below 30°C. In Indian summer keep it refrigerated between doses. Never freeze it.
What if I injected the wrong dose?
Do not inject again. Note what the dial showed, and message your doctor. A single higher dose usually causes nausea for a few days rather than harm, but the doctor decides the next step.
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This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. GLP-1 medications are prescription-only and not suitable for everyone. Always consult a qualified doctor before starting, changing, or stopping any treatment.
