Wegovy for weight loss

Wegovy comes as a liquid solution inside a prefilled, single-dose injection pen. Wegovy belongs to a drug class called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. The medication is not available in a generic version.

Read on for more information about Wegovy as a weight-loss medication. You can also refer to this article for a comprehensive look at Wegovy and its other uses.

Using Wegovy for weight loss may cause mild or serious side effects.* The lists below include some of the main side effects that people using Wegovy have reported. For information about other potential side effects of the drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also see our article about Wegovy side effects or refer to Wegovy’s prescribing information.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a medication, it tracks and reviews side effects of the drug. If you develop a side effect while taking Wegovy and would like to inform the FDA, visit MedWatch.

* Wegovy is also approved to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems in certain adults. It’s important to note that side effects from Wegovy may differ depending on the condition it’s being used to treat.

Mild side effects

Like other medications, Wegovy can cause mild side effects. When the drug is used as a weight loss medication, mild side effects may include:

• abdominal pain
• bloating
• burping
• flatulence (gas)
• nausea
• indigestion
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation
• heartburn
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
• headache
• dizziness
• fatigue

These side effects of Wegovy may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if they last longer than this, bother you, or become severe, it’s important to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects can also occur with Wegovy. But in clinical studies, these weren’t common. Serious side effects reported with Wegovy include:

• increased heart rate
• hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level)
• kidney damage
• acute pancreatitis (sudden inflammation of the pancreas)
• gallbladder problems, such as gallstones
• eye problems, in people with type 2 diabetes
• changes in mood (including depression and suicidal thoughts)
• risk of thyroid cancer*
• allergic reaction†

Call your doctor right away if you develop serious side effects while using Wegovy. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

* Wegovy has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Before using Wegovy” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using Wegovy. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials.

Find the answers to some frequently asked questions about Wegovy.

Is Wegovy the strongest weight loss drug? How does it compare with other drugs used for weight loss?

Wegovy is used to help with weight loss and long-term weight management. Other drugs prescribed for this use include:

• liraglutide (Saxenda)
• phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia)
• naltrexone/bupropion (Contrave)
• orlistat (Xenical, Alli)

Wegovy and Saxenda are in the same class of drugs (glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists). These drugs act similarly to a hormone in your body that regulates your appetite. Both drugs are given as a subcutaneous injection. Saxenda is used daily, whereas Wegovy is used weekly. These drugs have similar side effects. The most common include digestive problems such as nausea, indigestion, and flatulence (gas).

Qysmia and Contrave both act on various chemical messengers in your brain. They work in different ways to suppress your appetite and reduce food cravings. Both are taken daily by mouth. Common side effects of both these drugs include insomnia, dizziness, and dry mouth.

Xenical and Alli reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs from meals. These drugs are taken with meals that contain fat, up to three times per day. Common side effects include frequent, sometimes uncontrollable bowel movements, oily stools, and gas.

All these drugs are considered to be effective for weight loss and long-term weight management. Wegovy is not “stronger” than these other medications, but it appears to be the most effective. Recent guidelines recommend that doctors consider prescribing Wegovy before other medications for long-term weight management.

In clinical trials, Wegovy was slightly less effective in people with type 2 diabetes. And it may not be suitable for everyone.

Note: You may be wondering how Ozempic compares with Wegovy. Ozempic isn’t FDA-approved to help with weight loss. But, doctors might prescribe it off-label for this use. This Ozempic for weight loss article has more details. You can also refer to this Ozempic vs. Wegovy article to see how these drugs compare.

To learn more about how Wegovy compares with other weight management drugs, talk with your doctor. They can help you determine the best treatment option for you.

How fast do you lose weight on Wegovy? How much weight can you lose per month?

Wegovy starts working as soon as you begin taking it. Your dosage is increased slowly, so it may take a few weeks before you start losing weight. How much weight you might lose per month may depend on your Wegovy dose, your diet, and your exercise habits.

In clinical trials, people who took Wegovy steadily lost weight over a 68-week period. In these trials, most people who took Wegovy lost at least 5% of their body weight over 68 weeks. And about half of the people who took Wegovy lost at least 15% of their body weight over this time.

Not everyone taking Wegovy will have the same experience with this drug.

To learn more about what you can expect while taking Wegovy, talk with your doctor.

Do I have to take Wegovy long term?

Yes, Wegovy is meant to be a long-term treatment to help you manage your weight. You’ll take it as part of a long-term treatment plan that includes following a low calorie diet and regular exercise.

If you have questions about using Wegovy long term, talk with your doctor.

The cost of Wegovy, including the cost per month, is based on several factors. These can include your prescribed treatment regimen, your insurance plan, the pharmacy you use, and your location.

Wegovy is a brand-name drug. It’s not currently available as a generic. Brand-name drugs usually cost more than generics.

To save money on your Wegovy treatment, explore these coupon options below.

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Where to buy Wegovy

If you think Wegovy could be a weight management option for you, talk with your doctor. They can determine whether Wegovy might be right for you and provide a prescription.

An easy way to purchase Wegovy is by using a telemedicine provider such as Calibrate or Ro. Through these services, a licensed telehealth professional will give you a health evaluation. If the evaluation shows that Wegovy could be helpful for you, the telehealth professional may provide an electronic prescription. You can then use this prescription to order the medication through the service’s site. After you start taking the medication, the service will provide coaching and other support to help you manage your weight.

If you get a Wegovy prescription through Calibrate or Ro, we encourage you to tell your doctor. It’s important that your doctor knows about all medications you take.

Wegovy is prescribed to help with weight loss and long-term weight management in:

• adults who are overweight and have a weight-related health condition
• adults and children 12 years and older who have obesity

Wegovy is meant to be used alongside a low calorie diet and increased physical exercise. Your doctor or nutritionist can help you create a diet and exercise plan that works for you.

It’s not known whether using Wegovy with other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, such as liraglutide (Saxenda), is safe or effective.

You can learn more about weight loss in our weight management hub.

Wegovy helps with weight loss and long-term weight management.

The way Wegovy works

Wegovy is a type of drug called a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It works by acting similarly to the action of a natural hormone in your body called GLP-1.

GLP-1 helps regulate your appetite and blood sugar levels. It produces the following effects:

• slowed movement of food from your stomach to your intestine, making you feel fuller after eating
• reduced appetite

Wegovy acts on the same sites in the brain as GLP-1. It produces the same effects as this hormone, which helps you consume fewer calories. Over time, this helps you lose weight and keep it off.

Clinical trials found Wegovy to be effective in helping long-term weight loss. Most people who took Wegovy in these trials lost at least 5% of their body weight over 68 weeks. And about half lost at least 15% of their body weight over this time.

In these trials, people who took Wegovy also had a reduced waist circumference and lowered blood pressure.

Note that in these trials, Wegovy was slightly less effective in people with type 2 diabetes.

To learn more about how Wegovy performed in clinical studies, see the drug’s prescribing information.

If lifestyle changes haven’t helped with weight management, several guidelines recommend using medications such as Wegovy to help with weight loss. The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recommends doctors consider prescribing semaglutide, in addition to lifestyle modifications, before other medications for the long-term management of obesity. Semaglutide is the active drug in Wegovy.

Wegovy comes as a liquid solution inside prefilled, single-dose injection pens. The pens are available in several different strengths.

Dosage

Your doctor will typically start you on a low dosage of Wegovy. This allows your body to get used to the medication and helps reduce the risk of digestive side effects. Your doctor will typically increase your dosage over time, as described in the table below. Doses are measured in milligrams (mg).

* Your doctor might prescribe a dose of 1.7 mg if you have intolerable side effects with a 2.4-mg dose.

How to use

Wegovy is given as a subcutaneous injection in your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.

Your doctor or another healthcare professional will teach you how to use a Wegovy pen to inject the medication yourself. You can also find instructions for using Wegovy on the manufacturer’s website. You can also refer to these detailed instructions for use.

How often to use

You should inject Wegovy once per week, on the same day each week. You can inject your dose at any time on that day.

Before you use Wegovy, there’s some important information to keep in mind. The drug may not be a safe option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health, including:

Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid cancer

Wegovy has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid cancer. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In animal studies, semaglutide (the active drug in Wegovy) caused thyroid tumors in rodents. However, animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans. It’s not known if Wegovy increases the risk of thyroid tumors in humans.

Due to this possible risk, your doctor will likely not prescribe Wegovy if:

• you or someone in your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma
• you have a rare condition that causes various types of tumors, called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)

While taking Wegovy, you should contact your doctor if you develop symptoms of thyroid cancer. These may include persistent hoarseness, trouble swallowing, talking, or breathing, or a lump in your neck.

Other warnings

In addition to boxed warnings, Wegovy has other warnings.

If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Wegovy:

• if you have kidney problems
• if you have type 2 diabetes, especially if you take insulin or a type of drug called a sulfonylurea, such as glipizide (Glucotrol)
• if you have a history of diabetic retinopathy (a complication of diabetes that affects your eyesight)
• if you have a history of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• if you have a history of suicidal thoughts or behavior
• if you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
• if you’re breastfeeding or thinking of breastfeeding
• if you’ve had an allergic reaction to Wegovy or any of its ingredients

Now that you’ve learned about Wegovy for weight loss, you may still have some questions. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out whether Wegovy might be right for you.

Here are some other helpful references:

• More details: For details about other aspects of Wegovy, refer to this article.
• Side effects: To learn more about the side effects of Wegovy, see this article. You can also look at Wegovy’s prescribing information.
• Dosage: For information about the dosage of Wegovy, view this article.
• Cost: If you’d like details on Wegovy and cost, refer to this article.
• Reproductive health: For information about Wegovy and pregnancy, breastfeeding, and birth control, refer to this article.
• Drug comparison: Learn how Wegovy compares with Mounjaro, Saxenda, and Ozempic.
• Interactions: For details about Wegovy’s possible interactions, refer to this article.
• Information about weight loss: For more information about weight loss, see our weight management hub. You can also refer to our exercise and fitness hub and nutrition hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.