Wegovy

Wegovy is a prescription medication that contains semaglutide, a substance that mimics a natural hormone in your body. The FDA approved it in 2021 specifically for weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight with related health conditions. It comes as a once-weekly injection that you give yourself under the skin.

This medication is designed to work alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Wegovy is not a quick fix or a standalone solution. It helps your body feel fuller for longer periods and reduces hunger signals in your brain. Clinical studies showed that people taking Wegovy lost an average of 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks.

Wegovy belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. Your doctor will prescribe it only if you meet specific weight and health criteria. You must have a prescription to obtain Wegovy, and your healthcare provider will monitor your progress throughout treatment.

• Weight management in adults with a body mass index of 30 or greater, which is classified as obesity
• Weight management in adults with a body mass index of 27 or greater who have at least one weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol
• Reducing the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke in adults with obesity and established heart disease
• Weight management in adolescents aged 12 years and older with obesity

Wegovy works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 that your body naturally produces after eating. This hormone sends signals to several parts of your body to help control blood sugar and appetite. When you inject Wegovy, it activates GLP-1 receptors in your brain that control hunger and how full you feel. This makes you less hungry and helps you eat smaller portions.

The medication also slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach. This means you feel satisfied for a longer time after eating. Additionally, Wegovy helps your pancreas release the right amount of insulin when your blood sugar rises. These combined effects help you reduce your calorie intake naturally, which leads to weight loss over time when paired with healthy eating and exercise habits.

Wegovy comes in pre-filled injection pens with doses ranging from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg. Your doctor will start you at a low dose and gradually increase it over several months. The typical starting dose is 0.25 mg once weekly for the first month. The dose increases every 4 weeks until you reach the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once weekly, which usually happens around month 5. You inject Wegovy under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm on the same day each week. Your healthcare provider determines your specific dosing schedule based on how well you tolerate the medication and your weight loss progress.

• Nausea, especially when first starting or increasing doses
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain or upset stomach
• Headache
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Dizziness
• Injection site reactions like redness or itching

Serious side effects can occur and require immediate medical attention. These include severe stomach pain that does not go away, which may signal pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas. Vision changes, signs of kidney problems like decreased urination, rapid heartbeat, severe allergic reactions, and thoughts of suicide are also serious concerns. Wegovy has a boxed warning about thyroid tumors, including cancer, seen in animal studies. Tell your doctor immediately if you notice a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath.

• Insulin and other diabetes medications like sulfonylureas may cause low blood sugar when combined with Wegovy, requiring dose adjustments
• Oral medications may be absorbed differently because Wegovy slows stomach emptying, potentially affecting their effectiveness
• Birth control pills may be less effective due to delayed stomach emptying, so use backup contraception or non-oral methods
• Do not use Wegovy if you or a family member have had medullary thyroid cancer or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2
• Avoid using Wegovy with other GLP-1 receptor agonists or weight loss products without consulting your doctor
• Tell your doctor about all medications, including herbal supplements, before starting Wegovy

Your doctor will want to monitor several blood markers while you take Wegovy to ensure the medication is safe and working properly. Regular blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c tests are important, especially if you have diabetes or prediabetes, because Wegovy affects how your body handles glucose. Your healthcare provider may check these levels every 3 to 6 months to adjust your diabetes medications if needed and prevent low blood sugar episodes.

Lipid panels that measure cholesterol and triglycerides are also valuable to track. Weight loss often improves these numbers, and your doctor may adjust cholesterol medications accordingly. Kidney function tests and liver enzyme checks help ensure Wegovy is not causing stress to these organs. Some providers also monitor thyroid function and heart rate during treatment. Rite Aid offers blood testing services with over 200 biomarkers measured twice yearly, making it convenient to track glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and lipid levels while taking Wegovy.