How does Wegovy® work?
Wegovy is a prescription drug used for chronic weight management in overweight or obese adults who also have health problems related to their weight. It comes as a liquid solution inside of a single-dose pen. You inject it under your skin once per week.
This drug works by mimicking GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a hormone that stimulates the pancreas to release insulin and suppresses glucagon secretion, slowing gastric emptying. GLP-1 can also help regulate appetite by controlling blood sugar levels.
People taking Wegovy may eat fewer calories and lose weight over time. As a result, weight-related conditions may also improve when taking Wegovy. It’s most effective when used with a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and exercise.
Is Wegovy FDA approved?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Wegovy for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight adults with weight-related health problems in June 2021.
Prior to FDA approval, researchers studied Wegovy’s safety and effectiveness in four 68-week trials. Nearly 3,000 patients received Wegovy in these four studies, and the FDA determined it safe and helpful enough to approve it.
Is Wegovy effective for weight loss?
Based on four 68-week trials, the FDA determined Wegovy is a safe and effective way for overweight or obese people to lose weight and manage chronic health problems related to weight. Overall, more than 2,600 patients received Wegovy and more than 1,500 patients received placebo.
By the end of the first three trials, almost 80% of participants had lost at least 5% of their body weight from using Wegovy, and almost half the participants lost more than 15% of their body weight. Of the patients receiving a placebo, approximately one-third lost at least 5% of body weight and less than 10% of participants lost more than 15% of their body weight.
The medication is most effective when coupled with a calorie deficit (eating fewer calories than you burn) and routine exercise.
Your doctor can help you determine whether Wegovy is a good option for you.
What to avoid with Wegovy
Don’t take Wegovy if you’re allergic to semaglutide or any other ingredients in the drug. Your doctor may also recommend against Wegovy if you have certain health conditions or take any medications that can negatively interact with it.
To ensure Wegovy is effective, follow your prescriber and pharmacist’s instructions when you use it. Don’t use Wegovy if the injector pen is discolored or contains particles. Also avoid injecting Wegovy into skin with scars, stretch marks, bruises, tenderness, or redness.
Wegovy may result in dizziness, so it’s best to avoid substances that can also make you dizzy, such as alcohol or marijuana. If you feel dizzy or tired after taking Wegovy, avoid operating machinery or driving.
It’s possible Wegovy may pose harm to a fetus. Don’t attempt to get pregnant when taking Wegovy or for two months afterward, and tell your doctor immediately if you think you may be pregnant.
Side effects of Wegovy
As with other drugs, Wegovy may result in unwanted side effects. The most common side effects that occur with Wegovy include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Belly pain
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
- Gas
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
Your prescriber can help if Wegovy is causing bothersome side effects. Rarely, more serious side effects can occur when taking this drug. If you experience any signs of an allergic reaction after taking Wegovy, call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.
Dosages
Wegovy comes as a liquid solution in a pre-filled pen that you inject under the skin. It’s available in the following dosage strengths:
- 0.25 milligrams per 0.5 milliliters of liquid solution (0.25 mg/0.5 mL)
- 0.5 mg/0.5 mL
- 1 mg/0.5 mL
- 1.7 mg/0.75 mL
- 2.4 mg/0.75 mL
Typically, doctors prescribe Wegovy at a starting dose of 0.25/0.5 mL. Patients inject the dose once a week for four weeks.
Every four weeks, the dosage strength increases. By week 17, you may take a maintenance dose of Wegovy, which is 2.4 mg of Wegovy once every week.
Depending on your results and side effects, your doctor can help you determine how long to take Wegovy.
Interactions
Before you take Wegovy, tell your healthcare provider if you take any other medications or supplements. Certain drugs can negatively interact with Wegovy, reducing its effectiveness or causing unwanted side effects.
Drugs that interact with Wegovy include:
- Glimepiride (Amaryl)
- Glipizide (Glucotrol)
- Glyburide (Diabeta)
- Insulin glargine (Lantus, Toujeo)
- Insulin detemir (Levemir)
- Insulin degludec (Tresiba)
Notify your prescriber, too, if you take any oral medications (tablets, capsules, or liquids). Wegovy may affect the absorption of these medications.
Cost of Wegovy
The cost of Wegovy varies widely. The list price—or the cost of a drug without any discounts—for a 28-day supply of Wegovy is $1,349.02. If you don’t have health insurance, you may have to pay the full list price. But if you have health insurance, you could pay as little as $0 for a 28-day supply combined with their Wegovy Savings Offer.
How much you specifically will have to pay for Wegovy depends on several factors, such as your insurance, pharmacy, dosage strength, and how many pens you buy at a time. Like other drugs, Wegovy is generally more affordable with health insurance, but cost varies by plan. If you’d like to determine the exact price of Wegovy, a K Health provider can help. Your doctor will work with you and your insurance provider to try and make your plan as affordable and sustainable as possible.
Generic drugs usually cost less than brand-name ones; however, at this time, Wegovy isn’t available in generic form.
Buying Wegovy online can help reduce the cost. An online doctor can prescribe the drug, and you can fill it at an online pharmacy. The pharmacy can then deliver Wegovy to your home.
How much weight can you lose with Wegovy?
Approximately half the adults in the clinical trials lost 15% of more of their body weight, equal to roughly 35 pounds. And approximately one-third of participants lost 20% or more of their body weight, or about 46 pounds. Participants took Wegovy along with following a reduced-calorie meal plan and increasing their physical activity.
Wegovy Alternatives
Wegovy isn’t right for everyone, and you should consult your healthcare provider before starting or changing any medications, including diet pills and weight loss medication.
Below are some Wegovy alternatives to discuss with your doctor:
- Saxenda: Like Wegovy, Saxenda is a weekly self-administered injection for weight loss that can be covered by insurance.
- PhenQ: Available over the counter without a prescription, PhenQ is a twice-daily tablet that burns fat, prevents your body from storing excess fat, and suppresses your appetite.
- Zotrim: Also available over the counter without a prescription, Zotrim is an herbal appetite suppressant taken before each meal, up to 9 tablets a day.
How to take Wegovy
Wegovy is a self-administered injection medication. It should be injected under your skin (subcutaneously) in your upper arms, stomach (keep 2 inches away from belly button), or upper legs (front of thighs). You should take the medication on the same day each week, but it can be taken at any time, regardless of whether you’ve eaten or not.
Below is a summary of the injection steps, but you should consult the full Prescribing Information for complete instructions before use:
- Wash your hands and inspect the pen. Make sure there aren’t any breaks or cracks, and look through the pen window and verify that the medicine is clear and colorless.
- Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab or soap and water. You may inject into your upper arms, stomach (keep 2 inches away from belly button), or upper legs (front of thighs).
- Remove the pen cap and inject Wegovy by pushing the pen firmly against your skin. Keep applying pressure until the yellow bar has stopped moving (typically a few seconds).
- Throw away the pen in a sharps disposal container or heavy-duty plastic container with a lid.
