Wegovy

Wegovy is a once-weekly injection containing the active ingredient semaglutide, a medicine in the GLP-1 receptor agonist class.

Wegovy is used, together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, for chronic (long-term) weight management in adults living with obesity, or who are overweight with at least one weight-related health problem. In adults with established heart disease who are overweight or obese it may also help reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events.

Wegovy supports clinically meaningful weight loss and helps maintain weight reduction long term when combined with diet and exercise. In eligible people with heart disease it can also reduce cardiovascular risk.

Semaglutide acts like the natural appetite hormone GLP-1. It works on areas of the brain that regulate appetite, helping you feel fuller and eat less, and it slows stomach emptying. It also helps regulate blood sugar by stimulating insulin and reducing glucagon in a glucose-dependent way.

Wegovy is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm once a week, with or without food. The dose is increased step by step over several months to reduce stomach side effects, usually starting at 0.25 mg weekly and building up to a maintenance dose of 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg weekly as directed by your prescriber.

The most common side effects are digestive: nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation are very common, along with tummy pain, headache, tiredness, indigestion, dizziness and burping. These are usually mild to moderate and tend to settle over time.

Like other GLP-1 medicines, this medicine carries a boxed warning about the risk of thyroid C-cell tumours (including medullary thyroid carcinoma, MTC). These tumours were seen in rodent studies; the relevance to humans is not established. Do not use Wegovy if you or a family member have had medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2, or if you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide. Seek urgent advice for severe, persistent tummy pain (possible pancreatitis). Tell your prescriber about any new or worsening low mood or thoughts of self-harm.

Use with caution if you have a history of pancreatitis, gallbladder disease (rapid weight loss can increase gallstone risk), diabetic retinopathy, kidney problems, or severe stomach-emptying problems (gastroparesis). It is not recommended in pregnancy. If you have diabetes and use insulin or a sulfonylurea, watch for low blood sugar and discuss dose changes with your prescriber.

Store pens in a refrigerator at 2-8°C; do not freeze. Before the cap is removed, a pen can be kept at 8-30°C for up to 28 days. Protect from light and keep in the original carton until use. Discard the pen after use.

If your next scheduled dose is more than 2 days (48 hours) away, take the missed dose as soon as possible. If it is less than 2 days away, skip it and continue on your usual day. If 2 or more doses in a row are missed, contact your prescriber, as restarting with the step-up schedule may be recommended.