Wegovy: the newest injectable weight loss medication

Wegovy is the newest weight loss medication to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As part of our series of articles about weight loss prescription drugs, we will look more closely at this latest addition to the market, to help you decide if Wegovy could be right for you.

If you are considering both Wegovy and phentermine, please have a look at our detailed comparison article.

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is an injectable weight loss medication that contains the active ingredient semaglutide.

It works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1. GLP-1 mimics incretin to help reduce the appetite ( 1 ). With a smaller appetite, it is easier to eat less and consequently lose weight.

Wegovy approval was granted by the FDA in 2021. It is prescribed for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more or those with a BMI of 27 or more and weight-related medical ailments. At a lower dose, semaglutide has been used since 2017 to treat patients with type 2 diabetes ( 1 ).

The medication is manufactured by Novo Nordisk, headquartered in Bagsværd, Denmark.

What does Wegovy look like?

Semaglutide is contained within the prefilled Wegovy pen. The dose is preset, and the needle is invisible.

Five different dose pens are available, as it takes up to 20 weeks to reach the full dose of 2.4mg. Each pen is a different color and labeled with its dose. You will need to use a new pen every time you inject ( 2 ).

How does it work?

By mimicking GLP-1, Wegovy works on areas within the brain that regulate our appetite and how much food we consume. It reduces hunger and increases the feeling of fullness. This makes it easier to eat less and therefore lose weight.

Wegovy is injected once a week, and in clinical trials, has been shown to lead to significantly greater weight loss than a placebo ( 3 ).

How much weight can I lose?

In people without diabetes, a 68-week trial reported that taking Wegovy 2.4mg led to an average weight loss of 17-18%.

Encouragingly, this weight loss was sustained during the trial, without tolerance to semaglutide occurring. A separate trial of adult diabetic patients showed weight loss of around 6.2% compared to those who took a placebo ( 1 , 3 ).

Prior to approval by the FDA, around 2,600 patients received treatment with Wegovy, with promising weight loss results observed overall ( 1 ).

How should I take Wegovy?

Wegovy is an injectable medication. The drug is increased on a dose-escalation schedule, with different pens containing a different dose of semaglutide.

When you start Wegovy, you should follow the dose-escalation schedule to avoid gastrointestinal side effects ( 4 ).

Week	Dose
Weeks 1-4	0.25mg
Weeks 5-8	0.5mg
Weeks 9-12	1mg
Weeks 13-16	1.7mg
Week 17 onwards	2.4mg

Wegovy must be kept refrigerated from 2^oC to 8^oC. The solution can be viewed in the pen’s window and should appear clear, colorless, and without any particles.

On your dosing day, you should inject the correct dose subcutaneously into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. The dose should be given once weekly on the same day each week, at any time of day. Always read the instructions to ensure you take the medication correctly ( 4 ).

Wegovy is approved for long-term treatment. While taking semaglutide, your doctor should complete regular reviews to ensure that Wegovy is aiding weight loss without causing side effects ( 1 )

Does Wegovy have side effects?

The most common side effects are gastrointestinal. In clinical trials, participants taking semaglutide noted nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, indigestion, belching, flatulence, reflux, and gastroenteritis. The gradual dose escalation schedule is designed to minimize these most common side effects ( 1 ).

Unfortunately, more serious adverse events can occur when taking Wegovy. These include:

• Pancreatitis
• Gallbladder disease
• Acute kidney injury
• Low blood sugar (particularly in diabetic patients)
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Increased heart rate
• Suicidal ideation or behavior.

If you have concerns prior to, or during, treatment with Wegovy, you must speak to your doctor ( 1 )

What should I avoid when taking Wegovy?

Wegovy has shown great promise, but it is not suitable for everyone. It is important to check whether the precautions and interactions associated with semaglutide affect you.

Precautions

Rarely, the Wegovy injection has been associated with thyroid cancer. If you (or someone in your family) have had thyroid cancer or have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) then you must not take Wegovy.

This medication must also not be used by anyone with an allergy to semaglutide or any other ingredient in Wegovy. If you have pancreatic or kidney disease, have diabetes, or have had suicidal ideation in the past, you must tell your prescriber.

Wegovy is not suitable for pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers ( 2 ).

Drug interactions

Wegovy may interact with insulin or sulfonylureas used to lower blood glucose levels in diabetics. If you have diabetes, your doctor may need to reduce your dose of anti-diabetic medications.

Wegovy may slow gastric emptying, affecting the absorption of any medications you take orally. Your doctor should assess whether this could be an issue for you.

Should you try Wegovy?

Wegovy has shown promise as a new, long-term weight loss medication. Patients benefit from reduced appetite and can lose a significant amount of weight. However, some people find the digestive side effects intolerable. Despite this, if you are looking for a long-term weight loss aid, Wegovy is certainly a medication you may wish to consider.

Before requesting Wegovy from your doctor, you may be interested to find out about other weight loss drugs available on prescription and over the counter.

You can also read our in-depth comparison of Wegovy vs phentermine.

FAQs

Wegovy vs. Ozempic: what’s the difference?

Ozempic and Wegovy are both injectable medications containing semaglutide. Ozempic contains 1mg semaglutide and is licensed for type 2 diabetes treatment, whereas Wegovy contains 2.4mg semaglutide and is only prescribed for obesity treatment ( 1 ).

Is Wegovy covered by insurance?

Some insurers may cover anti-obesity medications, including Wegovy. Call your individual provider to discuss this directly. Alternatively, other coverage options may be available ( 5 ).

What is the average Wegovy price?

Wegovy is a very new drug and is, therefore, expensive to purchase. At Push Health, the first four weeks of Wegovy (4x 0.25mg pens) cost $1420 ( 6 ).

Who can prescribe Wegovy?

You must consult a licensed medical provider to obtain a prescription for Wegovy. This medication cannot be obtained over the counter.