wegovy – wegovy weight loss

 Wegovy If you need help losing weight, your doctor may recommend Wegovy treatment. It is a prescription medication used in conjunction with exercise and a low-calorie diet to achieve long-term weight loss in:

• adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (obesity)
• adults with a BMI of 27 or higher (which is considered overweight) and a health condition that’s related to weight
• children 12 years and older whose BMI is in the 95^th percentile or higher (which is considered obesity)

Wegovy has limitations on its use for weight management. To learn more, see “Is Wegovy used for weight loss and weight management?” below.

Wegovy basics

The active drug in Wegovy is semaglutide. It belongs to a group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Wegovy isn’t currently available as a generic.

Wegovy comes as a liquid solution in a prefilled, single-dose pen. You’ll give Wegovy as an injection under your skin.

In this article, you’ll learn more about Wegovy, including the drug’s uses, side effects, and more.

What are Wegovy’s side effects?

Like most drugs, Wegovy may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects of Wegovy. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

• your age
• other health conditions you have
• other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Wegovy. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Wegovy can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Wegovy’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Wegovy that have been reported include:

• bloating or pain in the belly area
• burping
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• gas
• headache
• indigestion, heartburn, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• fatigue (low energy)
• stomach flu
• vomiting
• constipation*
• nausea*

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Wegovy can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Wegovy, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Wegovy that have been reported include:

• gallbladder problems, including gallstones or gallbladder inflammation (swelling and damage)
• increased heart rate
• low blood sugar
• pancreatitis (swelling and damage in your pancreas)
• boxed warning: risk of thyroid cancer*
• allergic reaction*