Wegovy is a well-liked once-weekly injectable drug that has been permitted for people who find themselves chubby or overweight.
For those who’ve been prescribed Wegovy, you might marvel how Wegovy helps folks to shed weight and what different results the treatment has on the physique.
This text will inform you what you must find out about Wegovy and weight reduction.
What’s Wegovy?
The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) permitted Wegovy in June 2021 for people who find themselves overweight or who’re chubby and have not less than one weight-related situation.
Wegovy’s is the model identify for Novo Nordisk’s model of the drug semaglutide—however Wegovy has the identical energetic ingredient as different medication like Ozempic.
Wegovy, and different semaglutide medication, are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
GLP-1 medicines are basically artificial variations of a naturally occurring hormone that works within the physique in quite a few methods without delay.
This hormone helps folks cut back the quantity of meals they eat by lowering their urge for food and by slowing down the digestive course of.
By delaying the emptying of meals out of your abdomen into your small gut, it lets you maintain feeling full for longer after every meal.
Wegovy additionally stimulates the pancreas to launch insulin and likewise slows down your liver’s manufacturing of glucagon.
These modifications are inclined to lower insulin resistance and decrease general blood sugar ranges.
General, the modifications assist individuals who wrestle with their weight or who’ve blood sugar ranges which might be often too excessive.
Wegovy is available in 5 totally different sizes of auto-injector pens with pre-measured doses starting from 0.25 milligrams (mg) as much as 2.4 mg.
Folks new to the drugs are prescribed a low dose which their physician steadily will increase over time.
It normally takes 17 weeks or extra to construct from the beginning dose to the utmost “upkeep” dose.
Injections of Wegovy are taken one time per week on a constant day and are usually not depending on meal schedules.
Will my physician prescribe Wegovy for weight reduction?
The FDA permitted Wegovy particularly to assist folks shed weight.
Its approval is for folks to make use of the drug if they’re both overweight or if they’re chubby with not less than one weight-related situation.
Typically talking, an individual must have a physique mass index (BMI) of 30 or extra with the intention to be prescribed Wegovy.
If an individual has a weight-related situation like hypertension, sleep apnea, or sure coronary heart circumstances, then a BMI of 27 or increased will usually be eligible too.
Some medical doctors do prescribe the treatment to people who find themselves chubby however wouldn’t have a weight-related situation.
Nonetheless, that is thought of to be an off-label objective—which means a prescription for somebody who wouldn’t usually be capable of get the drug or for a objective past the scope of the FDA’s approval.
Anecdotally, most medical doctors won’t prescribe Wegovy except you’ve struggled to shed weight by way of weight-reduction plan and train alone.
It’s additionally essential to notice that Wegovy is meant to be prescribed at the side of suggestions round consuming a reduced-calorie food regimen and directions for rising bodily exercise.
How a lot weight do folks lose on Wegovy?
Whereas everybody’s expertise is totally different, Wegovy has been demonstrated to assist folks to lose a substantial quantity of weight.
Wegovy suppresses the urge for food and slows down the digestive course of so folks taking it are inclined to eat much less with out feeling disadvantaged.
Reducing the quantity of glucose launched by the liver additionally helps to enhance metabolic well being.
Taken collectively, these modifications assist folks to shed weight.
Scientific trials demonstrated 85% of individuals taking the drug misplaced 5% or extra of their physique weight in comparison with those that weren’t taking it.
In comparison with different medication that had been obtainable traditionally, this can be a excessive degree of effectiveness.
Within the medical trial generally known as STEP 4, about 40% of the members taking the energetic ingredient in Wegovy misplaced 20% or extra of their physique weight whereas taking the treatment.
The most typical quantity of weight to lose was 10.6% of their pre-trial weight.
How a lot weight you’ll anticipate to lose additionally relies upon partly on how lengthy you’ve been taking the treatment.
How rapidly do you see weight reduction with Wegovy?
Weight reduction takes time—and many of the research of Wegovy are comparatively long-term.
The three main medical trials the FDA relied upon when reviewing Wegovy for approval examined weight reduction by way of 68 weeks.
For many medical trial members, weight reduction plateaued round 52 weeks (one yr) on the treatment.
Whereas a yr was about common to see most weight reduction, some folks reached this level earlier, and a few continued dropping pounds by way of the 68-week trial endpoint.
Nonetheless, some quantity of weight reduction can occur rapidly.
A medical trial confirmed that most individuals misplaced 6% of their beginning physique weight inside 12 weeks of beginning Wegovy when following food regimen and train suggestions.
By one yr on this trial, the common weight reduction was almost 16% of beginning physique weight.
It’s at all times a good suggestion to plan for the lengthy recreation when making an attempt to shed weight.
Nonetheless, Wegovy has proven good outcomes throughout quick, medium, and lengthy phrases.
Speak along with your physician earlier than beginning the treatment. They will inform you what to anticipate and the way lengthy it is perhaps earlier than it is best to anticipate outcomes.
How a lot Wegovy do you must take for weight reduction?
Scientific trials of people who find themselves chubby or overweight and start taking semaglutide—the energetic ingredient in Wegovy—skilled appreciable weight reduction at increased doses of the treatment.
Individuals who took the utmost 2.4 mg dose per week noticed their common physique weight drop by almost 15%, in comparison with simply 2.4% with a placebo.
This was regardless of each teams being given the identical steering to eat a restricted food regimen and get train.
Because of this, the really useful goal dose of Wegovy is 2.4 mg per week. It normally takes 17 weeks or so to work as much as this dose.
Different medical trials of semaglutide present that even decrease doses can result in weight reduction and produce other advantages.
Nonetheless, the permitted remedy modality of Wegovy is one in all “constructing” in direction of the utmost weekly dose of two.4 mg after which sustaining it over time.
The FDA advises medical suppliers to discontinue remedy with Wegovy if a affected person can’t tolerate the total 2.4 mg dose after constructing it over time.
Some folks will expertise nausea or digestive points on the most dose.
Docs might lower their dose briefly earlier than making an attempt to return as much as the two.4 mg dose, which has the strongest proof base for vital weight reduction.
Will I achieve the load again if I cease taking Wegovy?
Some weight reduction throughout Wegovy does seem like long-lasting, even should you cease taking the treatment.
Nonetheless, most individuals do regain a big quantity of weight after stopping Wegovy.
Analysis has proven that one yr after stopping remedy with the drug, most individuals will regain about two-thirds of the load that they misplaced whereas taking it.
So whereas Wegovy may be an essential weight reduction device, the drug must be paired with dietary modifications and elevated train to be maximally efficient.
For those who cease taking the treatment, it is best to anticipate to see some weight achieve.
Your physician, nutritionist, and different medical suppliers can provide you extra details about how beginning or stopping Wegovy may impression your weight and general well being.
What’s the largest dose of Wegovy for weight reduction?
The biggest weekly dose of Wegovy comes within the 2.4-milligram dose pen. This pen normally has a darkish grey label.
Whereas a physician would possibly prescribe extra “off-label” in some restricted circumstances, the biggest dose that’s at present obtainable is 2.4 milligrams per week.
Above this weekly dose, many individuals expertise extra noticeable negative effects.
All of the medical trials that led to Wegovy’s approval pointed to this 2.4 mg per week dose as being the best for weight reduction.
At this weekly dose, the common particular person loses greater than 10% of their beginning weight.
What’s the finest time to take Wegovy?
There isn’t any clinically demonstrated finest time of day to take Wegovy.
Somewhat, an important factor is to pick a day of the week and constantly take it on that very same day every week.
For those who determine to take Wegovy on a Monday, you’ll be able to take it any time of day—however it is best to plan to take your weekly dose of Wegovy every Monday for so long as you utilize the treatment.
Many individuals determine to put in writing the day of the week they take the drug on a calendar or on the field that their Wegovy pen is available in.
Cellphone reminders are additionally useful to ensure you don’t miss a dose.
What are the negative effects of Wegovy?
Many individuals who take Wegovy will expertise some negative effects.
The most typical negative effects are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdomen ache
- Constipation
- Heartburn
- Gasoline or bloat
- Tiredness
Some folks can even expertise hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), particularly in the event that they take insulin on the similar time.
It’s essential to concentrate on the signs of low blood sugar and know methods to act to right it.
Low blood sugar may be harmful if untreated, so be looking out for:
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Confusion
- Sudden modifications in your temper or notion
- Shakiness
- A quick heartbeat
- Any of the opposite signs of hypoglycemia
There are additionally uncommon—however extra severe—negative effects and problems that try to be conscious of:
- Thyroid tumors, together with most cancers
- Pancreatitis
- Adjustments in imaginative and prescient
- Kidney issues
- Psychological modifications or melancholy
- Severe allergic reactions
Speak along with your physician about potential negative effects.
They will reply the questions you will have about Wegovy and its potential dangers and advantages.
