Wegovy is a comparatively new medicine that’s authorized by the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) to deal with weight problems.
It has grown in reputation and is changing into a typical injectable medicine to assist folks drop a few pounds.
This text will clarify every part you might want to learn about Wegovy and if it’s applicable for you.
What’s Wegovy?
Wegovy is a brand-name medicine with the lively ingredient semaglutide. It’s produced by Novo Nordisk.
Wegovy falls underneath the drug class of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists.
It helps folks in quite a lot of methods, together with:
- Higher blood sugar degree administration
- Decrease A1C ranges
- Improved insulin sensitivity
- Combating insulin resistance
- And weight reduction
Nevertheless, it’s only authorized as a weight reduction drug and isn’t thought of a diabetes medicine.
It’s an injectable medicine, accessible solely by prescription and administered as soon as weekly.
Different GLP-1 agonists embody Ozempic, Victoza, Saxenda, and Trulicity.
What are the advantages of Wegovy?
There are numerous advantages to taking Wegovy, together with:
Weight reduction
Wegovy is proven to assist help in substantial weight reduction.
In research, Wegovy causes weight reduction in sufferers by reducing urge for food and slowing digestion.
By doing so, it stops the liver from releasing glucagon and prevents spikes in blood sugar ranges whereas bettering insulin sensitivity.
In a single examine, grownup individuals taking Wegovy misplaced 15% of their beginning weight on common.
In a separate examine, adolescents taking Wegovy misplaced 16% of their beginning weight on common.
Improved insulin sensitivity
Wegovy improves blood sugar ranges, A1C, and insulin sensitivity.
The STEP 2 trial checked out Wegovy’s results on blood sugars and A1Cs in individuals who have kind 2 diabetes.
The researchers discovered that individuals taking the medicine not solely misplaced weight however noticed statistically vital enhancements of their blood sugars and A1C ranges as properly.
Even when you don’t have diabetes or prediabetes, taking Wegovy will help insulin resistance and enhance your blood sugar ranges.
This might delay and even forestall the event of diabetes sooner or later.
Decrease cardiovascular threat
Semaglutide (the lively ingredient in Wegovy) has been confirmed to cut back the danger of main coronary heart assault, stroke, or loss of life in adults with kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness.
Within the examine, semaglutide-treated sufferers lowered their threat of cardiovascular loss of life, coronary heart assault, and stroke by 26%!
Why would you be prescribed Wegovy?
Wegovy is FDA-approved as a therapy for weight problems, weight reduction, and power weight administration. It could decrease blood sugar ranges and enhance A1C, however Wegovy will not be a diabetes medicine.
Not everybody who desires to take Wegovy will have the ability to get a prescription.
Folks should meet sure physique mass index (BMI) standards to change into eligible for Wegovy, together with individuals who have a BMI of 30 or increased.
You may additionally qualify for Wegovy in case your BMI is 27 and you’ve got a number of weight-related medical circumstances, reminiscent of excessive ldl cholesterol, hypertension, or kind 2 diabetes.
Wegovy is authorized for power weight administration in folks 12 years and older.
To qualify for Wegovy, the adolescent will need to have a BMI at or above the 95 percentile for his or her age and intercourse.
Individuals who don’t qualify for Wegovy could qualify for an additional GLP-1 medicine like Ozempic. Particularly in the event that they dwell with kind 2 diabetes and are combating insulin resistance.
Speak together with your physician when you’re interested in taking Wegovy or Ozempic.
What are the unintended effects?
Many individuals expertise gentle to reasonable unintended effects when taking Wegovy, particularly once they first begin taking the medicine.
These widespread unintended effects embody:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdomen ache
- Constipation
- Weight reduction
- Low blood sugar, when you take insulin
Though uncommon, extra extreme issues could embody:
- Thyroid tumors, together with most cancers
- Pancreatitis
- Adjustments in imaginative and prescient (worsening of diabetic retinopathy)
- Kidney issues
- Critical allergic reactions
A number of of those extra extreme unintended effects can result in well being issues and loss of life.
Name your physician or search emergency medical consideration when you:
- Develop a fever
- Expertise modifications or worsening of your imaginative and prescient
- Really feel weak or in ache after taking the medicine
- Assume it’s possible you’ll be having an allergic response to the medicine
Search emergency medical consideration when you’re experiencing extreme low blood sugar ranges and you can’t maintain sugar down within the type of meals or drinks.
Extreme low blood sugar could be deadly if not handled rapidly.
What’s the right dose?
There are numerous completely different Wegovy doses accessible.
The quantity you’re taking will rely upon a couple of components, together with your top and weight, well being targets, life-style, and well being historical past.
Wegovy comes within the following doses:
- A Wegovy pen for giving a 0.25 mg weekly dose (for the beginning of therapy)
- A Wegovy pen for giving a 0.50 mg weekly dose
- A Wegovy pen for giving a 1 mg weekly dose
- A Wegovy pen for giving a 1.7 mg weekly dose
- A Wegovy pen for giving a 2.4 mg weekly dose (the utmost weekly dose)
Every pen operates the identical because the others, the one distinction between them being the completely different pre-measured dosing sizes.
Every pen is designed to provide solely a single weekly dose.
By no means take extra Wegovy than you’re prescribed. Should you overdose on Wegovy, it’s possible you’ll expertise adversarial unintended effects.
How a lot Wegovy ought to I take?
Your physician will enable you to decide the correct dose of Wegovy for you. It’ll fluctuate relying in your well being historical past, targets, life-style, top, and weight.
There isn’t a “typical” or “regular” dose.
The FDA’s approval is for sufferers to start out with a low dose of 0.25 mg per week and progressively escalate over time till they obtain desired weight reduction or weight upkeep.
The utmost weekly dose is 2.4 mg, administered as soon as per week.
That is the dose that the majority sufferers will finally attain, relying on their tolerance of the medicine, the efficacy of therapy, and the severity of the unintended effects they’re experiencing.
What occurs if I take an excessive amount of Wegovy?
By no means take Wegovy greater than as soon as per week.
Nevertheless, when you by accident take an excessive amount of Wegovy, it’s possible you’ll expertise adversarial unintended effects reminiscent of:
- Debilitating nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdomen ache
- And even low blood sugar—particularly when you’re additionally on insulin which may change into deadly if not handled instantly.
Name your physician or search emergency medical consideration instantly when you’ve by accident taken an excessive amount of Wegovy.
I missed a dose of Wegovy. What now?
That is fully okay, and lacking a dose of Wegovy each from time to time won’t hurt you, make you achieve weight, or worsen your blood sugar ranges.
Nevertheless, Wegovy is only when it’s taken persistently.
Should you miss a dose of Wegovy, it’s okay to take it a couple of days late.
Nevertheless, when you missed your dose greater than 5 days in the past, simply skip that week’s dose and take your often scheduled dose on time.
How one can inject Wegovy
Verify your Wegovy pen earlier than injecting. If there are any particles or discoloration current within the medicine, don’t use the pen. It could have expired or the medicine could have gone unhealthy.
Earlier than injecting, clear the injection website with rubbing alcohol.
Rotate injection websites every week to stop accidents and the event of scar tissue.
Wegovy is often injected underneath the pores and skin within the thigh, stomach, or higher arm.
Speak to your physician about the perfect locations so that you can inject and the best way to rotate injection websites.
Who shouldn’t take Wegovy?
Don’t take Wegovy until you’ve been prescribed the medicine.
It isn’t really useful to be used in case you are pregnant, planning on changing into pregnant, or in case you are breastfeeding.
Don’t use Wegovy (or some other medicine containing semaglutide) when you or any of your loved ones members have ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or when you’ve got A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome kind 2 (MEN 2).
Don’t use Wegovy in case you are allergic to semaglutide.
Should you’re occupied with attempting a GLP-1 agonist however you’re allergic to semaglutide, it’s possible you’ll go for Victoza—whose lively ingredient is liraglutide.
How can I cease taking Wegovy?
Chances are you’ll want to cease taking Wegovy for a lot of causes, and that’s tremendous. Nevertheless, you’ll not wish to cease the medicine chilly turkey.
Be sure you discuss together with your physician earlier than stopping any diabetes medicine, together with Wegovy. Your physician will in all probability need you to wean your dose as an alternative of stopping therapy abruptly.
Insulin resistance, meals cravings, blood sugar ranges, and weight could creep again up when you cease taking Wegovy.
On common, folks achieve again about 2/3rds of the load they initially misplaced one 12 months after stopping therapy with GLP-1 medicines containing semaglutide.
Chances are you’ll want to discuss to your physician about an alternate medicine, train, or weight loss program plan to assist fight any rebound results it’s possible you’ll expertise when you resolve to cease taking Wegovy.
Does Wegovy substitute insulin?
No. Should you take Wegovy and also you’re insulin-dependent, you can’t cease taking your insulin when you begin this weekly injection.
Your blood sugar ranges could also be decrease over time, however in contrast to insulin, Wegovy doesn’t trigger acute low blood sugar ranges.
Should you usually take insulin for diabetes administration, you have to to proceed to take action.
Should you’ve been on Wegovy for a number of months, it’s possible you’ll discover that your insulin wants are progressively reducing, however this hardly ever, if ever, fully takes away the necessity to take insulin.
How do I retailer Wegovy?
Ideally, Wegovy must be saved within the fridge between 36°F to 46°F within the unique field to guard it from gentle.
It may be used for as much as 56 days after opening.
If wanted, it may be saved exterior the fridge with the pen cap nonetheless on for as much as 28 days (between 46°F to 86°F.)
By no means freeze your Wegovy pens or put them in direct daylight or excessive warmth.
How do I get a prescription for Wegovy?
Speak to your physician when you want to get a prescription for Wegovy.
Your physician ought to have the ability to write you a prescription to attempt the medicine when you meet the BMI necessities or are chubby and have a qualifying power situation.
If you don’t qualify for Wegovy however wish to drop a few pounds, your physician might be able to advocate different FDA-approved weight reduction medicines which may be a greater match for you.
Can I take Wegovy with my diabetes medicines?
This may rely upon what your different diabetes medicines are.
Wegovy shouldn’t be mixed with some other GLP-1 medicines reminiscent of Ozempic, Victoza, Trulicity, or Mounjaro.
The lively ingredient semaglutide could be taken together with metformin, insulin, or different medicines. Simply be sure you ask your physician earlier than doing so.
Lastly, be certain that your physician is aware of of each different medicine you’re taking earlier than beginning Wegovy.
