General Information
Manufacturer: Novo Nordisk
Medical Name: Semaglutide
Purpose: Wegovy is an injectable prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity: to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight. that may help adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity
Possible Side Effects
| Side Effect | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| Nausea | 44% |
| Diarrhea | 30% |
| Vomiting | 24% |
| Constipation | 24% |
| Abdominal (stomach) pain | 20% |
| Headache | 14% |
| Fatigue (tiredness) | 11% |
| Dyspepsia (indigestion) | 9% |
| Dizziness | 8% |
| Abdominal distension (bloating) | 7% |
| Eructation (burping) | 7% |
| Flatulence (gas) | 6% |
| Gastroenteritis (stomach flu) | 6% |
| Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) | 6% |
| Gastroesophageal reflux disease (heartburn) | 5% |
| Hair loss | 3% |
Serious but Less Common Side Effects
| Side Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Thyroid C-cell tumors, including cancer | Seen in rodent studies; a "Boxed Warning" (FDA's most prominent warning) is included in prescribing information. It is not known if this occurs in humans. |
| Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) | Can cause severe, persistent abdominal pain radiating to the back, with or without vomiting. Occurs in less than 1% of patients. |
| Gallbladder problems (gallstones or inflammation) | Symptoms include upper stomach pain, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools. Occurred in about 1.6% of patients in clinical trials. |
| Acute kidney injury | May be caused by severe dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea. |
| Severe allergic reactions | Symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, severe rash, or a very rapid heartbeat. |
| Increased heart rate | Mean increases in resting heart rate have been observed in clinical trials. |
| Changes in vision | Complications of diabetic retinopathy can occur in patients with type 2 diabetes. |
| Depression or thoughts of suicide | Unusual mood changes or suicidal thoughts/behavior have occurred. |
Preconditions and Warnings
- Wegovy (semaglutide) is contraindicated in individuals with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
- It should also not be used if a patient has had a prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or any of the other ingredients in Wegovy.
- Other important preconditions and situations that may preclude or require caution for Wegovy use include:
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: Wegovy is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, as it may cause fetal harm, and should be discontinued at least two months before a planned pregnancy.
- History of pancreatitis: Use with caution in patients with a history of inflammation of the pancreas, as Wegovy may increase the risk of developing it again.
- Severe gastrointestinal disease: It is not recommended for patients with severe gastroparesis or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to its mechanism of delaying gastric emptying, which can worsen symptoms.
- Diabetic retinopathy: Patients with a history of this diabetes-related eye condition should be monitored, as rapid improvements in blood sugar control can temporarily worsen retinopathy.
- Kidney problems: Use with caution in patients with renal impairment, and kidney function should be monitored, especially if experiencing severe gastrointestinal side effects leading to dehydration.
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviors: Patients should be monitored for depression or suicidal ideation, and the drug should be discontinued in patients who develop these symptoms.
- Concomitant use with other weight management products or GLP-1 agonists: Wegovy should not be used with other semaglutide products (like Ozempic) or other GLP-1 receptor agonists (like Saxenda or Mounjaro).
- Planned surgery: Wegovy delays gastric emptying, which can pose a risk of pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia. Patients should inform their healthcare providers of any planned surgeries or procedures.