Last updated: 15-08-2024
Wegovy is a prescription drug that helps people lose excess weight. It works by mimicking a gut hormone, making you feel full sooner. This means you eat less and so lose weight over time.
This article will explain how Wegovy works and how effective it is. It will tell you how to use it and how it can help you to lose weight.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is an injectable weight loss drug. It was approved by the FDA in 2021. In the UK, the MHRA certified Wegovy to treat obesity and weight loss in 2023. Over 87% of people who have taken it have lost at least 10% of their body weight.
Wegovy can also help treat related conditions such as diabetes, cardiac arrest and high blood pressure.
How does Wegovy work?
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy. It works by mimicking the gut hormone called GLP-1. This hormone sends appetite control signals to the brain, making you feel fuller for longer. This helps you eat less and lose weight over time.
Wegovy also increases the amount of energy you expend and the number of calories you burn. It does so through ketosis. Wegovy adjusts your metabolism to make it easier for your body to lose weight. This makes it a good long-term treatment for weight loss.
How to take Wegovy
Wegovy is given once a week, through an injection under the skin. This is known as a subcutaneous injection. Patients start at a low dose of 0.25 mg to allow their body to adjust to the drug. This is gradually increased over 16 to 20 weeks until reaching the maximum recommended level (2.4 mg). Slowly increasing the dose helps to watch for and reduce side effects.
Patients can inject Wegovy at home, but this should be done under medical supervision. At Click Pharmacy, our expert team will guide you on how to take the correct Wegovy dosage and how to inject it properly.
Follow these guidelines if you are planning to give the injections yourself:
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Inject into areas with fatty tissues, such as the abdomen, thighs or upper arms.
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Avoid injecting skin that has blemishes, bruising, redness or hardness.
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Never inject Wegovy into a vein or muscle.
So that you give the full dose:
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Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab, soap or water, and let it dry.
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Pull the cap off the pen and push the needle cover firmly against the skin.
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Press the pen until the yellow bar stops moving and you hear two clicks.
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Continue pressing until the yellow bar stops moving. This takes five to 10 seconds after the first click.
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Lift the pen off your skin.
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Press a cotton ball or gauze pad to the site if there is bleeding.
How long does it take for Wegovy to work?
Wegovy normally starts working after two weeks. You will feel fuller for longer periods after the second or third dose. Within eight to 12 weeks after starting Wegovy, you should start to notice weight loss results.
It may take a little longer to see results if you have a medical condition. If you don’t lose weight after taking Wegovy for six months, talk to your doctor.
Does Wegovy work for everyone?
Studies show that Wegovy has better results than other weight loss medicines.
Patients in a 68-week trial lost around 17% of their body weight. In a 104-week trial, 68% of patients lost around 5% of their body weight. Only 21% of patients on a placebo lost the same amount. In other studies, patients lost 15–18%, while some patients lost up to 25%.
All of these trials lasted longer than a year. This suggests that Wegovy is a good long-term way to help people lose weight.
How is Wegovy injection different from other weight loss medications?
There are other weight management solutions on the market. Here we compare Wegovy against other weight loss treatments.
Wegovy vs Mounjaro
Mounjaro is approved by the FDA to treat type 2 diabetes. It hasn’t been approved for weight loss, but it can be prescribed for this purpose. Mounjaro and Wegovy both work by controlling hunger signals and reducing food cravings.
Wegovy vs Saxenda
The active ingredient in Saxenda is liraglutide. Saxenda is given daily, while Wegovy is given once a week. Studies suggest that Wegovy works better than Saxenda.
Wegovy vs Ozempic
Semaglutide is the main active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. Wegovy is used for weight loss management, while Ozempic helps treat type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is given at lower dosages than Wegovy, which means it isn’t as good for weight loss.
Wegovy clinical trials
Clinical trials have shown that Wegovy has many positives. Here are some key findings from these trials:
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Patients lose around 15% of their starting body weight when they take Wegovy for a year.
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The expected weight loss with regular use over a year is between 9.7 kg and 15.3 kg.
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Around 30% of patients on Wegovy lost 20% or more of their body weight.
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Wegovy can also treat heart health and body functions.
What to eat while on Wegovy
Wegovy works best when taken with a balanced diet. We advise the following:
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Eat lean meats like skinless chicken breast or turkey, making sure you remove any visible fat.
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Choose low-fat dairy products such as semi-skimmed milk, reduced-fat cheese or low-fat butter.
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Drink less alcohol to lower the number of calories you consume.
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Avoid snacking between meals. Sticking to a regular meal plan will help you track and control the number of calories you take in.
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Eat foods that have lots of nutrients, such as fruits and vegetables.
Side effects of Wegovy
Like other medicines, Wegovy may have some side effects. Most of these are common and may appear in the first few months. Talk to your doctor if they don’t go away with regular use.
Common side effects of wegovy
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Nausea
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Dizziness
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Stomach pain
Long-term side effects
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Pancreatitis
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Thyroid cancer
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Low blood sugar
Conclusion
Wegovy is a very good treatment for weight loss. It has been approved by both the FDA and MHRA. It mimics the GLP-1 hormone, which helps to control appetite. This means you feel fuller and consume fewer calories. As a result, you are more likely to lose weight.
References
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/05/13/health/wegovy-trial-analysis/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-wegovy-vs-mounjaro