It comes as a liquid solution that you self-inject just below the skin once weekly for obesity.
Wegovy works by slowing therate at which food moves through the stomach, known as gastric emptying.
Ultimately, this results in decreased calorie intake, promoting weight loss.
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Many factors can lead to weight gain and obesity.
Diet and physical activity routines have a significant impact.
Sleep habits, medications, and other medical conditions may also affect body weight.
Making diet changes and increasing your exercise routine is usually adequate for reducing body weight.
However, lifestyle changes arent enough in some cases.
In certain situations, a healthcare provider may prescribe a medication to work alongside those lifestyle changes.
Taking these steps together may give you better results than either option alone for weight management.
BMI is a dated, flawed measure.
It does not take into account factors such asbody composition, ethnicity, sex, race, and age.
How Does Wegovy Work?
By increasing the amount of GLP-1 released by the body, Wegovy increases the sensation of fullness.
It also slows gastric emptying, thus slowing the food digestion process in the stomach.
Wegovy comes as a liquid solution in a prefilled injection pen.
Each pen contains one dose.
How Effective is Wegovy?
When you start taking Wegovy, youll start with a low dose and gradually increase it over time.
Increasing the dosage too quickly could cause intolerable digestive side effects, such as nausea and vomiting.
Therefore, its important not to rush or speed up the dose increases to see results sooner.
Instead, be patient and follow your provider’s instructions.
Set realistic expectations that seeing the full benefits might take a few months.
If you stop taking Wegovy, you might regain the weight.
Wegovy should be used in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Who Should Avoid Wegovy?
Wegovy may not be safe for everyone.
A boxed warning is the most severe warning for a prescription drug.
It informs patients and prescribers of potentially serious risks.
It isnt known if Wegovy could cause thyroid cancer in humans.
Side Effects & Safety
Like all drugs, Wegovy carries the potential for adverse effects.
It most frequently takes place if you start the medication or after your dose increases.
Nausea becomes less bothersome as your body adjusts to the medication or dose.
Talk to a healthcare professional if nausea or other common side effects persist.
They may recommend changes to your diet, a temporary dose reduction, or possibly stopping Wegovy.
Severe Side Effects
Less commonly, Wegogy may cause serious side effects that require medical attention.
The table below summarizes Wegovys typical dosage:
Storage
Wegovy comes as a prefilled injector pen.
Each pen contains a single dose.
Until youre ready to administer it, store Wegovy in the refrigerator.
Wegovy stays good at room temperature for up to 28 days as long as its unopened.
Wegovy Interactions
Certain medications interact with Wegovy.
Interactions can lead to severe side effects or may cause medications to be less effective treatments than usual.
Before starting Wegovy, tell your provider about your current prescription, over-the-counter medications, and vitamins or supplements.
This is a partial list of medications that might interact with Wegovy.
Alternative Treatment Options
There isnt a natural version of Wegovy or an herb that works similarly.
Theres little evidence that any OTC dietary supplements are effective for weight loss.
Examples of supplements that pose potential health risks or drug interactions includeglucomannan, hoodia, andYohimbe.
Supplements are not intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
Summary
Obesity is linked to severe health problems.
Wegovy has become a popular weight loss drug because it effectively reduces body weight with diet and exercise.
Clinical trial results also suggest the drug is associated with a decreased risk of obesity-related heart problems.
Wegovys active ingredient, semaglutide, helps people lose weight by regulatingappetite.
As with other medications, Wegovy poses potential risks and may cause side effects.
Consult a healthcare provider to determine if Wegovy may be an appropriate treatment option for you.
Just take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day.
If you miss multiple doses of Wegovy in a row, consult a healthcare provider.
Yes, you’re free to change the day of the week you inject Wegovy.
After using the Wegovy pen, you’re able to discard it in a sharps container.
Once your sharps container is about three-quarters full, follow local community guidelines to dispose of it safely.
DailyMed.Label: Wegovy- semaglutide injection, solution.
National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.Overweight and obesity statistics.
National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.Understanding adult overweight and obesity.
Truveta Research Insights.Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro: on- and off-label prescribing trends.
DailyMed.Label: Ozempic- semaglutide injection, solution.
DailyMed.Label: Rybelsus- oral semaglutide tablet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Body mass index: considerations for practitioners.
Terhune C.Most patients using weight-loss drugs like Wegovy stop within a year, data show.
Published July 11, 2023.
National Institutes of Health.Dietary supplements for weight loss.
Food and Drug Administration.Sharps disposal containers.
