Wegovy is a prescription drug developed to help individuals lose weight and treat health conditions related to excessive weight. Wegovy contains semaglutide, which is classified as a “GLP-1 receptor agonist.” “Wegovy” was approved by the “US Food & Drug Administration in 2021” as the first infusion of the first week for chronic weight management and has since been known as one of the top interventions for obesity and weight conditions.
Wegovy is available by prescription from a doctor for adults with obesity or for adults with other poor health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Wegovy is not a diet pill, and if you do not change your weight management-related behavior, there will be no consequences. B. Healthy foods, training, and habit change.
What Wegovy Is Used For
Wegovy’s primary indication is weight loss and maintaining weight loss. Many people with obesity have attempted to diet or exercise unsuccessfully. Wegovy provides some support for the body to assist in controlling appetite and managing hunger.
Wegovy’s second indication is reducing the risk of serious heart issues. People who are overweight and/or obese experience a higher chance of a heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular issue. Wegovy has been investigated and shown to decrease the risk of heart attack by improving blood glucose control and blood pressure control and decreasing bad cholesterol levels.
The next indication to note is for the liver and a condition called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH. MASH is characterized by excessive fat in the liver, leading to swelling/damage of the liver. Wegovy shows promise in decreasing liver fat and has potential positive overall liver health through weight loss benefits.
There may be other occasions when physicians use Wegovy for indications they consider appropriate; however, Wegovy is approved for three primary uses specifically: weight loss, cardiac protection, and liver health.
How Wegovy Works in the Body
Wegovy acts just like a real hormone called GLP-1. It hits in the bowels after we eat and gives a signal to the brain that we are full. Semaglutide does just what GLP-1 does and feels the want and pain of a full stomach faster. When people eat less, they get less and get full quicker. And, yes, other things happen when you lose weight.
Blood pressure goes down, your cholesterol goes back to where it needs to be, and your blood sugar gets to where it needs to be. This is best if you have type 2 diabetes. Lean cells all around, like the liver; when you lose weight, it loses its fat, and bacteria happen to the liver, making it weak.
Slowly, over time, you will lose scarring, which is part of liver disease. This gets better when the liver goes from just plain scarring to full-on scarring, which is really weak, and you can have a lot more trouble waking up in the mornings.
Dosage and Treatment Plan
Wegovy is given as a small injection under the skin (subcutaneously). It is generally injected in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. The injection is easy to give using prefilled pens. The injection is only necessary once a week, on the same day.
Typically, the treatment being started is an initial low dose, getting the body used to the medication and lowering the side effects of nausea. The dose is raised slowly over time until the treatment dose is reached. The schedule is generally:
- Start with a 0.25 mg weekly dosage.
- For four-week brands, once a week increases to 0.5 mg.
- For 8-week brands, it increases once a week to 1 mg.
- It then increases to 1.7 mg, followed by 2.4 mg once a week. This is a maintenance dose.
Doctors can change schedules and dosages not only for patient responses but also for side effects. Do not change the “dose” without consulting your “healthcare provider” first.
How to Store and Handle Wegovy
Wegovy pencils should remain in their original container and be stored in the fridge at a temperature of 26°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). Never freeze more pencils. A pin in cold conditions is no longer safe to hold a pen. Also, if you want, the pin can be defrosted to an extent of 28 days if not touched with the lid at freezing temperatures of 46°F (8°C34°F). That’s where these lights must be kept away: heat, direct light, and children. As soon as the pen is used, disposal in sharp containers should occur. Pens and needles must not be reused, and pens must not be shared.
Common Side Effects
As with all drugs, Wegovy has side effects. Most are mild and improve as the body adapts. The most “common side effects”:
- “Nausea” (feeling sick to your stomach)
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- “Stomach pain” or cramps
- Gas and bloating
- Burping
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Tired or weak
- Flu-like or cold-like symptoms.
Most people find that nausea is strongest at the start and especially as the dose increases. This usually “settles down over time.” Trying smaller meals & avoiding greasy or spicy food might make this easier.
Serious Side Effects and When to Call a Doctor
Although rare, Wegener’s can cause some serious problems requiring immediate medical assistance. They are:
- Serious allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and neck; difficulty breathing; and rashes.
- Thyroid tumors can occur as a mass in the neck, hemophilicity, or as a problem when swallowing.
- Pancreatitis with “severe stomach pain” that can spread to the back, nausea & vomiting.
- “Gallbladder problems,” including yellow skin, eyes, fever & poor color. People who also use “hypoglycemia,” especially insulin.
- Symptoms include “trembling, sweating, hunger, blurred vision & confusion.”
- “Kidney problems” due to dehydration due to vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Changes in vision, especially in “diabetic patients.” Fast heart rate or throbbing heartbeat.
- Changes in mood, such as “depression or self-harm”. If one of them occurs, you will need to stop Wegovy and call your doctor immediately.
Warnings and Precautions
Wegovy isn’t safe for everyone. It cannot be used by anyone with certain medical conditions. However, you should not use Wegovy if you or a family member has had a rare thyroid cancer (medullary thyroid melanoma) or has multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. Women who are pregnant should also not use Wegovy because losing weight while pregnant isn’t allowed. However, you should also stop taking the drug at least two months before getting pregnant if you plan to become pregnant. It is not known how much of Wegovy will go into breast milk.
Aged individuals may have a lower risk of side effects, particularly those over the age of 75. Individuals with an eating disorder, diabetic eye complaints, or depression may need to be more careful and talk to their croaker about implicit pitfalls to their health before beginning Wegovy.
Who Should Not Use Wegovy
“Wegovy” should not be used by anyone who is “allergic to Semaglutid” or one of the other ingredients in Wegovy. Do not use it during “pregnancy.” Do not use it if you have a specific type of thyroid disease. Wegovy should not be used on children under the age of 12, and for young people aged 12 to 17, doctors will determine the health needs of teenagers.
Interactions with Other Medicines and Alcohol
Wegovy can work with many medicines. “An illustration.” If you’re taking insulin or “diabetes medication,” your blood sugar might fall. The physician can modify the quantity. Digestion of large quantities decreases, impacting absorption by other pills as well.
Taking medications, vitamins, or supplements besides those prescribed by your doctor requires informing them. Wegovy has no impact on alcohol; however, drinking leads to more infractions and lightheadedness.
Tips for Best Results
Wegovy is more effective when used along with healthy habits. Here are some additional tips:
- Eat “properly balanced meals” with the “proper nutrient combination.”
- Cut back on sugars & fats.
- Include more vegetables & lean proteins in your diet.
- “Stay active with exercise” (even light everyday activities, such as walking).
- “Stay hydrated with water to avoid dehydration” (in case of side effects, like vomiting or diarrhea).
- Get plenty of sleep to assist your weight management plan.
- Control your stress levels for better outcomes for your overall health and your weight loss.
Missed Dose and Overdose Guidance
If you forget a time, and it is more than 2 days on, take it when you can. If it is less than that, skip it & take it that day.
If you miss more than one dose, your “provider” may be able to help you restart at a “lower dose” to avoid side effects & may recommend the correct timing. Never take extra doses to compensate for a missed one.
Cost, Insurance, and Access
Wegovy can be pricey, but it can vary in price by location, whether you have insurance, and even what that insurance covers (for some, Wegovy is categorized as a weight-related health condition and is covered, while others may not). The manufacturer does occasionally have savings cards or patient support programmes. It’s best to determine your costs beforehand with your insurance and with your pharmacy.
Alternatives to Wegovy
Wegovy is not the only medication to lose weight. There are other options like “Ozempic & Rybelsus,” which also contain semaglutide & are approved for diabetes. Saxenda, for example, another “GLP-1 medicine,” may also be an option for weight loss.
If “Wegovy” is not suitable for you, your “doctor” may recommend a lifestyle programme, surgery, and medication.
