Who Should Not Take Wegovy?

If you are obese or overweight and have one of the weight-related medical conditions and lifestyle modifications alone don’t result in adequate weight loss, the prescription drug Wegovy can help you lose excess weight.

Not everyone qualifies for Wegovy, and this medication is not safe for everyone. Please continue reading to find out who shouldn’t take Wegovy.

Who is not a good candidate for Wegovy (semaglutide)?

People who have a personal or family history of thyroid tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), should not take Wegovy (semaglutide).

Those who have a medical history of allergic reactions to this or similar medications in the past should not take Wegovy.

Children below 12 years of age should not take Wegovy.

It is not known if Wegovy can harm an unborn baby or breastfed infant. Therefore, Wegovy treatment is not recommended if you are pregnant, and you should stop Wegovy at least 2 months before trying to get pregnant.

If you become pregnant while using Wegovy, you may want to consider signing up for this medication’s pregnancy exposure registry, which collects information about you and your baby, helping healthcare providers and consumers know more about how certain medications can affect pregnancy.

Your healthcare team can provide you with more information if you are interested, or you may contact Novo Nordisk at 1-800-727-6500.

It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Therefore, you should talk to your doctor immediately if you are breastfeeding or have plans to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will discuss safe feeding practices while on Wegovy.

Is Wegovy FDA-approved for excess body weight?

Yes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Wegovy for chronic weight management to be used along with a low-calorie diet and exercise program.

Wegovy injections can also be used in children 12 years of age and older who are obese or overweight and have one of the weight-related health problems.

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How does Wegovy cause weight loss?

Wegovy contains the active drug semaglutide. This drug was originally developed to treat diabetes. It is sold under the brand name Ozempic for diabetes management.

Semaglutide belongs to a group of diabetes medications called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. GLP-1 receptor agonists like Wegovy and Ozempic are manufactured to mimic the action of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1, which is responsible for managing blood sugar and reducing appetite.

Check out our blog Ozempic for Weight Loss: Does it Really Work?

Once administered, these prescription drugs help control blood sugar levels by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, binding to GLP-1 receptors in the brain, and increasing the secretion of insulin from the pancreas.

Wegovy also slows stomach emptying and increases feelings of fullness, leading to decreased appetite and weight loss.

What are the requirements to qualify for Wegovy?

Your healthcare provider can prescribe Wegovy if you have:

A body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher
A body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m² or higher with one or more weight-related medical problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes

How much weight loss is possible on Wegovy?

In a large clinical trial sponsored by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, participants were randomly assigned to either receive semaglutide or the matching placebo.

The treatment group was given 2.4 mg of semaglutide for 68 weeks.

In this double-blind trial, participants were randomly assigned to either receive semaglutide or the matching placebo. The treatment group was given 2.4 mg of semaglutide for 68 weeks.

Wegovy is for long-term weight management. Placebo-controlled clinical trials have shown that people who don’t have diabetes lose an average of 15% from their baseline weight after taking Wegovy for 68 weeks compared to the 2.5% weight reduction in the placebo group.

Those who received Wegovy lost roughly 35 lbs (15.9 kg) compared to the 6 lbs (2.7 kg) weight loss in the placebo group.

Participants in both groups made lifestyle changes like a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Keep in mind that each person’s response to weight loss drugs varies depending on health status and environmental factors.

How fast do you lose weight on Wegovy?

You may start to notice some weight loss after being on Wegovy for around 4 weeks. It can take around 3 months to really start noticing significant weight loss.

The full benefits of Wegovy may not be evident until you have been on it for a year or longer.

How to take Wegovy?

Wegovy (semaglutide injection) is administered once a week subcutaneously (under the skin) of your upper arm, abdomen, or thigh. Take the medication on the same day every week. You can do so at any time of the day without regard to food intake.

Your healthcare provider will teach you the proper administration technique to give yourself this medication at home safely.

In case of a missed dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if there are less than 48 hours left for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Call your doctor or pharmacist if you miss 2 or more doses of Wegovy. You may need to restart on a lower dose.

Store Wegovy pens in the refrigerator. You can also store them at room temperature for up to 28 days.

What are the side effects of Wegovy?

Common adverse effects of Wegovy include abdominal pain, heartburn, burping, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. Talk with your doctor if these side effects are severe or continue after your body has had a chance to get used to the medicine. Rarely, Wegovy can cause a more severe allergic reaction that requires emergency medical care.

What are the risks of taking Wegovy?

Wegovy can help with losing weight, but it can put you at risk of certain medical conditions, including thyroid cancer. Wegovy can also increase the risk of acute pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, low blood sugar, kidney problems, increased heart rate, diabetic eye complications, and suicidal ideation.

Check out our blog to learn what happens when you stop taking Wegovy.

Is Wegovy OK with high blood pressure?

Wegovy is generally safe for people with high blood pressure (hypertension). In fact, if you are overweight (having a BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher) and have high blood pressure or other weight-related conditions, you will meet the criteria to receive Wegovy.

Obesity is a risk factor for hypertension. By promoting weight loss, Wegovy may help with blood pressure control. However, Wegovy can interact with certain medications prescribed to treat hypertension.

What medications should be avoided with Wegovy?

Interactions between Wegovy and other medications can affect how Wegovy or the other drugs work. A specific drug combination can also increase the risk of serious adverse effects.

Some of the medications that can interact with Wegovy (semaglutide) include antimalarials (chloroquine), other diabetes drugs, aspirin, acetaminophen, blood pressure medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium channel blockers, diuretics (water pills), certain antibiotics (clarithromycin, amoxicillin), androgens, skeletal muscle relaxants (carisoprodol), HIV medications, antipsychotic drugs, and antiepileptic drugs.

Let your doctor know if you are currently taking other medications that can affect your blood sugar while using Wegovy to avoid blood sugar levels dropping to potentially dangerous levels.

This list does not include all the possible drug interactions of Wegovy (semaglutide). Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies before starting Wegovy.

How much does Wegovy cost?

Each Wegovy pen costs around $350. Therefore, a Wegovy prescription can cost $1,400 a month without insurance coverage. A free BuzzRx Wegovy discount coupon may help you save when you purchase Wegovy.

What weight loss medications are Wegovy alternatives?

Some weight loss drugs that may be alternative treatment options for weight management include:

Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Tirzepatide (Zepbound). Compare Wegovy vs tirzepatide.
Orlistat (Alli, Xenical)
Phentermine and topiramate (Qsymia)
Naltrexone and bupropion (Contrave)

If you have severe obesity and are unable to achieve your weight loss goals on Wegovy or other weight loss drugs, talk with your doctor about surgical options for long-term weight management, such as bariatric surgery.

Check out our blog comparing Wegovy vs phentermine for weight loss.