Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
This article is for education. Use Wegovy exactly as prescribed and follow the FDA Medication Guide/Instructions for Use. If you have questions about whether Wegovy is right for you, or how to handle side effects, ask your clinician/pharmacist.
Wegovy is a prescription medicine that contains semaglutide. In the U.S., it is available as:
A once-weekly injection (prefilled, single-dose pen), and
A once-daily tablet (oral semaglutide tablets).
Semaglutide belongs to a class of medicines called GLP‑1 receptor agonists (GLP‑1 is a natural gut hormone involved in appetite and blood sugar regulation).
Wegovy is used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (CV death, non-fatal heart attack, or non-fatal stroke) in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight.
Reducing excess body weight and maintaining weight loss long term in:
Adults and pediatric patients ≥12 years with obesity, and
Adults with overweight plus at least one weight-related comorbidity.
Treating noncirrhotic MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis; formerly NASH) with moderate-to-advanced fibrosis (F2–F3) in adults, under accelerated approval based on improvement of MASH and fibrosis (continued approval may depend on confirmatory trial results).
Reducing the risk of major adverse CV events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight, and
Reducing excess body weight and maintaining weight loss long term in adults with obesity, or adults with overweight plus at least one weight-related comorbidity.
It is not recommended to use Wegovy (injection or tablets) together with:
other semaglutide-containing products, or
any other GLP‑1 receptor agonist.
Semaglutide is a GLP‑1 receptor agonist. In the brain, GLP‑1 pathways help regulate appetite and calorie intake. Semaglutide is distributed to and activates receptors in areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation.
Wegovy typically changes “metabolism” in these practical ways:
You eat fewer calories (primary driver of weight loss).
In studies, semaglutide decreased energy intake and produced greater fat-mass loss than lean-mass loss.
Blood sugar regulation shifts (even if you don’t have diabetes).
Semaglutide stimulates insulin release and reduces glucagon, in a glucose-dependent way (stronger effect when glucose is higher).
Stomach emptying slows (especially early on).
Wegovy delays gastric emptying, which can increase fullness and also explains many GI side effects.
Liver-related markers can improve.
Semaglutide has been associated with improvements in certain liver markers and decreased liver fat content in studies.
Important framing: Wegovy is not a stimulant and is not best thought of as “speeding up” your metabolism. Most weight loss happens because hunger, cravings, and portion sizes often decrease, making a calorie deficit more achievable.
Wegovy dosing is intentionally gradual to reduce GI side effects. Do not change the dose schedule without your prescriber.
How often: Once weekly, same day each week, any time of day, with or without meals.
Where to inject: Under the skin (subcutaneous) in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm; rotate sites.
Dose escalation schedule (typical):
| Time on Wegovy | Weekly dose |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1–4 | 0.25 mg |
| Weeks 5–8 | 0.5 mg |
| Weeks 9–12 | 1 mg |
| Weeks 13–16 | 1.7 mg |
| Week 17 and onward | 2.4 mg or Maintenance dose (depends on indication/tolerance) |
Maintenance dosing by indication:
CV risk reduction (adults): 2.4 mg once weekly (recommended) or 1.7 mg once weekly.
Weight reduction (adults and ≥12 years): 2.4 mg once weekly (recommended) or 1.7 mg once weekly.
Noncirrhotic MASH (adults): 2.4 mg once weekly; if not tolerated, may decrease to 1.7 mg once weekly, and your prescriber may consider re-escalation to 2.4 mg.
If you don’t tolerate a step-up dose, clinicians may delay escalation (for injection, delaying escalation for 4 weeks is described).
Typical step-up schedule:
| Days on Wegovy tablets | Daily dose |
|---|---|
| Days 1–30 | 1.5 mg |
| Days 31–60 | 4 mg |
| Days 61–90 | 9 mg |
| Day 91 and onward | 25 mg (maintenance) |
Key notes:
If you don’t tolerate a dose during escalation, your clinician may delay escalation.
The recommended maintenance dose is 25 mg once daily.
If you do not tolerate 25 mg daily, the label notes clinicians can consider switching to Wegovy injection 1.7 mg once weekly.
Do not take more than one tablet per day.
Inspect the solution; use only if clear and colorless and without particles.
Inject once weekly, same day each week, any time of day, with or without meals.
Inject subcutaneously in abdomen/thigh/upper arm; rotate sites. The time of day and injection site can be changed without changing the dose.
Wegovy tablets have strict administration rules to help absorption:
Take in the morning on an empty stomach with a sip of water (no more than 4 ounces).
Swallow whole (don’t split, crush, or chew).
Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other oral medications.
If you miss one dose and the next scheduled dose is more than 2 days (48 hours) away, take the missed dose as soon as possible.
If the next scheduled dose is less than 2 days away, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day.
If you miss 2 or more consecutive doses, resume as scheduled or—if needed—your clinician may have you restart and follow the escalation schedule to reduce GI side effects.
Skip the missed dose and take your next dose the following day.
Results vary. Your medical conditions, dose tolerance, lifestyle changes, and duration of treatment all matter.
In adult studies of Wegovy injection at 68 weeks:
In a study of adults with obesity/overweight with comorbidity, average weight change was -14.9% with Wegovy vs -2.4% with placebo.
In a study of adults with type 2 diabetes (and obesity/overweight), average weight change was -9.6% with Wegovy vs -3.4% with placebo.
In a study that included intensive lifestyle therapy, average weight change was -16.0% with Wegovy vs -5.7% with placebo.
Across these studies, many more Wegovy-treated patients achieved ≥5%, ≥10%, and ≥15% weight loss compared with placebo.
For Wegovy tablets (adult study at 64 weeks), average weight change was -13.6% with Wegovy tablets vs -2.4% with placebo.
In a cardiovascular outcomes trial in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight, major adverse CV events occurred in 6.5% of Wegovy-treated patients vs 8.0% of placebo; hazard ratio 0.80.
Wegovy injection has an indication for MASH with moderate-to-advanced fibrosis in adults under accelerated approval, based on improvement of MASH and fibrosis; confirmation of clinical benefit may be required for continued approval.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal. In the adult weight-loss trial data shown in the label, common reactions included:
Nausea (44%)
Diarrhea (30%)
Vomiting (24%)
Constipation (24%)
Abdominal pain (20%)
Dyspepsia/indigestion (10%)
Fatigue (11%)
Headache (14%)
Dizziness (8%)
Abdominal distension/bloating (7%)
Belching (7%)
Hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes (6%)
Flatulence (6%)
Gastroenteritis (4%)
GERD/reflux (5%)
Hair loss (3%)
Other reported effects include injection-site reactions (about 1.4% in adult trials).
These are general strategies many patients find useful (confirm with your clinician if you have medical restrictions):
Eat smaller meals; stop when comfortably full.
Limit very fatty/greasy foods and large meals, especially near dose days.
Prioritize fluids to avoid dehydration.
Consider increasing fiber slowly (too fast can worsen bloating).
If nausea is persistent, ask your clinician whether temporary dose delay or anti-nausea support is appropriate.
The label specifically allows delaying dose escalation if you don’t tolerate a dose step.
In rodents, semaglutide caused thyroid C‑cell tumors; it is unknown if this occurs in humans.
Wegovy is contraindicated if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have MEN 2.
Seek medical evaluation for symptoms such as a neck mass, trouble swallowing, shortness of breath, or persistent hoarseness.
Stop Wegovy and contact your clinician right away if you develop severe abdominal pain that won’t go away (sometimes radiating to the back), with or without vomiting.
Wegovy is associated with increased occurrence of gallstones and gallbladder inflammation. Call your clinician for symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, or clay-colored stools.
Wegovy can lower blood sugar. Risk is higher if you also use insulin or sulfonylureas; your prescriber may adjust doses and should educate you on hypoglycemia symptoms.
Postmarketing reports of acute kidney injury have occurred, often in the setting of significant nausea/vomiting/diarrhea leading to dehydration. Kidney function may be monitored during initiation and escalation if you have symptoms that could cause volume depletion.
Severe GI adverse reactions occurred more often with Wegovy than placebo, and Wegovy is not recommended in patients with severe gastroparesis.
Serious hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis and angioedema) have been reported. If this happens, stop Wegovy and seek urgent medical care.
Worsening diabetic retinopathy complications have been reported with semaglutide in certain trials. Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored.
Wegovy is associated with increases in resting heart rate. Report palpitations or a racing heartbeat; discontinue is recommended if sustained increases occur.
Monitor for depression, suicidal thoughts/behavior, or unusual mood changes; discontinue if these occur. Avoid use in patients with a history of suicide attempts or active suicidal ideation.
Because Wegovy delays gastric emptying, rare postmarketing reports describe pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation. Inform surgical/anesthesia teams that you take Wegovy.
Wegovy may cause fetal harm.
If you are using Wegovy for CV risk reduction or weight reduction, discontinue when pregnancy is recognized.
For MASH, use in pregnancy only if potential benefit justifies potential risk.
Because of semaglutide’s long half-life, the label advises discontinuing at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.
A pregnancy exposure registry exists for semaglutide exposures; ask your clinician if you become pregnant while using Wegovy.
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Wegovy tablets (related to the tablet absorption enhancer, SNAC, which was shown to be excreted in milk in animal data).
Insulin and sulfonylureas: higher hypoglycemia risk; your clinician may lower doses.
Oral medications (especially with Wegovy tablets): you must wait at least 30 minutes after taking the tablet before other oral meds.
Levothyroxine: in a drug interaction study with the semaglutide tablet, levothyroxine exposure increased 33%; monitoring effects of oral meds may be needed.
Injection pens: store refrigerated (36°F to 46°F / 2°C to 8°C). If needed, before cap removal, pens can be kept at 46°F to 86°F (8°C to 30°C) for up to 28 days; do not freeze; protect from light; keep in original carton; discard pen after use.
Tablets: store at room temperature; keep in original bottle to protect from moisture.
Seek urgent care or contact your clinician immediately if you have:
Severe, persistent abdominal pain (possible pancreatitis)
Symptoms of gallbladder disease (upper abdominal pain, fever, jaundice)
Signs of severe allergic reaction (swelling of face/tongue/throat, trouble breathing)
Persistent vomiting/diarrhea with dehydration or reduced urination
New/worsening depression or suicidal thoughts
Palpitations or sustained racing heartbeat
Planned surgery/procedure requiring anesthesia/sedation (tell the team ahead of time)
