What Is Wegovy?
Wegovy is a treatment that can be used for weight loss and comes as pre-filled injection pens that you administer yourself just once a week.
Wegovy is a treatment that can be used for weight loss and works by reducing your appetite. It contains the ingredient Semaglutide which works like a naturally occurring hormone in our body that helps to regulate your hunger. This promotes insulin production from the pancreas when your blood sugar levels are too high and reduces excess sugar (glucose) from the liver when it is not needed.
Wegovy:
-Suppresses cravings
-Curbs hunger
-Reduces appetite
-Increases satiety (feeling full)
It comes as pre-filled injection pens that you administer yourself just once a day. It is used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise regime for an effective way to lose weight.
The effectiveness of Semaglutide for weight loss have been clinically proven. A 2021 clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine investigated the effectiveness of Semaglutide in treating obesity.
They monitored the progress of 1961 adults with a BMI of over 30 (or over 27 with the weight- related condition) for 68 weeks. Half took a placebo, an inactive drug that is believed to be the weight-loss drug, and the other half took Semaglutide. They found that those who took the Semaglutide had a 14.9% loss in body weight when combined with a healthy diet and exercise, compared to those who took the placebo and lost 2.4% of their body weight. This is a significant difference and success.
Semaglutide (Wegovy) is available in 3 different dosages: 0.25, 0.5 and 1mg. For weight loss, you will be initially prescribed the 0.25mg dose. Once you are stable on that dose for 4 weeks, it can then be increased to the 0.5mg dose. You can then be prescribed the 1mg dose after 4 weeks of being stable on the 0.5mg dose. Not everyone needs the 1mg dose, some may only require a 0.5mg maintenance dose. Depending on your consultation, the appropriate dosage scheme will be created for you.
You should preferably inject Semaglutide into the lower abdomen however it can be injected in the thigh or upper arm. Please refer to your started pack for clear directions on how to administer. If you miss a dose, and it has been less than 5 days since your scheduled dose, you should take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it has been over 5 days since your last dose, do not take an additional dose. Take your next dose at the scheduled time. This is because too much Semaglutide can cause low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia). It’s crucial that your pens are stored in the fridge at 2 – 8°C and kept away from any direct light source before use. Once opened, it may be stored at room temperature, but the pen must always be closed and kept out of sunlight for up to 30 days. An opened refrigerated pen can last for 6 weeks before it expires. Do not freeze Semaglutide pens.
DO NOT TAKE WEGOVY IF:
-you or any of your family have ever had MTC or if you have MEN 2
-you have had a serious allergic reaction to Semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy.
-you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Wegovy may harm your unborn baby
As with most prescription medications, Wegovy can cause some side effects. However, the
most common side effects are mild and temporary.
Common side effects include:
– feeling sick (nausea)
– being sick (vomiting)
– diarrhoea
– indigestion
– acid reflux and heartburn
– inflammation of the stomach (gastritis)
– stomach pain
– weight loss
– tiredness
– dizziness
– loss of appetite
If experienced, side effects usually subside when your body has adjusted to the dose. For the full list of die effects, please refer to the patient information leaflet that comes with the Wegovy injection.
While using Wegovy you may find that weight loss fluctuates from week to week. This is completely normal. On average, weight loss of 1-2 pounds (roughly 0.5 to 1kg) per week is reported.
Aim to stick to the suggested dosage increase schedule (as long as you’re not experiencing any strong or severe side effects).