Wegovy (Semaglutide)

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy (semaglutide) injection is a prescription medicine used for weight loss in obese adults and teenagers, or overweight adults with other weight-related medical issues. Wegovy works by regulating appetite and reducing calorie intake, leading to weight loss and helping with weight management.

Wegovy belongs to the class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. GLP-1 receptor agonists are a manufactured version of GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone in the body that acts in several areas in the brain to regulate food intake. When Wegovy is administered, it activates the GLP-1 receptors in the brain. This lowers appetite, reducing the calories consumed, leading to weight loss.

his medicine should be used together with a decreased-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity to help weight management.

Wegovy is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) once a week.

What is Wegovy used for?

Wegovy is an FDA-approved anti-obesity medicine to be used by people 12 years and older for chronic weight management when used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Wegovy is indicated for use in:

Adults:

• Obese (BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater)
• Overweight (BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater) and have medical problems (e.g.high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol) due to your weight.

Pediatric (12 years and older):

• Obese (initial BMI 95th percentile or greater for age and sex)

Wegovy contains semaglutide which is the same active ingredient in Ozempic and Rybelsus, therefore these products should not be used together. Ozempic (subcutaneous weekly injection) and Rybelsus (once-a-day tablet) are used lower blood sugar levels for type two diabetic patients. Ozempic is also used to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events for some type 2 diabetic patients.

Warnings

Call your doctor at once if you have signs of a thyroid tumor, such as swelling or a lump in your neck, trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice, or shortness of breath. In studies with rodents, Wegovy and medicines that work like Wegovy caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if this medicine will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.

You should not use this medicine if you have tumors in your glands called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2  (MEN 2), or a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).

How should I use Wegovy?

Read the Instructions for Use that is with your prescription and use this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to. Your healthcare provider should train you on how to use this medicine before you start using it.

• Wegovy is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm, using a pen device. You should not inject this medicine into a muscle (intramuscularly) or vein (intravenously).
• This medicine should be used one time each week, on the same day each week, at any time of the day.
• You can take Wegovy with or without food.
• Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. Call your pharmacist if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it.
• If you choose a different weekly injection day, start your new schedule after at least two days have passed since the last injection you gave.
• Rotate your injection site with each injection. You may inject in the same body area each week, but it is important to use a different spot each time. Do not inject into an area where the skin is tender, bruised, red, or hard. Avoid injecting into areas with scars or stretch marks.
• The Wegovy pen is for one-time use only, and the dose is already set on your pen.
• The needle is covered by the needle cover and the needle will not be seen.
• Remove the pen cap when you are ready to inject.
• You should not touch or push on the needle cover as you could get a needle stick injury.
• To inject, push the pen firmly against the skin and hold until the yellow bar has stopped moving.
• If the yellow bar does not start moving, you should press the pen more firmly against your skin.
• You will hear two clicks during the injection. Click 1 is when the injection has started, and click two the injection is still ongoing.
• Do not remove the pen from your skin before the yellow bar in the pen window has stopped moving. If you remove the needle earlier, you may not get your full dose.
• If the yellow bar does not start moving or stops during the injection, contact your healthcare provider or Novo Nordisk at Wegovy.com or call Novo Nordisk Inc. at 1-833-934-6891.
• The needle cover will lock when the pen is removed from your skin. You cannot stop the injection and restart it later.
• Put the used Wegovy pen in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right away after use. Do not throw away (dispose of) the pen in your household trash.
• People who are blind or have vision problems should not use the Wegovy pen without help from a person trained to use the pen.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Use the medicine as soon as possible and then return to your regular schedule. But If your next dose is due in less than two days (48 hours), skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Call your doctor if you miss more than two doses in a row of Wegovy. You may need to restart the medicine at a lower dose to avoid stomach problems.
• Do not use two doses of semaglutide at one time.

Common side effects of semaglutide may include:

• low blood sugar (in people with type 2 diabetes);
• upset stomach, heartburn, burping, gas, bloating;
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite;
• diarrhea, constipation;
• runny nose or sore throat;
• stomach flu symptoms; o
• headache, dizziness, tiredness.