What Is Wegovy? Uses, Benefits, and Side Effects

Did you know that one billion people worldwide are classified as obese? The causes of obesity vary widely from person to person. However, for many individuals in this classification, the problem lies with their appetite.

Many people feel too hungry over the day, which often results in overeating and weight gain. Many diets have solved this problem, but only some have delivered. It may be time to turn to a different key, like the medication Wegovy.

However, precisely what is Wegovy? And how can it help you on your weight loss journey? People who want to discover the answer to these questions are in the perfect place.

This helpful guide will teach you everything you want to know about the medication, from its uses to its side effects.

What Is Wegovy?

Wegovy is a type of prescription medication that’s used for weight management. When you combine it with a diet that’s low in calories and an active lifestyle, then it can lead to weight loss down the line.

The active drug that’s present in Wegovy is known as Semaglutide. Wegovy comes in the form of an injection pen filled with liquid. This pen is good for one dose. To take Wegovy, you inject it under your skin.

Who Uses Wegovy?

Anyone who wants to lose weight can take Wegovy. That said, the drug was made with a specific type of person in mind. First, the leading group it’s marketed to is people who are obese.

Scientifically, this means that the individuals score thirty or high on the BMI scale (body mass index). However, people who are simply overweight (twenty-seven or higher BMI) can also take it.

The same goes for people with a health condition that causes them to gain weight. Can children take Wegovy? Yes, they can work in certain situations. Specifically, they must be twelve or older and fall in the 95th percentile or higher for their body mass index.

How Does Wegovy Work?

As we mentioned before, the main active ingredient in this medication is Semaglutide. This drug is now known as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist. This glucagon-like peptide-1 is already a naturally occurring hormone your body produces.

When this hormone hits your brain, it can impact how hungry you are and how much food you drink. When you take Wegovy, it naturally mimics the appearance of GLP-1. That means that you get full more quickly without eating as much.

This, when paired with diet and exercise, can result in weight loss for people who take the drug.

How Do You Use Wegovy?

Before you take Wegovy, you need to read the instructions that come with it carefully. Why? Because Wegovy comes in five different strengths. Each one is labeled with another color pen. Reading the instructions ensures that you have the right pen for your dosage.

As we mentioned before, you take Wegovy once per week. Make sure you mark your calendar when you take it or set a reminder on your phone.

When you’re ready to take the medication, you should first wash your hands—the swab down the area where you inject it with an alcohol pad. If you don’t have an alcohol pad, use a gentle soap. You have two areas where you can inject the medication.

The first area is the front of your thigh. Alternatively, you can also do it on your lower stomach. Also, if you have a caregiver, they can help you inject it into the back of your arm. Just make sure that it’s two inches away from your belly button.

Make sure that you don’t inject the same area twice. If you do this, it can cause skin irritation. When you’re done, throw the used pen away.

Try to choose a receptacle reserved for sharp objects, so you or no one else cuts themselves when they throw the trash away. Once you’re done, make sure you rewash your hands.

Recommended Dosage

As we mentioned, each Wegovy pen contains an individual dose. Five different dose levels come with the medication, each represented by a different color. These doses include:

0.25 mg/0.5 milligrams
0.5 mg/0.5 milligrams
1 mg/0.5 milligrams
1.7 mg/0.75 milligrams
2.4 mg/0.75 milligrams

So how much should you take? It would help to start at the lowest possible dose of 0.25 mg/0.5 milligrams. This will allow you and your doctor to see how your body reacts to the medication.

After that, your doctor might begin to increase the amount that you take each week gradually. Make sure you follow any dosing instructions your doctor gives you carefully. Avoid doubling your dose to try and see more results.

What Are the Benefits of Wegovy?

What are some reasons you might want to take Wegovy? It’s effective at weight loss. However, the effectiveness will ultimately depend on how much your work out and diet. Next, it only needs to be taken once per week.

So no more forgetting daily or twice-a-day medications that are easy to lose track of. Next, it can be used on confident children over the age of twelve. There are limited weight loss solutions for obese children, so it’s good to see one that makes this type of management more accessible.

Lastly, it’s a long-term solution to weight management. Many people lose weight quickly on their weight loss journey. Then, they quickly gain it back.

However, Wegovy can set you up for success in the long term. It’s not a miracle medication. But it can undoubtedly assist with the cravings that often lead to weight gain.

What Are the Drawbacks of Wegovy?

Unfortunately, Wegovy isn’t perfect. First off, you will need to inject it once per week. This might not be a massive deal for some people. However, taking the medication can be quite a pain if you dislike needles.

As we’ll see in the next section, Wegovy has the potential to cause various stomach-related side effects. So if you already experienced stomach problems before you started taking the drug, these could get worse.

Lastly, if you take Wegovy, you can’t take any other types of medications, such as Semaglutide or other GLP-1 agonists.

This, in turn, can limit some of the medication options that are available to you. Lastly, Wegovy is only available right now as a brand medication. As such, it can be expensive even if you have good insurance.

Wegovy Side Effects

Unfortunately, Wegovy does come with some potential side effects. These can be divided into mild and severe. The intensity of these side effects will be determined by your age, the condition you’re treating, and other medications you might be taking.

Also, remember that there might be some other side effects that still need to be identified. In this section, we’ll be discussing both of them.

Mild Side Effects

Most of the mild side effects have to do with stomach-related issues. Keep an eye out for things like:

Vomiting
Fatigue (low energy)
Dizziness
Bloating or pain around your stomach area
Excessive burping
Diarrhea
Headache
Indigestion
Stomach flu
Constipation
Nausea
Gas

You might be tempted to panic if you notice any of these symptoms. Avoid this instinct. The good news is that most side effects will likely go away after a week or two.

However, if they’re annoying enough, you should consult your doctor. Together you can decide if you should be doing anything to treat the side effects. In some cases, your doctor will recommend that you stop taking Wegovy.

Serious Side Effects

In addition to mild side effects, there are also potential serious ones that come with Wegovy. The fantastic news is that these side effects are particularly rare. However, it’s still important to be aware of them. First, there are gallbladder problems.

Specifically, instances of gallbladder swelling and bleeding have been recorded. Gallstones were another gallbladder problem that occurred. It’s possible that you might also experience low blood sugar levels and increased heart rates when taking Wegovy.

It would help if you also were on the lookout for potential pancreatitis. This occurs when excessive swelling damages your pancreas. Some people have experienced allergic reactions to the medication.

The last side effect is the most serious. It’s a boxed warning for thyroid cancer. For those who don’t know, black box warnings like these are the highest safety warnings the FDA can give medications.

The good news is that thyroid cancer has only been recorded in animals. Still, if you have a family history of thyroid cancer, you should avoid Wegovy.

Signs of an Allergic Reaction

As mentioned in the previous section, some people have an allergic reaction when taking Wegovy. Unfortunately, these reactions weren’t detected in any of the studies. But they have been found since the drug was first released.

Most of the time, if you’re allergic to Wegovy, you’re going to experience minor allergy symptoms. These can include things like flushing skin (a deep red color forming in the skin), rashes, and itchiness.

If you get a severe allergic reaction, your eyelids, tongue, lips, hands, and feet could start swelling. If you’re having a minor allergic reaction, contact your doctor.

However, if you have a serious one, go to the emergency room immediately. The fantastic news is that severe allergic reactions to Wegovy are doubtful.

How to Buy Wegovy

If you think Wegovy is suitable for you, then schedule an appointment with your doctor. Bring up the medication and discuss it with the professional to decide whether or not it’s right for you.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to visit the doctor, you can schedule an appointment with a telemedicine provider. In these situations, an expert will give you a health evaluation remotely.

If your exam shows that you could benefit from the medication, you will receive an electronic prescription to begin. However, you must continue using the service to receive support and follow-up appointments.

Is There a Good Alternative to Wegovy?

One good alternative to Wegovy is Saxenda. Both of these medications work as GLP-1 receptor agonists to provide similar weight loss effects. However, to save cash, you can go straight to the source with Semaglutide peptide injections.

Since Semaglutide is an active ingredient in Wegovy, it provides many of the same benefits. The difference is that it’s much more affordable than the brand-name medication.

Here at Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, we don’t offer Wegovy. But we do offer the more affordable Semaglutide, which you can learn more about by checking out this page.

Wegovy Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we’ll be covering some of the FAQs frequently associated with Wegovy. You can also check out the FAQs we often get asked here at Prime IV Hydration & Wellness.

What’s the Difference Between Wegovy and Ozempic?

Both Wegovy and Ozempic both contain Semaglutide as an active ingredient. However, that’s where their similarities end.

Wegovy, as we’ve mentioned, is intended for weight loss. Ozempic, on the other hand, is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as well as many different cardiovascular conditions. As such, the two should be used in different ways.

How Much Weight Do People Usually Lose With Wegovy?

As you can guess, the answer to this question varies from person to person. It depends on factors like the condition you’re treating, how much you diet and exercise, and your own personal body composition.

That being said, studies show that after a year of taking Wegovy, most people lost between 10% to 16% of the weight they started with.

This is compared to a control group that followed an exercise and diet plan instead of taking the medication. As such, you shouldn’t expect a huge amount of weight loss. However, it’s typically enough to feel healthier.

Does Wegovy Fall Under the List for Controlled Substances?

No, Wegovy doesn’t fall under the controlled substance categorization. It’s true that some weight loss medications, like phentermine, are controlled substances. As such, there are additional rules surrounding how it can be used. However, that doesn’t apply to Wegovy.

Do You Need to Keep Wegovy In the Fridge?

Yes, you do need to store your Wegovy pens in the fridge. Specifically, the medication needs to be stored between the following temperatures: 36°F to 46°F. That being said, you can keep the medicine at room temperature for a maximum time of twenty-eight days.

However, you should not put it back inside once you take your Wegovy out of the fridge. Also, never freeze your Wegovy pens. If you do this, you will need to throw them out.

If you have any questions at all about how to store your Wegovy, then reach out to your doctor. They’ll provide you with more in-depth information.

Does Wegovy Also Give You Energy?

We’ve talked about the appetite-suppressing powers of Wegovy. But does the medication also give you energy? Unfortunately, no the only confirmed effect of the Wegovy is that it lowers the number of calories that you want to eat.

However, some believe that Wegovy might give you energy indirectly. How? When you lose weight, eat right, and exercise more, you tend to get much more power throughout the day.

And since people who take Wegovy also exercise and diet, it makes sense that they might attribute their newfound energy to the medication. However, odds are this is just your body providing you with more energy.

What Should You Do If You Miss a Dose of Medication?

It’s alright if you miss a dose of Wegovy. If the next injection date is more than two days away, then simply take the missed dose as soon as you can. However, if the next injection date is less than two days away, don’t take the missed dose.

Instead, wait until it’s time to retake your dose. Refrain from doubling up on a missed dose. If you end up missing more than two doses, then contact your doctor. They’ll help you with resetting your dose schedule.

Does Wegovy Start Working Right Away?

Like most medications, Wegovy starts working the second that you inject it. However, that doesn’t mean that you’ll feel the effects. Indeed, many people report that it can take weeks before you notice a change in your appetite.

It will likely take months before you start noticing an observable difference in your weight loss.

Does the Injection Hurt?

The injection will likely feel like a slight pinch, and it may be sore for a few minutes or hours afterward. That being said, most people are OK with the pain.

Some people experience skin irritation after injecting in the same site repeatedly. However, if you get lightheaded around needles, Wegovy might not be your medication. Discuss potential alternatives with your doctor.

Do You Need to Take Wegovy With Food?

No, Wegovy can be taken on an empty stomach. However, it’s OK to take it after you eat as well.

Can You Take Wegovy If You’re Pregnant?

Wegovy should not be taken by pregnant women. For starters, the active ingredients can cause birth defects and miscarriages in pregnant women. This can affect the overall health of the baby in utero.

However, on top of that, you shouldn’t be trying to lose weight when you’re pregnant. As such, please wait until you’re no longer pregnant before you take it.

How Prime IV Hydration & Wellness Can Help You

Here at Prime IV Hydration & Wellness, we’re passionate about helping people look and feel healthier. For some people, that means using the Semaglutide that we offer. This is a less expensive version of Wegovy that uses the same active ingredients.

However, keep in mind that it’s not the only type of weight loss solution that we provide. We also offer an IV solution known as the Skinny Drip. This mixture contains an array of different weight-loss vitamins and ingredients. Specifically, it includes things like:

B-Complex
B-6
Amino Acid Blend
B-12
Taurine
Lipolean Injection

These compounds help encourage your body to break down any existing fat stores. As such, it’s a great weight loss strategy when combined with our peptide injections. Not only that, but it also provides you with more energy.

That means it’s an excellent solution for people who want to exercise at the end of a long day but are too tired.

Ready to look and feel better? Explore one of the many Prime IV Hydration & Wellness locations today to get started.

The Importance of Weight Management

Being obese doesn’t just affect your appearance and confidence levels. It can quite literally take years off your life. Specifically, one study found that extreme cases of obesity can shorten your lifespan by as much as fourteen years.

This is why weight management is so important. However, if you’ve tried everything you can to lose weight and it still hasn’t happened, it might be time to turn to medication like Wegovy.

This drug and generic ones like Semaglutide get to the root of the problem by reducing your appetite. So when you combine it with a healthy diet and exercise, it can produce noticeable differences in your weight.

Discuss the issue with your doctor today to decide if this medication is the right call for your needs.