Wegovy is an more and more common weekly prescription drug for its weight reduction efficacy, however it comes with potential unintended effects.
What’s Wegovy?
Wegovy, permitted by the US Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2021, is a weight reduction drug that comprises semaglutide, the identical lively ingredient as Ozempic.
It really works by lowering urge for food, slowing digestion and bettering blood glucose management.
Accessible in 5 doses, Wegovy is taken as soon as every week, and the physician step by step will increase the dose.
What are the unintended effects of Wegovy?
Many individuals expertise delicate to reasonable unintended effects. The most typical are:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- Abdomen ache
- constipation
- heartburn
- Fuel or bloating
- Fatigue
- headache
- Runny nostril, sore throat, or crowded
Nausea is the most typical facet impact and it’s best to at the least be ready to expertise it briefly.
Unwanted side effects begin instantly after the primary dose and may happen any time throughout remedy. Gastrointestinal unintended effects corresponding to nausea are extra frequent for the primary 4 months.
Most unintended effects should not severe and have a tendency to fade because the physique adapts to the medicine. Nonetheless, you will need to report unintended effects to your well being care supplier for correct administration.
What are the extra severe unintended effects?
Wegovy may cause uncommon however severe unintended effects corresponding to:
- Thyroid tumors containing most cancers
- Pancreatitis
- Adjustments in imaginative and prescient (e.g. blurred imaginative and prescient, worsening diabetic retinopathy, and modifications within the macular))
- Kidney issues
- Psychological modifications or despair
- Severe allergic reactions
- Hypoglycemia, or hypoglycemia (particularly when taken with insulin)
You will need to acknowledge signs of hypoglycemia, corresponding to dizziness, confusion, trembling, and quick heartbeat.
For those who expertise severe unintended effects, cease taking Wegovy and search medical consideration instantly. Your healthcare supplier ought to focus on with you about all potential unintended effects and tackle your issues.
Do most individuals expertise unintended effects?
Many individuals who make use of Wegovy expertise unintended effects, particularly gastrointestinal issues.
- Roughly 44% of most dose report nausea
- 30% have skilled diarrhea
- 25% of vomiting expertise.
Total, 71.4% of scientific trial individuals had unintended effects, and about 10% stopped the drug as a consequence of issues like nausea.
How can I cut back the unintended effects of Wegovy?
To cut back frequent unintended effects, producers advocate a number of methods.
- It highlights bland low-fat meals corresponding to crackers, toast and rice.
- Embody water-rich meals corresponding to soups and gelatin in your food regimen.
- Don’t lie down instantly after consuming.
- For those who really feel nauseous, get some contemporary air.
- Decelerate the tempo of your meals.
Many customers additionally counsel breaking the meal into smaller parts all through the day.
If the unintended effects persist, report them to your supplier. Suppliers might briefly regulate dosage.
Most unintended effects lower inside every week, and for those who cease taking Wegovy, it normally resolves inside 1-2 weeks, leaving the system utterly in about 5-7 weeks.
How lengthy does it take for the unintended effects to cease?
Widespread unintended effects normally lower inside a number of days to every week.
If signs persist for greater than every week, even when they seem like delicate, please report them to your healthcare skilled.
Medical doctors normally begin at a decrease dose and step by step improve it to adapt and decrease unintended effects like nausea. If excessive doses are troublesome to tolerate, suppliers might briefly decrease the dose after which step by step improve it.
Most unintended effects cease inside 1-2 weeks of discontinuing Wegovy, and the medicine leaves the system utterly in about 5-7 weeks.
Does Wegovy trigger temper fluctuations?
Temper fluctuations are a uncommon facet impact of Wegovy and different semaglutide medication.
In accordance with Mayo Clinic, Wegovy may cause agitation, irritability, irregular conduct in some individuals, in addition to suicidal ideas and despair.
Unusually, you will need to notify your physician instantly for those who discover any modifications in your temper or psychological state.
Is anybody gaining weight on Wegovy?
Most individuals lose about 16% of their weight after a yr on Wegovy, however not everybody experiences weight reduction.
2022 research information confirmed that over 20% misplaced greater than 5% of their physique weight on semaglutide medication like Wegovy.
A minority might achieve weight, however that is uncommon and isn’t listed as a unfavorable impact in scientific trials. Nonetheless, weight restoration after stopping Wegovy is frequent.
See extra particulars: Does Wegovy assist you drop some pounds?
Does Wegovy trigger hair loss?
Wegovy itself doesn’t trigger hair loss, however 3% of individuals in a single scientific trial reported hair loss whereas taking the drug.
This can be as a result of physique’s stress response to weight reduction, in addition to those that expertise it after weight problems (weight reduction) surgical procedure.
Hair loss can happen in a small variety of circumstances, as each Wegovy and weight reduction surgical procedure can result in fast weight reduction.
Is Wegovy associated to thyroid tumors or most cancers?
FDA’s Wegovy approval features a field warning concerning the danger of thyroid C-cell tumors.
Folks with private or household historical past of thyroid tumors, particularly these with medulla thyroid most cancers (MTC) or a number of endocrine neoplastic syndrome sort 2 (male 2), shouldn’t take Wegovy or different semaglutide drugs.
This concern comes from research in rodents who developed thyroid tumors, together with most cancers, after being administered the drug.
Nonetheless, this danger has not been confirmed in people as individuals within the scientific trial have by no means developed these tumors. It’s important to acknowledge the signs of a thyroid tumor and focus on your medical historical past together with your physician.
What signs do you suppose you are taking an excessive amount of Wegovy?
You’ll not take extra Wegovy than prescribed. For those who do that incorrectly, contact your physician or name Poison Assist Line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose may cause extreme nausea, persistent vomiting, and harmful hypoglycemia (hypoglycemia).
Wegovy will keep in your system for a very long time, so medical surveillance could also be required to make sure correct hydration and protected blood sugar ranges.
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