Wegovy

Wegovy is the newest weight loss injection pen available. It comes as a pre-filled injection pen that you inject yourself with once a week.

It works by making you want to eat less, so you end up eating fewer calories overall. To lose weight, use Wegovy with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

It is suitable for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30. You can also get it if you have a BMI of 27 or above and have a condition caused by your weight.

This medicine helps you lose weight by making you not as hungry. You will eat less food and slowly lose weight over time. Semaglutide is the active ingredient and is a type of GLP-1 agonist medicine. It contains the same drug as Ozempic and belongs to the same family as Saxenda.

These drugs work by increasing the levels of a hormone called GLP-1, a hormone responsible for how hungry you feel. Doing so slows down digestion and stomach emptying. It reduces your appetite because you feel fuller for longer, resulting in weight loss.

What is the difference between Wegovy and Ozempic?

Wegovy and Ozempic have the same active ingredient but they are used differently.

Ozempic was the first Semaglutide brand to be approved and licensed in the UK. It is only licensed for type 2 diabetes treatment. However, because Ozempic affects your weight as well as your blood sugar levels, it can sometimes be prescribed off-label for weight loss.

On the other hand, Wegovy is a licensed treatment for weight loss and is therefore prescribed to patients looking to lose weight.

Wegovy is a great way to help you lose weight, especially for those who struggle to lose weight by themselves. However, to see the best results, you must also eat a healthy diet and exercise.

When used correctly, studies show that patients lose an average of 5% of their original body weight after 68 weeks on Wegovy. This was an average of 35 lbs (15kg).

Wegovy treatment is a sustainable way to lose weight. This means you’ll enjoy many health benefits in the long-term, such as:

• improved blood sugar levels
• increased mobility and reduced joint pain
• a lower risk of long-term health problems such as heart disease and stroke
• improved self-esteem, self-confidence and mental health overall

Wegovy is a pre-filled injection pen that you inject yourself with once weekly.

Each time you inject, you need to prepare the needle.

Preparing your needle

You must prepare the needle carefully each time so you know that the pen is safe and ready to use.

1. Check the name and dose on the pen to make sure it's correct.
2. Pull off the pen cap and check the fluid is clear and colourless. If it’s cloudy or discoloured, do not use the pen.
3. Use a new needle and check that it is sealed.
4. Once the needle is ready, tear off the paper tab and push the needle onto the pen, turning it until it's on tight.
5. Remove both caps from the needle. Keep the outer needle cap so you can safely dispose of the needle later.

You must check the flow before your first injection with each new pen. Turn the dose selector to 0, and a drop of Wegovy should appear.

How to administer Wegovy injections

Once the pen is ready, you can inject it. Read the patient information leaflet thoroughly before using Wegovy for the first time.

Instructions

Turn the dose selector until the dose counter stops, and it shows your prescribed dose.
Choose an injection site. You can inject it into your upper arms, upper legs or stomach. You can inject in the same area each week but change the spot slightly each time.
Insert the needle into your skin. Make sure you can see the dose counter. Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter returns to 0 - you may hear or feel a click.
Remove the needle from your skin. If there is blood, lightly press on the area to stop the bleeding. You may see a drop of Wegovy at the needle tip - this is normal and nothing to worry about.

Dispose of the needle carefully after each injection. Place the outer cap back on the needle and unscrew the needle from the pen. Discard the needle into a sharps bin.

You increase the dose of Wegovy gradually across the weeks. The starting dose is 0.25mg once weekly, and it goes up to a maximum of 2.4mg.

If you have side effects on a higher dose, you can return and stay on a lower dosage.

The drug is available for those with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related condition (e.g. type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure).

It is not suitable for those who:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• have had a reaction to Semaglutide in the past
• a personal/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia type (MEN 2)

Others with certain health conditions may be able to use it but should check with their doctor first. This is especially true for those who have:

• gallbladder problems
• a history of pancreatitis
• a history of mental illness and/or suicidal thoughts
• thyroid problems (e.g. underactive or overactive thyroid)
• type 2 diabetes and/or diabetic retinopathy
• heart rate condition
• kidney problems
• digestive conditions (e.g. Crohn’s disease)

Always consult your doctor before starting any new medication.

You should also ask your doctor if you use any other medications, both over-the-counter and prescription medicines.

Like all prescription medicines, it can cause some side effects. The most common side effects are temporary and should go away over time.

Very common side effects of Wegovy include:

• headaches
• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• stomach pain
• feeling weak or tired

If you also take insulin or another diabetes medicine, you may be at a higher risk of having low blood sugar (hypo). If you start to feel any signs of hypo, treat it quickly to prevent it from getting worse.

For a full list of side effects, refer to the patient information leaflet.

Currently, Wegovy is available in the US but not in the UK. Since NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) recommended it for obesity treatment in early 2022, it has been approved and is expected to be released in 2023.

What are the alternatives?

Another weight loss injection available in the UK is Saxenda. It belongs to the same family of medications and therefore works in the same way. The only difference is that you inject Saxenda daily rather than weekly.

There are also several tablets available, such as Mysimba and Orlistat (Xenical), which are also effective for weight loss.