Wegovy®

semaglutide,GLP-1,injection

Wegovy® mimics a gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). When you eat, GLP-1 slows digestion and helps you feel full. It also:

Balances blood sugar

Reduces appetite

Regulates insulin

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Everything you need to know about
Wegovy®

What is

Wegovy®

Benefits How it works How to use it

What is
Wegovy®
?

Wegovy is a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat obesity and those with excess weight who have at least one weight-related medical issue.

Wegovy is a brand name for an injectable semaglutide manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It is a synthetic version of the GLP-1 hormone. There is no generic version approved by the FDA.

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Benefits of
Wegovy®

Expected weight loss depends on the dosage of Wegovy and your lifestyle. In one large clinical trial, patients on 2.4 mg of Wegovy each week who received individualized lifestyle counseling sessions, followed a low-calorie diet, and increased physical activity lost an average of almost 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks. (Safe weight loss is one to two pounds per week.)

Wegovy may have more benefits than just treating obesity and weight-related medical problems. In clinical trials funded by Novo Nordisk, researchers found Wegovy reduces the risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with obesity or overweight who also have cardiovascular disease. Semaglutide improves heart health by lowering blood sugar and helping people lose excess weight.

And it’s significant to note that some patients have reported reduced cravings while using semaglutide for weight loss.

How does
Wegovy®
work?

Eating triggers the release of GLP-1 in the gut. This hormone helps lower blood glucose (blood sugar) by stimulating insulin secretion, and insulin helps blood glucose enter your body’s cells for later energy use.

In some people, the gut doesn't make enough natural GLP-1, or the brain isn't sensitive to it.

Wegovy is a synthetic GLP-1 receptor agonist (RA). Agonists activate the same cell receptors as the body's natural chemical messengers. So, Wegovy works in the body like its natural GLP-1. Because Wegovy slows digestion, it helps curb hunger and signal fullness to the brain. As a result, some people with obesity have lost weight while taking it.

Because Wegovy supports a process the body isn’t doing well, it may require long-term use.

It’s important to note that GLP-1 medications don’t work for everyone. There are dozens of biological reasons why people struggle to lose weight. Found’s clinicians, trained in obesity medicine, can help patients identify the root cause of their weight gain and personalize a prescription to target it. All prescriptions are up to a medical provider’s discretion.

More on personalized treatment with Found

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How to use it

Take Wegovy as instructed by a qualified health care provider. Novo Nordisk recommends injecting the medicine once a week under the skin in the upper arm, upper thigh, or stomach. Store the single-dose Wegovy pens in the refrigerator.

Dosing

For most patients, dosing typically begins with the 0.25 mg pen for weekly injections for the first four weeks. The dose increases to 0.5 mg on the fifth week of treatment. After that, your provider may increase your weekly dose, every four weeks, to 1 mg, then 1.7 mg, and highest 2.4 mg, as clinically needed for weight loss and if you continue to tolerate Wegovy injections.

Side effects

Rapid or significant weight loss can lead to too much muscle loss. It’s important to start a strength training program and exercise regularly to protect your muscles while taking Wegovy.

Tell your health care provider if you have severe stomach problems that won’t go away, including abdominal bloating or pain, acid reflux, a feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites of food, nausea, and vomiting, including vomiting undigested food eaten a few hours earlier. These may be symptoms of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis).

Use effective contraception while taking this medication. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant, do not take Wegovy.

Wegovy isn’t appropriate for people who have insulin-dependent diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. So, if that’s you, Wegovy isn’t the right fit.

Black Box Warning

Although rare, semaglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumors in animal studies. Wegovy’s “black box” warns of the risk of these tumors. If you have trouble swallowing, develop hoarseness, or feel swelling or a lump in your neck, contact your health care provider immediately.

The FDA also warns not to take Wegovy if you have a personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or medullary thyroid cancer.

Precautions

Rapid or significant weight loss can lead to too much muscle loss. It’s important to start a strength training program and exercise regularly to protect your muscles while taking Wegovy.

Tell your health care provider if you have severe stomach problems that won’t go away, including abdominal bloating or pain, acid reflux, a feeling of fullness after eating just a few bites of food, nausea, and vomiting, including vomiting undigested food eaten a few hours earlier. These may be symptoms of gastroparesis (stomach paralysis).

Use effective contraception while taking this medication. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant, do not take Wegovy.

Wegovy isn’t appropriate for people who have insulin-dependent diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. So, if that’s you, Wegovy isn’t the right fit.

Interactions

Some drugs can also interact with Wegovy, including:

Insulin
Sulfonylureas (these can cause blood sugar levels to drop dangerously low when combined with Wegovy)
Some birth control pills
Other GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist medications such as liraglutide, dulaglutide, or tirzepatide

You should not drink alcohol while taking this drug because alcohol can lower blood sugar. Combining alcohol with Wegovy may cause blood sugars to fall too fast, leading to fainting and dizziness.

about
found

Found is an online weight loss program offering personalized care for every member. Some of the nation’s top obesity medicine specialists helped design our program. Our approach is based on science, and we’re committed to clinical excellence.

Members get access to: Clinicians trained in obesity medicine 1:1 health coaching Self-paced lifestyle change program designed by doctors, psychologists, and behavioral scientists Exclusive in-app community.

Found’s comprehensive program is designed to work with your body—so you can achieve lasting results and enjoy better health.

Alternative medications

Depending on your health history, weight history, and MetabolicPrint^TM assessment, your Found health care provider may consider other alternatives to help you lose weight. Some are FDA-approved for weight loss. Others are used off-label and have strong clinical evidence supporting their use for weight loss.

Unfortunately, there are no generic versions of Ozempic currently on the market.
However, your health care provider might consider alternatives such as Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Saxenda, all of which are GLP-1 medications but not all are FDA-approved for weight loss specifically.