1. < Weight Management

Expert Opinion: What is up with Wegovy?

Jan 7, 2022 | Julia Jurgensen | @juliajurgensen | Comments (26)

The newest weight loss medication, Wegovy (Semaglutide) came on the market in June 2021 and demand for the medication has been high. This medication, a once weekly injection, had excellent results in clinical trials showing weight loss of up to 15% body weight. It is recommended for adults with a BMI of > 30 or a BMI of > 27 plus weight related health concerns. It should be noted that Wegovy is recommended to be utilized long term for ongoing weight management.

The most common side effect of Wegovy is nausea (often due to feeling more full when starting this medication), but there are other side effects as well including:

  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Stomach (abdomen) pain
  • Headache
  • Tiredness (fatigue)
  • Upset stomach
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling bloated
  • Belching
  • Gas
  • Stomach flu
  • Heartburn

If you are started on Wegovy and experience nausea, it is recommended that you contact your health care provider for guidance. In addition, you can try eating bland, low fat foods, avoid lying down after you eat, eat more slowly, and increase your water intake (including foods with water like soup and gelatin) if feeling dehydrated.

 

                                         What has been your experience with weight loss medications?

 

Related Posts:

Is a Weight Loss Medication Right for You?

Do I still need to eat healthy and exercise when I'm on a weight loss medication?

Q & A: Is phentermine a good option for weight loss?

Interested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the Weight Management blog.

materialgirl | @materialgirl | May 12, 2023
In reply to @sirref "Started on Ozempic Dec 2021 at 340 lbs, moved to Mounjaro Jan 2023 last reading this..." + (show)
@sirref

Started on Ozempic Dec 2021 at 340 lbs, moved to Mounjaro Jan 2023 last reading this morning 5/12/2023 225 lbs. I will gladly take any of the side effects experienced by the many comorbidities that I have reduced. The attached photo says it all.
Ferris

Jump to this post

What side effects did you have, and did they go away?

REPLY
sunce1517 | @sunce1517 | Jun 13, 2023
In reply to @jrprusak "Male, 68. On Wegovy for weight loss 3 months now at the 1.7 dose. I have..." + (show)
@jrprusak

Male, 68. On Wegovy for weight loss 3 months now at the 1.7 dose. I have lost 30 pounds. I no longer have high blood pressure. Very few doctors know anything about how Wegovy works or how to deal with the side effects. The manufacturer is of no help at all. You do get through the side effects over time there is a hormone effect that happens to your body. The worst is my body temperature drops every afternoon and I get very cold. Wegovy does cause constipation and hard stools, part of the lack of not eating much. Drink lots of water, (I add electrolytes), go for fiber foods and I started using psyllium powder to add fiber and bulk to keep regular. Ask your doctor for some routine blood work and do your own research, I find some good stuff on youtube. Work on good eating habits for your future.

Jump to this post

is your doctor advocating to prolonged usage? I mean once you get to a healthy weight, won't there no longer be a need to be on the medicine as weight is manageable? With all of the awful side effects I would like to hear someone comments with solid results or being taken off type II meds.

What is the hormonal effect you reference that occurs over time? I'm considering the medication to help kick start me to a path to a healthy weight but do not want to be on it indefinitely. Thanks for sharing!

REPLY
1 reply
Tara Schmidt | @taraschmidt | Jun 14, 2023
In reply to @sunce1517 "is your doctor advocating to prolonged usage? I mean once you get to a healthy weight,..." + (show)
@sunce1517

is your doctor advocating to prolonged usage? I mean once you get to a healthy weight, won't there no longer be a need to be on the medicine as weight is manageable? With all of the awful side effects I would like to hear someone comments with solid results or being taken off type II meds.

What is the hormonal effect you reference that occurs over time? I'm considering the medication to help kick start me to a path to a healthy weight but do not want to be on it indefinitely. Thanks for sharing!

Jump to this post

Hi @sunce1517 - Things to consider when discussing the duration of a weight loss medication could include the following: efficacy, tolerance, cost, and health status. Know there is a risk of weight regain when going off these medications, as the 'tool' is no longer present. That is why we highly encourage you to be working on lifestyle habits before, during, and after. Here are a few pages you might enjoy:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/weight-management-1/newsfeed-post/is-a-weight-loss-medication-right-for-you/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss-drugs/art-20044832#:~:text=Prescription%20weight-loss%20drugs%20that%20you%20can%20use%20for,greater%20weight%20loss%20than%20do%20lifestyle%20changes%20alone.https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/living-well/when-should-i-consider-using-a-medication-to-assist-with-weight-loss/
REPLY
sunce1517 | @sunce1517 | Jun 14, 2023

Thanks Tara for the input and providing good links! I was hoping to hear from the man referencing his experience I believe it was @jrprusak who was sharing details. Can you speak to the questions posed above?

REPLY
wr61 | @wr61 | Jun 25, 2023
In reply to @habeebedwards "I was using Wegovy for the last 6 months. It works very well but had to..." + (show)
@habeebedwards

I was using Wegovy for the last 6 months. It works very well but had to learn how to navigate the side effects. Was able to use a coupon and that has expired, the price is too high. Would love to continue taking it but I can’t afford the price.

Jump to this post

Everyone experiences nausea starting GLP1's all brands do this, I was on Victoza for 6 months prior to WLS. Daily injection.

REPLY
kaelen | @kaelen | Jul 11, 2023

Are you aware that China hasn’t approved semiglutide for weight loss? But China has approved a human glp-1 polypeptide that has very few side effects. Not questionably cancerous, pregnancy risk or riddled with stomach issues. Talked to the manufacturer today and they don’t deny that human peptide is far superior. The problem is that it has a shorter half life and so more expensive to produce. Wegovy and ozempic are Gila lizard peptide like. It’s dangerous and experimental. When we eat we release glp-1 why would you get sick unless the peptide is foreign and difficult to digest?
Very concern profit is corrupting.
Semiglutide 250k per gram
Demand human glp-1 peptide
This semiglutide has mental effects too for some people like my spouse 🙁

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.