Key takeaways
- Wegovy is a brand-name medication that’s used for weight loss in adults and some children. It’s available as either a weekly injection or a daily pill.
- Wegovy contains the same active drug as Ozempic (semaglutide). However, only Wegovy is approved for weight loss.
- Wegovy’s price depends on several factors, including your dosage, the form you’re prescribed, and how you choose to pay. If you have insurance, your provider may want you to try a lower cost alternative before it agrees to cover the cost of Wegovy.
Read on for more information about Wegovy as a weight-loss medication.
Wegovy contains semaglutide, which is the same active drug as Ozempic. Because of this, Wegovy and Ozempic are expected to work similarly. However, unlike Wegovy, Ozempic is not FDA-approved for weight loss.
Doctors may prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss. But if you have health insurance, your insurance provider may not cover medications prescribed for off-label uses.
Other drugs prescribed for weight loss include:
All these drugs are considered to be effective for weight loss and long-term weight management. Wegovy is not “stronger” than these other medications, but it appears to be the most effective. Recent guidelines recommend that doctors consider prescribing Wegovy before other medications for long-term weight management.
Using Wegovy for weight loss may cause mild or serious side effects. The following table includes some of the main side effects that people using Wegovy have reported. Keep in mind that Wegovy is approved to treat several conditions, and side effects of Wegovy may differ depending on the condition it’s being used to treat.
For information about other potential side effects of the drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also see our article about Wegovy side effects or refer to Wegovy’s prescribing information.
| Mild side effects | Serious side effects |
|---|---|
| • abdominal pain • bloating, burping, or flatulence (gas) • nausea and vomiting • indigestion • constipation or diarrhea • heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) • gastroenteritis (stomach flu) • headache • dizziness • fatigue • mild allergic reaction | • increased heart rate • hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) • kidney damage, including sudden kidney injury caused by severe dehydration • severe digestive side effects such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea • acute pancreatitis (sudden inflammation of the pancreas) • gallbladder problems, such as gallstones • eye problems, in people with type 2 diabetes • changes in mood (including depression and suicidal thoughts) • low blood pressure • appendicitis • increased risk of fractures • pulmonary aspiration (inhaling food or liquid) during general anesthesia • severe allergic reaction • boxed warning: risk of thyroid cancer |
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Wegovy and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.
Find the answers to some frequently asked questions about Wegovy.
Wegovy starts working as soon as you begin taking it. Your dosage is increased slowly, so it may take a few weeks before you start losing weight. How much weight you might lose per month may depend on your Wegovy dose, your diet, and your exercise habits.
In clinical trials, people who took Wegovy steadily lost weight over a 68-week period. In these trials, most people who took Wegovy lost at least 5% of their body weight over 68 weeks. And about half of the people who took Wegovy lost at least 15% of their body weight over this time.
Not everyone taking Wegovy will have the same experience with this drug.
To learn more about what you can expect while taking Wegovy, talk with your doctor.
Wegovy is meant to be a long-term treatment. You’ll likely take it for as long as it continues to be safe and effective for you.
In studies, people who stopped taking Wegovy regained nearly 7% of their body weight within 1 year.
The cost of Wegovy, including the cost per month, is based on several factors. These can include your prescribed treatment regimen, your insurance plan, the pharmacy you use, and your location.
Wegovy is a brand-name drug. It’s not currently available as a generic. Brand-name drugs usually cost more than generics.
You may be able to find drug coupons on prescription discount websites. These coupons can’t be used with insurance copays or benefits, but the discounted price may be lower than what you would pay through insurance.
Discover more about Wegovy
Where to buy Wegovy
If you think Wegovy could be a weight management option for you, talk with your doctor. They can determine whether Wegovy might be right for you and provide a prescription.
An easy way to purchase Wegovy is by using a telemedicine provider such as Calibrate or Ro. Through these services, a licensed telehealth professional will give you a health evaluation. If the evaluation shows that Wegovy could be helpful for you, the telehealth professional may provide an electronic prescription. You can then use this prescription to order the medication through the service’s site. After you start taking the medication, the service will provide coaching and other support to help you manage your weight.
If you get a Wegovy prescription through Calibrate or Ro, we encourage you to tell your doctor. It’s important that your doctor knows about all medications you take.
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Wegovy is a type of drug called a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It works by acting similarly to the action of a natural hormone in your body called GLP-1.
GLP-1 helps regulate your appetite and blood sugar levels. It produces the following effects:
- slowed movement of food from your stomach to your intestine, making you feel fuller after eating
- reduced appetite
Wegovy acts on the same sites in the brain as GLP-1. It produces the same effects as this hormone, which helps you consume fewer calories. Over time, this helps you lose weight and keep it off.
Wegovy comes as a liquid solution inside prefilled, single-dose injection pens. It also comes as a pill that you swallow. Both Wegovy injections and pills come in several strengths.
Your doctor will typically start you on a low dosage of Wegovy. This allows your body to get used to the medication and helps reduce the risk of digestive side effects. Your doctor will typically increase your dosage over time, as described in the following tables. Doses are measured in milligrams (mg).
Dosage for Wegovy injections
| Week | Usual dosage for adults and children ages 12 years and older |
|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 0.25 mg once per week |
| 5 to 8 | 0.5 mg once per week |
| 9 to 12 | 1 mg once per week |
| 13 to 16 | 1.7 mg once per week |
| 17 and onward | 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg once per week |
Wegovy injections are given as a weekly subcutaneous injection in your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.
Your doctor or another healthcare professional will teach you how to use a Wegovy pen to inject the medication yourself. You can also find instructions for using Wegovy on the manufacturer’s website.
Dosage for Wegovy tablets
| Day | Usual dosage for adults |
|---|---|
| 1 to 30 | 1.5 mg daily |
| 31 to 60 | 4 mg daily |
| 61 to 90 | 9 mg daily |
| 91 and onward | 25 mg daily |
Wegovy tablets should be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of water, at least 30 minutes before you swallow any other food, drinks, or medications. Wegovy’s manufacturer recommends taking it as soon as you wake up for the day.
Note: Wegovy tablets are only approved for use in adults. If your child is prescribed this medication for weight loss, they’ll use Wegovy injection instead.
Before you use Wegovy, there’s some important information to keep in mind. The drug may not be a safe option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health, including:
Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid cancer
Wegovy has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid cancer. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In animal studies, semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy) caused thyroid tumors in rodents. However, animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans. It’s not known if Wegovy increases the risk of thyroid tumors in humans.
Due to this possible risk, your doctor will likely not prescribe Wegovy if:
- you or someone in your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma
- you have a rare condition that causes various types of tumors, called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
While taking Wegovy, you should contact your doctor if you develop symptoms of thyroid cancer. These may include persistent hoarseness, trouble swallowing, talking, or breathing, or a lump in your neck.
Other warnings
In addition to boxed warnings, Wegovy has other warnings.
If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Wegovy:
- if you have a history of chronic dehydration or acute kidney injury
- if you have type 2 diabetes, especially if you take insulin or a type of drug called a sulfonylurea, such as glipizide (Glucotrol)
- if you have a history of diabetic retinopathy
- if you have a history of pancreas problems
- if you have a history of gallbladder problems
- if you have a history of suicidal thoughts or behavior
- if you have a history of gastroparesis
- if you have any upcoming surgeries
- if you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- if you’re breastfeeding or thinking of breastfeeding
- if you’ve had an allergic reaction to Wegovy or any of its ingredients
Help is out there
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call or text the 988 Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
Disclaimer: While Medical News Today strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.