Wegovy

• Wegovy is available as pre-filled pens containing a solution for injection. It is injected once a week under the skin in the belly, thigh or upper arm.

• To reduce the risk of symptoms affecting the gut, the weekly dose is gradually increased over 16 weeks.

• Patients administer the medicine themselves.

• The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.

• For more information about using Wegovy, see the Patient Information Leaflet or contact the Everwell Medical Team or your pharmacist.

• The active substance in Wegovy, semaglutide, is a ‘GLP-1 receptor agonist’.

• It acts in the same way as GLP-1 (a natural hormone in the body) and, among other things, appears to regulate appetite by increasing a person’s feelings of fullness, while reducing their food intake, hunger and cravings.

• Further information on Wegovy is available in the in the Summary of Product Characteristics from the European Medicines Agency which is available here:https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/wegovy-epar-product-information_en.pdf

• Studies have shown that Wegovy is effective in helping people lose weight, with a significant proportion of them achieving at least a 5% weight reduction.

• Three of the studies involved adults who had tried unsuccessfully to lose weight in the past and had a BMI of >30 kg/m2 or a BMI of >27 kg/m2 plus a weight-related health problem.

• In the first of these, involving 1,961 people, people treated with Wegovy were able to lose on average 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks compared with a 2% loss of weight in people who had placebo (a dummy treatment). In addition, 84% of people in the Wegovy group were able to lose at least 5% of their weight compared with 31% of people in the placebo group.

• In the second study, involving 611 people, those treated with Wegovy lost on average 16% of their body weight after 68 weeks compared with a 6% loss of weight in people who had placebo. Around 85% of people in the Wegovy group lost at least 5% of their weight compared with 48% of people in the placebo group. All participants in this study also received counselling to help them lose weight.

• The third study, involving 902 people, looked at how the effects of Wegovy were maintained over the first 20 weeks. In this study, all participants had Wegovy for 20 weeks, after which some were stopped having Wegovy and were given placebo instead. After 48 more weeks, those who continued on Wegovy lost a further 8% of their body weight while those on placebo regained 7% of theirs, indicating that people need to continue taking Wegovy in order not to regain weight. 

• A fourth study involved 1,210 adults with type 2 diabetes with a BMI of >27 kg/m2 and who had also tried unsuccessfully to lose weight in the past. After 68 weeks, those treated with Wegovy were able on average to lose 10% of their weight compared with a 3% loss in people who had placebo. In addition, 67% of people in the Wegovy group were able to lose at least 5% of their weight compared with 30% of people in the placebo group.

• The most common side effects with Wegovy (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) are headache, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, diarrhoea, constipations and abdominal (belly) pain.

• For the full list of side effects and restrictions of Wegovy, see the package leaflet if you are prescribed Wegovy. 

Potential side effects are generally mild and tend to diminish as the body adjusts to the medication:

• Up to 44% of patients experience nausea, vomiting,
  diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain. Less commonly reported side effects
  are Headache, fatigue, dizziness, indigestion. Hair loss occurs in some
  patients. In some instances patients are unable to tolerate the
  medication. 

There are however some potential serious side effects you need to be aware of (if you have any concerns or questions regarding these, it is essential that you contact the Everwell Medical Team before you start your treatment):

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas): Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Incidence is low
  but significant. This can be life threatening.

• Gallbladder Issues: Such as gallstones, potentially leading to cholecystitis. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, and yellowing of the skin or eyes.

• Thyroid Tumours: Animal studies indicated a risk of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), although this hasn’t been observed in humans. Monitor for neck lumps or difficulty swallowing. Any change to your voice.

• Hypoglycemia: Especially when combined with diabetes medications called sulphonylureas or insulin, occurring in ~6% of users with diabetes.

• Kidney Injury: Due to dehydration from severe vomiting or diarrhoea.

• Diabetic Retinopathy Complications: Worsened vision in patients with pre-existing conditions.

• Allergic Reactions: Rare but potentially life-threatening, including symptoms like swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, or severe rash.

• Tachycardia (Increased Heart Rate): Rare but possible, with heart rate increases of 1–4 beats per minute observed.

Incidence of Serious Side Effects

• In clinical trials, approximately 9.8% of patients reported serious side effects compared to 6.4% on placebo.

• Many of these resolved without requiring discontinuation of the drug, but regular monitoring is essential.

• Obesity can lead to severe health problems and many people with obesity experience difficulty trying to lose weight. Wegovy is effective at reducing weight in adults with obesity or who are overweight with a weight-related health problem.

• The European Medicines Agency therefore decided that Wegovy’s benefits are greater than its risks and it can be authorised for use in the EU which includes Ireland.