Wegovy, a revolutionary medication for weight management, has garnered significant attention in recent times. While it offers newfound hope for those struggling with obesity, it's essential to delve into the fine print and understand the potential side effects that accompany this breakthrough treatment.
In this article, we'll uncover the lesser-known aspects of Wegovy, shedding light on its side effects and providing valuable insights to help patients make informed decisions about their health and wellness.
Take note that some side effects of Wegovy can occur immediately after the first dose.
As stated on Wegovy's official website, the most common side effects of this medicine are digestive problems, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, headache, tiredness, upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, gas, stomach flu, heartburn, and runny nose or sore throat.
The most severe side effect of Wegovy is thyroid tumor and possibly thyroid cancer. Studies on rodents have shown that Wegovy can cause thyroid tumors. It is not known if this medicine will cause this illness in people.
It is recommended that people with a history of thyroid tumors in a family do not take Wegovy.
Wegovy is a (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Clinical trials have shown that these types of drugs can increase heart rate at rest. This increase can range from 3 beats per minute to 20 bpm. If a patient has troubles with the heart, especially arrhythmia, or feels that their heart races for more than a few minutes when resting, he should consult a doctor.
Wegovy is a (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Clinical trials have shown that these types of drugs can increase heart rate at rest. This increase can range from 3 beats per minute to 20 bpm. If a patient has troubles with the heart, especially arrhythmia, or feels that their heart races for more than a few minutes when resting, he should consult a doctor.
In about 6% of patients, Wegovy caused hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. If taken with other medicines that are used to treat diabetes, Wegovy can lower blood sugar even more. So be careful when taking it with insulin.
Since it lowers blood sugar, Wegovy doesn't cause diabetes. Since it is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which is often used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, Wegovy can help control blood sugar levels.
In about 24% of patients, Wegovy can cause vomiting since it keeps the food in the stomach longer. However, vomiting from Wegovy is not severe and usually stops after a few days of taking this medication.
Almost half of the patients experience nausea when they first start taking Wegovy or when they increase dosage. Nausea usually subsides after time but if it is persistent, a doctor can prescribe some anti-sickness medications to ease the symptoms and stop a patient from feeling sick after taking Wegovy.
Yes. One of the side effects of Wegovy can be inflammation of the pancreas. If a patient has trouble with the pancreas before, he should consult his doctor to see if it is safe for him to take Wegovy.
High doses of Wegovy can cause hair loss in a small number of patients. Around 3% of patients in clinical trials experienced hair loss Interesting fact is that Ozempic, which is the same drug but different name, doesn't cause hair loss. The only difference is that Wegovy is given in a higher dosage
Some physicians recommend taking Wegovy on an empty stomach to increase its effectiveness. Other advice is to take it with a meal or immediately before to help with the digestive process. Since Wegovy slows down digestion, it can cause stomach pain in some patients.
<b>No</b>. There is no evidence that Wegovy causes blood clots or blood thickening. All blood clot incidents that included Wegovy were caused by some other treatment like colonoscopy.
Hot flashes are not listed among the common side effects of Wegovy. It is believed that this medication can cause hot flashes because of its effect on the body's metabolism.
Body aches or joint pains are no known side effects of Wegovy. Patients can experience them but they are probably related to other treatments or causes like injecting the drug. However, some patients can experience a slight headache .
Leg cramps can occur but they are most likely related to the patient's diet and lack of some essential nutrients.
Belching is one of the common side effects of semaglutide-based medicines. Some users complained even about burps that smelled of sulfur or rotten eggs. Some medicines can easily help with this side effect, although belching doesn't always have to be connected with Wegovy.
Wegovy affects the digestive system and can also cause some small troubles like belching and hiccups. However, these symptoms are not severe, or common and should not always be connected with medicine.
After nausea, diarrhea is the most common side effect of Wegovy. Almost one–third of patients experience it. Diarrhea occurs after the first dose or when the physician increases the dosage. It usually goes away after a few weeks when the body adjusts to medicine.
The same as diarrhea, constipation is also one of the most common side effects. It also starts when a patient first uses Wegovy and goes away after a few weeks when the body adapts.
Wegovy can cause gallbladder inflammation or gallstones. Especially if the patient has cases of gallstones in the family.
So if the patient feels pain in the upper abdomen or yellowing of eyes, he should visit a doctor because some gallstones need surgery to be removed.
If a patient experiences unusually dry mouth after taking Wegovy, he should immediately consult a doctor. A dry mouth can be a symptom of dehydration which can become a very serious condition if not treated properly.
According to Medical News Today Wegovy can in some rare cases cause depression or anxiety. Research about these side effects is still in progress because some patients complained about feeling differently after taking Wegovy.
If you have a history of suicidal thoughts or mental health problems, it is advised to visit a doctor before taking Wegovy.
Most side effects last only a few weeks until the body adapts to a new drug. They usually start immediately after the first dose and subside over time.
More serious side effects can last longer and should be treated not to become permanent.
Since Wegovy is affecting the gastrointestinal system, most side effects can be treated with medications that reduce gas buildup or anti-sickness treatment.
Users should also drink plenty of water, eat smaller portions and more slowly, eat healthy food, and avoid grease and fried meals. Everything that helps the body to digest more efficiently is helpful for Wegovy side effects.
Wegovy is a tested and approved medicine that helps a lot of overweight and obese people. Most of the side effects are not serious and go away after a few weeks.
Consulting with a physician before taking Wegovy is necessary and he can help overcome any inconvenience patients may experience.
