Is Wegovy Safe?

Yes, Wegovy is a safe weight loss treatment when it is prescribed and used correctly. Before prescribing Wegovy weight loss injections to you, a doctor will consider your medical history, such as past and current medical conditions and medications, and your body mass index (BMI).

As well as monitoring your response to Wegovy, your doctor will also make sure you follow the Wegovy dosage schedule. The schedule is in place to introduce the active ingredient called semaglutide into your body slowly, reducing the risk of side effects. If you’re worried about side effects, you can remain on a lower dose for longer, if you are seeing Wegovy’s benefits for weight loss.

Wegovy has been thoroughly tested for its safety and efficacy and has been approved for use by the MHRA for weight loss.

Weight loss trials

Wegovy was approved for weight loss in the United Kingdom after several clinical trials were conducted to assess its safety and effectiveness. The key trials were part of the STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity) clinical program which included four key phase 3 trials (STEP 1 TO 4):

STEP 1

Publication date – 10 February 2021.

Objective – Evaluate the effectiveness of Wegovy in overweight or obese adults without diabetes.

Results – Participants lost, on average, 14.9% of their initial body weight at the highest semaglutide dose of 2.4mg/ week after 68 weeks.

Side effects – 74% of participants reported gastrointestinal adverse events like feeling sick, diarrhoea, being sick, and constipation compared to 47.9% in the placebo group.

9.8% reported serious adverse events in the Wegovy group compared to 6.4% in the placebo group.

STEP 2

Publication date – 13 March 2021.

Objective – Focused on the effects of semaglutide on overweight or obese people with type 2 diabetes.

Results – Average weight loss over 68 weeks at the highest semaglutide dose was 9.6%.

Side effects – Side effects were most common in the semaglutide group compared to the placebo group (87.6% vs 79.9%).

STEP 3

Publication date – 24 February 2021

Objective – Investigate the effects of once-weekly 2.4mg of semaglutide with intensive behavioural therapy (low-calorie diet and 30 counselling sessions) compared to a placebo.

Results – After 68 weeks, the average weight loss in the Wegovy and behavioural intervention group was 16% compared to 5.7% in the placebo group, suggesting that Wegovy combined with behavioural therapy enhances its results.

Side effects – Gastrointestinal side effects were more common in the semaglutide group (82.8%) compared to the placebo group (63.2%) and resulted in 3.4% of the semaglutide-treated patients withdrawing from the trial.

STEP 4

Publication date – 23 March 2021

Objective – Assessed the long-term effects and sustainability of weight loss with continued Wegovy use.

Results – Continued Wegovy use from week 20 to week 68 resulted in an average weight loss of 7.9% compared to a 6.9% weight gain when switching to a placebo. The study showed that continued treatment is crucial for continued weight management.

Side effects – Gastrointestinal side effects were reported in 41.9% of participants given semaglutide compared to 26.1% in the placebo group. However, withdrawal from the trial was similar between the 2 groups, 2.4%in the semaglutide group and 2.2% in the placebo group.

Additional trials, such as STEP 5 and STEP 8 , further explored the long-term weight maintenance of Wegovy and how it compared to other treatments.

STEP 5

The STEP 5 trials explored the long-term effects of Wegovy (semaglutide) on weight maintenance over 2 years. The results showed that the average weight loss in the Wegovy group after 104 weeks was 15.2% compared to 2.6% in the placebo group.

It also showed that 77.1% of participants in the Wegovy group lost at least 5% of their starting body weight after 2 years compared to 34.4% in the placebo group.

In total, 9 participants in the semaglutide group withdrew from the trial because of adverse events, compared to 7 in the placebo group. Gastrointestinal effects were most commonly reported, including:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• diarrhoea
• constipation

These effects led to 6 people withdrawing from the study in the Wegovy group and 1 in the placebo group. These side effects were mostly mild and occurred during dose escalation.

Serious adverse events were reported in 7.9% of participants in the semaglutide group and 11.8% in the placebo group.

STEP 8

The STEP 8 trial compared a once-weekly 2.4mg subcutaneous injection of semaglutide with a once-daily subcutaneous 3mg liraglutide injection with overweight or obese individuals. The average weight loss was 15.8% in the Wegovy group and 6.4% in the liraglutide group.

Gastrointestinal side effects occurred in both groups, 84.1% in the semaglutide group and 82.7% in the liraglutide group. However, more people withdrew from the trial in the liraglutide group (27.6%) compared to the semaglutide group (13.5%).

The most common Wegovy side effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 people) are:

• headache
• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• stomach pain
• weakness or tiredness

Wegovy side effects are not usually severe and are most likely to occur when you first start treatment or when you increase your dose.

Uncommonly, Wegovy can cause an inflamed pancreas with symptoms including a severe and long-lasting pain in the stomach which may move to your back. If you experience these symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately.

In rare cases, affecting up to 1 in 1000 people, Wegovy can cause severe allergic reactions. Signs of a severe allergic reaction are:

• breathing difficulties
• swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat with difficulties swallowing
• wheezing
• fast heartbeat
• pale and cold skin
• dizziness or weakness

Another rare but serious side effect of Wegovy is hip fractures.

If you experience any of these serious side effects, you should call 999 or get someone to take you to A&E immediately.

For a full list of potential Wegovy side effects, including what to do if you get them, and how to manage them, read our ‘Wegovy side effects’ guide.

Wegovy is not suitable for everyone, but your doctor will assess your suitability during your consultation.

Do not take Wegovy if you are allergic to semaglutide or any other ingredients listed in the medication.

Before taking Wegovy, tell your doctor if you:

• have kidney problems
• are diabetic
• have or have ever had pancreas problems, including pancreatitis
• have been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy
• are going to have surgery under anaesthetic
• have ever had an allergic reaction to another GLP-1 receptor agonist, like Mounjaro, liraglutide, or Ozempic

Wegovy is not suitable for everyone. You could be at risk of health problems if you do not get a prescription from a doctor, or if you do not let your doctor know about a condition or treatment you’re taking that could interact with Wegovy.

Safe Wegovy use depends on proper use and understanding how to increase your dose. Your doctor will provide full instructions on how to do this.

Wegovy dosage schedule

The Wegovy dosage schedule involves increasing your dose every 4 weeks until you reach a maintenance dose that works for you.

The starting Wegovy dose is always 0.25mg once a week, and the maximum dosage is 2.4mg per week. The typical dosage schedule is:

If you are happy with your weight loss on a lower dose, you can discuss remaining on that dose with your doctor. However, if you change your mind and want to increase your dose and it’s been at least 4 weeks since you last increased your dose, you can increase your dose under your doctor’s supervision.

You can find out more about Wegovy dosages, signs you may need to increase your dose, and what side effects you may experience, in our ‘Wegovy dosage’ guide.

Injecting Wegovy safely

Wegovy can be injected in 3 main sites on the body:

1. abdomen
2. upper legs
3. upper arms (if you can get someone to do it for you)

➤ You can learn more about injecting Wegovy safely in our ‘How to take Wegovy’ guide.

Yes, if you buy Wegovy online from a reputable and registered service like Asda Online Doctor.

Because Wegovy is a prescription-only medication, you must ensure that the provider is properly licensed and follows current medical guidelines.

Before buying or requesting Wegovy from an online provider, you should first:

✓ check for an MHRA registration – UK online pharmacies must be registered with the MHRA and the GPhC, look for their verification logos or a regulation page on their website

✓ make sure you get a prescription – a legitimate online pharmacy will require you to complete a medical consultation before prescribing Wegovy

✓ check the price – if the price seems too good to be true or is a lot lower than other retailers, it might suggest a counterfeit product

✓ verify contact information – look for a physical UK address, phone number, and licensed pharmacists or doctors available for a consultation