Wegovy side effects: What you need to know

The following list includes all recorded side effects of Wegovy. You can also find additional information on side effects in the Wegovy package leaflet.

Very common Wegovy side effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 people) include:

• headache
• feeling weak or tired
• nausea (feeling sick)
• vomiting (being sick)
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• stomach pain

Common Wegovy side effects (can affect up to 1 in 10 people) include:

• stomach and digestion problems
• burping
• stomach inflammation
• gas
• dizziness
• bloating
• heartburn
• hair loss
• skin reactions where the medication was injected
• gallstones
• low blood sugar or diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes
• taste changes
• changes in skin sensations

Uncommon Wegovy side effects (affecting up to 1 in 100 people) include:

• fast heartbeat
• higher levels of pancreatic enzymes in the blood
• stomach paralysis (gastroparesis)
• delayed stomach emptying
• low blood sugar in people without diabetes
• increased levels of bilirubin in your blood

Are there any serious Wegovy side effects?

Wegovy can cause serious side effects that will require medical attention. If you get any of the following serious side effects, you should talk to a doctor straight away or call 999 if it is an emergency.

Common serious side effects include:

• complications of diabetic eye disease

Uncommon serious side effects include:

• an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis)
• kidney or bladder stones

Rare side effects (less than 1 in 1,000 people affected) include:

• serious allergic reaction, such as swelling in face, mouth, or throat
• hip fractures

Very rare side effects (affecting about 1 in 10,000 people) include:

• non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, also known as NAION, can cause loss of sight – if you develop any changes or issues with your sight, speak to your GP or call 111 before continuing treatment

Wegovy is a black triangle drug, which is a scheme that new medications must follow after being approved for use in the UK. This means Wegovy is under careful monitoring and all side effects should be reported to your doctor, including ones not listed on the patient information leaflet. More side effects may become apparent over time.

Wegovy long-term side effects

At the moment, there isn’t much data on the long-term side effects of Wegovy. This is because the active ingredient, semaglutide, has only recently been approved for weight loss. Although semaglutide has been in use for diabetes since 2018 as the branded treatment Ozempic, this has been at a lower maintenance dose, so side effects won’t be identical for Ozempic and Wegovy. To ensure that the weight loss medication is safe for its users, a series of clinical trials with different durations and circumstances was done – the STEP trials. The longest of these studies was STEP 5, which went over a period of 2 years. In this trial, researchers didn’t observe any new risks of Wegovy and found the drug to be well tolerated.

Potential risks of using Wegovy are serious side effects, which include:

• acute inflammation of the pancreas: can show as severe, long-lasting stomach pain
• severe allergic reactions to the medication: symptoms are swellings in the face, mouth, and throat area, hives, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, light-headedness and loss of consciousness
• complications with diabetic eye disease in diabetes patients: inform your doctor if you notice any symptoms in your eyes, such as change of vision

However, these side effects are also possible in patients using Wegovy for a shorter duration.

If you’re using Wegovy for a longer time, you should also be aware of the small risk of developing nutrient deficiencies. As you’re consuming less foods and calories than before, this can lead to malnutrition over a longer period. A doctor or certified dietician can help you decide if you should use any supplements during your Wegovy treatment. You can also reduce this risk by following a balanced diet, full of fruits and vegetables, some protein, and some healthy fats.

Wegovy and cancer

Wegovy has a boxed warning for thyroid cancer in the US because some early animal studies suggested a potential link between its active ingredient, semaglutide, and thyroid tumours. Although research has found there is no significant risk of cancer in humans who take Wegovy, and there have been no reported cases, the risk cannot be totally excluded.

You should speak to your GP if you notice symptoms such as:

• a lump or swelling in your neck
• difficulty or issues swallowing
• hoarse voice
• shortness of breath

If you have any concerns about Wegovy and cancer, you should discuss them with your doctor.

Yes, side effects are more likely at higher doses, and they can come back or get worse when you increase your dose. In particular, after reaching the highest dose of 7.2mg, you’re more likely to get side effects like burning, itching, or tingling sensations on your skin (dysaesthesia) and gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

These may be more frequent or severe, but side effects should go away on their own. However, it’s important to speak to your doctor if they are not, as you may need to reduce your dose.

Depending on the person, the side effects of Wegovy for weight loss may start from the first dose or a few weeks later. Often, they appear at the beginning of the treatment or when you switch to a higher dose while following the Wegovy dosing schedule. You can stay on your current dose for longer or switch back to a lower dose if you’re getting side effects, but always check with your doctor first.

> Read more about what to expect when taking Wegovy.

Most Wegovy side effects last from a few days to a few weeks or until your body gets used to semaglutide. They are often mild and can be managed at home.

If you feel like your side effects are very strong or do not improve over time, the dose might be too high for you. In this case, you should switch back to a lower dose and speak to your doctor.

If you find that you just do not tolerate Wegovy well, there are other weight loss medications available. Here at Asda Online Doctor, we offer the following medications on prescription:

• Mounjaro works similarly to Wegovy by mimicking the effects of 2 gut hormones, it is also injected once per week under the skin using an injectable pen with pre-filled doses
• Nevolat, a generic liraglutide injection (brand name: Saxenda), also works similarly to Wegovy, it is injected once per day
• orlistat is an active ingredient that blocks the digestion of fat in the gut. It’s taken in capsules or tablets, and can also be found under the branded names Xenical and alli
• the weight loss pill Mysimba contains 2 active ingredients which alter appetite and energy expenditure in your body, reducing appetite and cravings

To get your weight loss medication prescribed, you just need to fill out a short online questionnaire. One of our doctors will review your answers to see if the medication is safe and suitable for you. If it is, you will receive your prescription and get the medication delivered to your chosen address, or you can pick it up from any Asda Pharmacy in the UK (depending on the treatment).

Yes, in most cases, the side effects of Wegovy will go away within a few days to a few weeks, when the body has adjusted to the medication. If you are vomiting or have diarrhoea, it’s important to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Medication for nausea (anti-sickness tablets) can also help. If the side effects persist and significantly impact your daily life, you may want to consider reducing your dose of Wegovy after speaking to your doctor.

If you drink alcohol while using Wegovy, side effects will become more likely and stronger. The 2 substances do not interfere directly with each other, but they can both disturb the stomach and trigger nausea and vomiting. Wegovy and alcohol both lower your blood sugar levels, which can be dangerous in diabetes patients. It’s therefore recommended not to drink during your Wegovy treatment, especially after a dose escalation.

The side effects of Wegovy are, in general, very similar to other obesity and diabetes medications, which also work by mimicking specific hormones and regulating appetite.

Wegovy and Mounjaro are weight loss injections that contain different active ingredients but work in a similar way.

Both liraglutide and Wegovy are weight loss injections. They work in a very similar way, but contain different active ingredients: semaglutide (Wegovy) and liraglutide (Nevolat). Saxenda, the branded medication containing liraglutide, is no longer available. This means, if you want to continue taking weight loss medication, you will have to switch from Saxenda to Nevolat, Wegovy, or Mounjaro.