Weight Management Program

What is Wegovy (semaglutide)?

How Wegovy (semaglutide) works

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist. GLP-1 is a natural hormone in your body that acts on your brain to regulate your appetite and food intake. By acting like GLP-1, Wegovy (semaglutide) lowers your appetite and how much food you eat to help you lose weight.

What is Wegovy (semaglutide) used for?

Long-term weight loss in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of:

30 kg/m2 or greater or
27 kg/m2 or greater and at least one weight-related condition (e.g., high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol)

Wegovy (semaglutide) dosage forms

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Carton
4 prefilled 0.25mg pens of 0.25mg/0.5ml4 prefilled 0.5mg pens of 0.5mg/0.5ml4 prefilled 1mg pens of 1mg/0.5ml4 prefilled 1.7mg pens of 1.7mg/0.75ml4 prefilled 2.4mg pens of 2.4mg/0.75ml

Typical dosing for Wegovy (semaglutide)

The typical starting dose is 0.25 mg injected under your skin once a week for 4 weeks (1 month). You will use a higher dose every 4 weeks until you reach a maintenence dose of 2.4 mg once a week. The standard dosing schedule might look like:

Month 1: 0.25 mg once a week
Month 2: 0.5 mg once a week
Month 3: 1 mg once a week
Month 4: 1.7 mg once a week
Month 5 and beyond: 2.4 mg once a week (maintenence dose)

Frequently asked questions about Wegovy (semaglutide)

What is the difference between Wegovy (semaglutide), Ozempic (semaglutide), and Rybelsus (semaglutide)?

Wegovy (semaglutide), Ozempic (semaglutide), and Rybelsus (semaglutide) all contain semaglutide, but they are used for different conditions. Wegovy (semaglutide) is used for weight loss, whereas Ozempic and Rybelsus are used for type 2 diabetes. Like Wegovy (semaglutide), Ozempic is also an injection, but the dose is much lower for diabetes. Rybelsus is a tablet that is taken by mouth. Like other GLP-1 agonists, semaglutide can also lower blood sugar levels by affecting the release of insulin and glucagon, two natural hormones in your body that regulate blood sugar levels.

How much weight can you lose with Wegovy (semaglutide)?

After about 1 year (68 weeks), people who took the maintenance dose of Wegovy (semaglutide) along with a lower-calorie diet and exercise lost an average of 10% to 16% of their starting body weight compared to those following a lower-calorie diet and exercise plan only.

How do you use Wegovy (semaglutide)?

Before starting Wegovy (semaglutide), it’s important to read the instructions on how to inject the medication correctly and safely. Wash your hands before each injection, and clean the area of skin you’ll be injecting into with an alcohol swab or soap and water. Each pen contains enough medication for one dose, and the dose of Wegovy (semaglutide) is already set in your pen. After removing the pen cap, firmly press the pen straight into your skin like a dart. You’ll hear two clicks during the injection: one to let you know that the injection has started and another click to let you know that the medication is still being injected. Keep holding the pen against your skin until the yellow bar in the pen window stops moving to make sure you get the full dose of medication. It’s important to note that once the pen is pressed to your skin, the injection will start, so you won’t be able to stop the injection and restart it later.

What should you do if you forget to take Wegovy (semaglutide)?

If your next scheduled dose of Wegovy (semaglutide) is more than 2 days away, take the medication as soon as possible. If your next scheduled dose is less than 2 days away, wait until your regularly scheduled day of the week to take Wegovy (semaglutide).

What should you do if you forget to put Wegovy (semaglutide) in the refrigerator?

If you forget to put Wegovy (semaglutide) in the refrigerator, the pen is okay to use for up to 28 days at room temperature as long as it hasn’t been opened, exposed to light, or sitting out at temperatures higher than 86ºF. Otherwise, don’t use the pen and throw it away in a sharps disposal container.

Can you take Wegovy (semaglutide) if you’re pregnant?

Wegovy (semaglutide) is not recommended if you’re pregnant. Weight loss isn’t beneficial if you’re pregnant and might cause harm to your unborn baby. We don’t have any information about Wegovy (semaglutide) use in pregnant people yet, but there were birth defects and miscarriages when pregnant animals were given semaglutide in studies. It’s recommended that you stop taking Wegovy (semaglutide) at least 2 months before you plan to become pregnant. If you get pregnant while taking Wegovy (semaglutide), stop the medication right away and let your healthcare provider know. Contact the manufacturer (Novo Nordisk) at 1-800-727-6500 for more information about their optional pregnancy exposure registry. This registry monitors health outcomes in women and their babies who were exposed to semaglutide during pregnancy.