Considering Wegovy for Weight Loss? Here are the Risks and Benefits – and How It Differs from Ozempic

The slimming product Wegov is now available in Australia.

Wegovy is given as a once-weekly injection and is specifically approved for weight management. It is intended to be used in combination with a low-energy diet and more physical activity.

So how does Wegovy work and how much weight can you expect to lose when using it? And what are the potential risks – and costs – for those who use it?

Let’s see what the science says.

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is a brand name for the drug semaglutide. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA). This means that it makes your body’s glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone, known as GLP-1 for short, work better.

Normally, when you eat, your body releases the hormone GLP-1, which helps signal to your brain that you are full. Semaglutides enhance this effect, leading to a feeling of fullness even when you haven’t eaten.

Another role of GLP-1 is to stimulate the body to produce more insulin, a hormone that helps to lower the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. This is why semaglutides are used for several years to treat type 2 diabetes.

How is Wegovy different from Ozempic?

Like Wegovy, Ozempic is a semaglutide. The way Wegovy and Ozempic work in the body is essentially the same. They are made by the same pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk.

But there are two differences:

1) They were approved for two different (but related) reasons.

In Australia (and the United States) Ozempic is approved for use to improve blood glucose levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. By effectively managing blood glucose levels, the drug aims to reduce the risk of serious complications, such as heart disease.

Wegovy is approved for use in addition to diet and exercise for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher but with other conditions such as high blood pressure.

Wegovy can also be used in people aged 12 years and older. Like Ozempic, Wegovy is aimed at reducing the risk of future health complications, including heart disease.

2) They are both injected, but come in different strengths.

Ozempic is available in preloaded single dose pens with different dosages of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg per injection. The dosage can be increased slowly, up to a maximum of 2 mg per week, if necessary.

Wegovy is available in single-dose pre-filled pens in doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg. Treatment is started with a dose of 0.25 mg once weekly for four weeks, after which the dose is gradually increased to a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg weekly.

While it is unknown what impact the introduction of Wegovy will have on the availability of Ozempic, Ozempic is still expected in low stock for the remainder of 2024.

Is Wegovy effective for weight loss?

Since Wegovy is a semaglutide, there is very strong evidence It can help people lose weight and maintain weight loss.

A recent study found that participants who took Wevovy as directed lost an average of 10.2% of their body weight and reduced their waist size by 3 inches over four years.

Analyses have shown that those who stop taking the medication lose about two-thirds of the weight lost. regained.

What are the side effects of Wegovy?

The most common side effects are nausea and vomiting.

However, there are other serious side effects possible due to the impact of the medication on the entire body. Thyroid tumors and cancer have been detected as a risk in animal studies, but are rarely seen in humans scientific literature.

In the four-year-old Wegovy process16.6% of participants who received Wegovy (1,461 people) experienced a side effect that led to them permanently stopping their use of the medication. This was higher than the 8.2% of participants (718 people) who received the placebo (with no active ingredient).

Side effects included gastrointestinal problems (including nausea and vomiting), which affected 10% of people taking Wegovy, compared with 2% of people taking placebo.

Gallbladder-related conditions occurred in 2.8% of people taking Wegovy and in 2.3% of people taking placebo.

Recently, concerns have been raised about suicidal thoughts and behavior, following a global analysis has reviewed more than 36 million reports of adverse reactions to semaglutide (Ozempic or Wegovy) since 2000.

There were 107 reports of suicidal thoughts and self-harm in people taking semaglutide, including six actual deaths. When people stopped taking the medication, 62.5% found that the thoughts disappeared. What we don’t know is whether dose, weight loss, previous mental health status, or use of antidepressants played a role.

Finally, there is growing concern about the negative effects of semaglutides on our social and emotional bond with food. Anecdotal And scientific Research shows that people taking semaglutides significantly reduce their daily food intake (as expected) by skipping meals and avoiding social gatherings. This is not very pleasant for people and their loved ones.

How can people access Wegovy?

Wegovy is available from pharmacies with a doctor’s prescription.

But it does come with a hefty price tag. Wegovy is currently not subsidized through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, where patients have to pay the costs. The current costs are estimated at approximately A$460 per month dose.

If you are considering Wegovy, Make an appointment Contact your doctor for individual advice.

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