Wegovy Online UK

Wegovy contains semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist administered by subcutaneous injection for chronic weight management.

It is prescribed for adults with obesity (BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater) or those who are overweight (BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater) with at least one weight-related comorbidity such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, or obstructive sleep apnoea, as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Semaglutide mimics the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1, which is released from the gut after eating.

It acts on receptors in the brain that regulate appetite and food intake, promoting feelings of satiety and reducing hunger.

It also slows gastric emptying, which contributes to reduced caloric intake. These combined effects produce clinically meaningful weight loss.

The STEP clinical trial programme demonstrated that semaglutide 2.

4 mg weekly produced an average weight loss of approximately 15% of initial body weight over 68 weeks, a result substantially greater than that seen with previously available weight management medications.

Wegovy represents a significant advance in the pharmacological treatment of obesity.

Wegovy is administered as a subcutaneous injection once weekly, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals.

Inject into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, rotating injection sites each week.

The dose is escalated gradually over 16 weeks to the maintenance dose to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects.

If you miss a dose and the next scheduled dose is more than two days away, inject as soon as possible; otherwise, skip the missed dose and resume the usual schedule.

The dose escalation schedule is: weeks 1-4, 0.25 mg once weekly; weeks 5-8, 0.5 mg; weeks 9-12, 1 mg; weeks 13-16, 1.7 mg; week 17 onwards, 2.4 mg (maintenance dose).

If the maintenance dose is not tolerated, your prescriber may consider reducing to 1.7 mg once weekly. No dose adjustment is needed for renal or hepatic impairment.

Wegovy is not recommended in patients with severe gastrointestinal disease.

Very common (more than 1 in 10): nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia.

These are most common during dose escalation and tend to diminish over time.

Common (1 in 10 to 1 in 100): dizziness, flatulence, gastro-oesophageal reflux, eructation, injection site reactions, alopecia, hypoglycaemia (particularly in patients on sulfonylureas or insulin), gallbladder disorders including cholelithiasis.

Uncommon (1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000): pancreatitis, increased heart rate, acute kidney injury (secondary to dehydration from gastrointestinal side effects).

Rare: thyroid C-cell tumours (observed in rodent studies; clinical relevance in humans uncertain).

Pancreatitis has been reported with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Discontinue Wegovy if pancreatitis is suspected and do not restart if confirmed.

Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 should not use semaglutide.

Monitor for gallbladder events, particularly during rapid weight loss. Ensure adequate hydration to minimise the risk of renal complications from vomiting or diarrhoea.

Patients on insulin or sulfonylureas may need dose reduction to avoid hypoglycaemia. Wegovy should be discontinued at least two months before a planned pregnancy.

Wegovy is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, known hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any excipient, and during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It should not be used in patients with a history of pancreatitis where the benefit-risk balance is unfavourable.