What You Need To Know About Wegovy Long-Term Side Effects

Summary

• It is a weekly injectable that contains an active ingredient called semaglutide that is intended for people who are looking for long‑term weight loss.
• It includes risk factors such as gastrointestinal effects. These are typically rare but it may affect gallbladder, thyroid, pancreatic, eye, kidney, mental‑health effects.
• Most patients reported to experience side effects at the early stage of the medication.
• Those side effects can be managed via dose adjustments, diet, hydration & screening.
• If symptoms persist and there are side effects that are not tolerable even at the early stage, consult with your doctor immediately.

What You Will Learn

By the end of the article, you would be able to learn the following:

• You will learn about understanding the most common and rare long‑term side effects of taking Wegovy.
• You will learn the differences among long‑term effects, short‑term effects, and other weight loss meds similar to Wegovy.
• You will learn how to monitor and manage side effects actively.

Everything You Need To Know About Wegovy

Wegovy is an injectable medication that helps regulate weight by decreasing appetite and increasing feelings of fullness. It is used along with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise to assist in weight loss. For the medication to be effective and help minimise side effects, it is crucial they use the Wegovy pen properly.

In order for you to understand Wegovy in the most simple way, you need to remember its three ways how it helps you lose weight. It targets your brain, stomach, and digestion. Typically, the brain sends signals that make you feel hungry even if you don’t want to eat or you are still full. It’s usually the ‘food noise’ that you want to control. Once your body takes Wegovy, your brain will control sending out signal and will help reduce the food noise you’ve been getting. Aside from these, Wegovy will help you slow down the food in your body making you crave less and stay full for a longer time from your recent food intake. Lastly, by reducing your food intake and digestion slow down, you will naturally take fewer calories which will lead you in losing weight over time.

Wegovy is also convenient for most patients because it is delivered through a pre-filled injection pen. It is designed and made for an easier process. You need to inject it once a week. Make sure to follow the instructions and be fully aware about the dose you’re taking in because it is essential and for you to prevent any side effects. Make sure that you are guided by a healthcare professional before starting your Wegovy medication journey so you will be fully informed about the things you need to know and prepare for it.

What Are The Common Wegovy Side Effects

Just like any medication, there are side effects that you might experience when you take Wegovy. However, take note that side effects may vary from one person to another and will still depend on your current medical condition, lifestyle, and other health related concerns.

Here are some of the side effects you need to be aware of:

• Nausea: This is very common especially when you are increasing your dosage. This is just temporary and should subside in the following weeks since your body is still in the adjustment period.
• Vomiting: This usually happens if you are experiencing severe nausea. Make sure to hydrate yourself more if this happens.
• diarrhoea: This is one of the common side effects since the medication targets your digestion.
• Constipation: You might have difficulty in your digestion since the food moves slowly through your digestive system.
• Fatigue: This is typically caused by eating fewer calories due to lesser food intake and your body is still adjusting to the medication.
• Dizziness: This is typically connected with dehydration or a temporary drop in your blood sugar.

These side effects are typically temporary especially if you are just starting with your Wegovy. However, if symptoms persist, don’t wait for it to become serious and immediately consult your doctor for immediate medical attention.

What Are The Specific Long‑Term Side Effects of Wegovy

These long-term side effects are usually rare but these have been reported in the previous studies of experts.

• Inflammation of Gallballder: This usually hardens the deposits from your bladder which might lead to severe pain.
• Pancreatitis: This leads to severe and painful inflammation of your pancreas.
• Gastroparesis: This happens when the stomach takes too long to empty food oftentimes called the stomach paralysis.
• Intestinal Blockage: This happens when the intestines are completely blocked which stops the food from passing.
• Thyroid C-Cell tumours(MTC Risk): There is still no official evidence to this for human but with animal studies this might be possible due to Wegovy
• Increased Heart Rate: This is when your heart beats faster than the normal rate even when you are resting.
• Diabetic Retinopathy: This refers to the worsening of your existing blood vessel damage especially if you have diabetes.
• Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: This is a rare side effect but it could lead to serious eye conditions which could potentially cause vision loss.

Verified Before & After

Verified Before & After

What Is The Difference Between Wegovy and Other GLP-1s & Other Appetite Suppressants

Wegovy, which has an active ingredient called semaglutide, is one of the several prescription options available for weight management. Howver it has some key differences from other weight loss medications. Wegovy is a specifically FDA-approved medication that is intended for chronic weight management. It works essentially with people dealing with obesity or being overweight. While other GLP-1s which are also FDA-Approved, it is intended for treating Type 2 Diabetes which could actually cause weight loss.

Generally, Wegovy and GLP-1s provide more benefits and consistent weight loss compared with other appetite suppressant pills.

How To Manage Side Effects

Because Wegovy is a strong medication for weight loss, side effects are very common and you don’t need to worry because there are ways on how you can manage it.

• Dose titration: This is one of the essential steps. Your doctor will most likely advise you to start at a very low dose at first and gradually increase in the coming weeks once your body has fully adjusted. Make sure not to rush any dose increase and make sure that you are taking the right dosage.
• Changes in Your Diet: It is recommended that you eat a small portion of food and should be bland. Avoid any food intake that is high-fat, greasy, and spicy as these are most likely to trigger nausea.
• Hydration: Stay well-hydrated all throughout your medication. You should drink plenty of water especially if you are experiencing diarrhoea or vomiting.

What Will Happen When You Stop Wegovy

As mentioned earlier, Wegovy is a treatment for chronic weight. If you choose to stop taking the medication, the effects might subside and your weight will potentially be back to how it was before taking Wegovy.

It works by mimicking the GLP1 hormone that is responsible for suppressing your appetite. Once you stop taking the medication, from the time you stopped, typically takes about 5 to 7 weeks, appetite suppression will decrease and slowly be back on how it was before taking the medication. You will notice the increase of your natural appetite and the constant food noise even if you are still full. Make sure to discuss this with your doctor before taking Wegovy so you would also know the exact possible effects of it on your body once you stopped taking it.

When to Consult a Healthcare Provider

If symptoms persist especially with Gastrointestinal symptoms, mood changes, vision signs, gallbladder pain, thyroid nodules, or planned surgery or pregnancy, you should consult with your doctor to have immediate medical attention.

Conclusion

Side effects in any type of medication are typically normal and common. However, it would still depend on your current medical condition and lifestyle as to what you will experience during your Wegovy Treatment. It is important to discuss it thoroughly with your doctor before deciding to take it so you will have a full overview on the things that you need to consider before taking it.

Most Frequently Asked Questions

• Can Wegovy cause long-term thyroid cancer risk in humans?

There is no official study about the possible cause of Wegovy for thyroid cancer in humans.

• How common are gallbladder issues with long-term Wegovy use?

It is typically common since Wegovy mainly targets the digestive system.

• Do long-term users continue to experience nausea?

Nausea is supposed to be temporary and if this usually happens long-term, you should consult with your doctor about this especially if this is no longer tolerable.