- The Wegovy pill is a newly approved daily tablet containing semaglutide that helps manage weight by reducing appetite and increasing feelings of fullness.
- This medication is also used to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with cardiovascular disease who are overweight or have obesity.
- To ensure the medicine is absorbed correctly, it must be taken on an empty stomach with a small sip of water at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else.
The Wegovy pill is a newly approved prescription option for adults who need help with chronic weight management. It contains semaglutide, the same effective ingredient found in popular injectable versions, but it is provided as a tablet that you take once a day.
This medication works by acting like a natural hormone in your body to lower appetite. By mimicking this hormone, the medication helps reduce food cravings and increases feelings of fullness after eating.
The Wegovy pill offers a convenient alternative for those who prefer a daily tablet over a weekly injection. Because it is a pill, it uses a specific formulation to ensure the active medicine survives the digestive process and enters the bloodstream effectively.
Indications for use
Doctors prescribe the Wegovy pill for adults who are living with obesity or are overweight and have related health issues. It is meant to be used alongside a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity for long-term weight control. You may be eligible if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher with a condition like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.
This daily pill is also approved to help protect heart health in certain adults. For people with established cardiovascular disease who are also overweight or living with obesity, taking the Wegovy pill can reduce the risk of major events like heart attacks and strokes. This makes it a unique option that addresses both weight and heart health.
How to take it
The standard daily dose of the Wegovy pill for weight management is 25 mg. This is different from other oral semaglutide brands used for diabetes, which typically use lower doses of 7 mg or 14 mg. To help your body adjust to the medicine and reduce stomach issues, your healthcare provider will likely start you on a lower dose and slowly increase it over several weeks.
Taking this medication correctly is very important because it uses a special technology called SNAC to absorb through your stomach lining. You must take the Wegovy pill on an empty stomach as soon as you wake up. Swallow the tablet whole with a sip of plain water, using no more than 4 ounces or 120 milliliters.
After swallowing the tablet, you need to wait at least 30 minutes before you eat, drink, or take any other oral medicines. If you consume anything too soon, your body will not absorb enough of the drug, and it may not work effectively to help you lose weight.
Possible side effects
Stomach and digestive issues are the most common side effects seen with the Wegovy pill. Many people experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, especially when they first start treatment or increase their dose. These problems are usually mild to moderate and often get better as your body gets used to the daily pill.
Serious side effects are possible, though they are less common. The medication can cause acute pancreatitis, which is a painful inflammation of the pancreas that requires medical attention. It may also lead to gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach takes too long to empty, causing persistent bloating and discomfort.
There are also risks involving eye health, such as worsening diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes. Some reports have linked semaglutide to a rare condition called nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) that can cause sudden vision loss. Additionally, the Wegovy pill has a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors because these were seen in animal studies, although the risk for humans is not certain.
Contraindications for use
The Wegovy pill is not safe for everyone to take. You should not use this medication if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or a rare genetic condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2). It is also not for anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to semaglutide or any components of the pill.
Pregnancy is a significant reason to avoid this medication. Because it may harm an unborn baby, you should stop taking the Wegovy pill at least two months before you plan to become pregnant. Breastfeeding is also not recommended while on this treatment because the absorption-boosting ingredient used in the pill has not been fully studied in nursing infants.