Wegovy (Semaglutide) 2.4 mg/0.75 mL Prefilled Pen

Wegovy (Semaglutide) 2.4mg/0.75mL prefilled pen is a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist prescribed for chronic weight management in eligible adults. It is used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

What is Wegovy (Semaglutide)?

This high dose medication is used for chronic weight management. The active ingredient, Semaglutide is also found in the other leading weight loss medicine, Ozempic, providing relevant results. It is meant for:

• Obese adults with Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above. Overweight adults with a BMI of 27 or over who have at least type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure may also use it.
• For children who are 12 years old or over, the BMI should be above the 95th percentile for their age and sex, to be eligible to use this medication.
• When combined with regular exercise and a calorie-controlled diet, Wegovy can help better with weight loss.

Benefits of Wegovy (Semaglutide)

Learn about the leading benefits of this medication:

• While Wegovy reduces weight, it also reduces the risk of serious cardiac events such as stroke and heart attack, significantly – especially adults with obesity and heart disease.
• It improves cholesterol and blood pressure levels, while managing blood sugar levels to assist with metabolic wellness and weight reduction.
• This medicine is long-acting one, which sustains weight loss, preventing immediate weight gain after stopping the treatment as it counters hormonal shifts.

How Does Wegovy (Semaglutide) Work?

Find the details of the Wegovy action mechanism here:

• As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, this medicine resembles the hormone released in the gut after consumption of food - glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
• It controls appetite by acting on the hypothalamus in the brain to promote the feeling of fullness. This helps decrease food cravings and hunger.
• The medicine also slows down the emptying of the stomach, so that you feel full once again without having to eat at regular intervals – curbing unhealthy eating habits.
• Lastly, the medicine also balances glucagon and insulin levels to maintain blood glucose levels, and stabilizes the liver along with pancreatic secretions. This prevents glucose being stored as fat.

Dosage of Wegovy (Semaglutide)

Know how to administer Wegovy injections:

• This medicine is administered once a week, subcutaneously – rotating the injection site between upper arm, thigh, and stomach every week.
• For week 1-4, the dose is 0.25mg. In week 5-8, the dose is 0.5mg.
• In week 9-12, the dose is 1.0mg. In week 13-16, the dose is 1.7mg for maintenance.
• Beyond 1.7mg if the dosage needs to be continued after 5 months as well, the strength is increased to a maximum of 2.4mg once a week for long-term use.
• If 2.4mg dose is what you cannot tolerate, the doctor will reduce the dose to 1.7mg once again.

How to Store Wegovy (Semaglutide)?

Here are the storage instructions for Wegovy:

• Refrigerate the unused pens at a temperature between 2°C and 8°C (36°F to 46°F), and keep in their original carton to keep safe from direct light, heat, and sunlight.
• In case refrigeration is not possible for a few days, you can keep the pen at room temperature of 8°C and 30°C (46°F to 86°F), but only up to 28 days maximum.
• Do not freeze the pen. If the pen is frozen, do not thaw but discard without using it.

Side Effects of Wegovy (Semaglutide)

Here is what you may expect at times:

The mild and temporary side effects are constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, heartburn, bloating, stomach pain, fatigue, or headache.

Seek medical attention in case of severe but rare side effects are increased heart rate, dehydration due to vomiting / stomach upset, jaundice, gallstones, inflammation of the pancreas, sudden depression or self-harm thoughts.

Interactions of Wegovy (Semaglutide)

Here are the things to avoid with Wegovy:

• Medicines for diabetes management such as sulfonylureas and insulin, as combining with Wegovy will escalate the risk of dangerous low blood sugar.
• Certain herbal supplements that impact the blood sugar levels such as green tea, garlic, DHEA, etc.
• Since the medicine slows down gastric emptying, it may delay the absorption of oral antibiotics and birth control pills in the bloodstream.

Precautions of Wegovy (Semaglutide)

Adhere to the following Wegovy precautions:

• This injectable medicine is not for those with a family history of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), as the medicine may raise the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors.
• Sudden changes in blood sugar levels or rapid weight loss may temporarily worsen vision issues such as diabetic retinopathy.
• The medication can cause fetal harm, so stop using the medicine at least 2 months prior to conceiving plans, or stop immediately if you get to know you are pregnant, and consult a doctor.