Wegovy® Pill Patient Information
Guidance and information for adults who have been prescribed Wegovy® pill to help manage their weight
This information is intended to support you during your treatment with Wegovy® pill. It does not replace advice from your doctor, pharmacist, nurse or treatment provider.
Before starting treatment, you should read the Patient Information Leaflet supplied in the box with your medicine. Please contact your treatment provider if you have any questions about Wegovy® or need advice about your treatment.
How Do I Take My Wegovy® Pill?
Wegovy® pill is taken once a day.
Take one Wegovy® pill whole with a small amount of water, up to 120 ml.
Wegovy® should only be taken on an empty stomach. It is recommended that you take your tablet at least 8 hours after you last ate.
After taking your Wegovy® pill, wait at least 30 minutes before:
- Eating
- Drinking
- Taking other oral medicines
Do not take the pill with liquids other than water.
Do not split, crush, cut, chew or dissolve the pill.
Keep Wegovy® in its original blister pack until you are ready to take your tablet.
It is important to take Wegovy® in the same way each day so that the medicine can work as intended. Many people may find it easier to take their tablet first thing in the morning, before eating or taking other medicines.
Which Dose of Wegovy® Should I Take?
If you are new to Wegovy®, your treatment provider will normally start you on a 1.5 mg once-daily dose. The dose is then increased each month, as tolerated, until the recommended maintenance dose of 25 mg is reached.
The usual dose progression is:
- Month 1: 1.5 mg once daily
- Month 2: 4 mg once daily
- Month 3: 9 mg once daily
- Month 4 onwards: 25 mg once daily, the recommended maintenance dose
Increasing the dose gradually helps your body get used to the medicine.
Before progressing to your next dose, tell your healthcare professional if you experience side effects that bother you or do not go away.
The full treatment effect is usually seen at the recommended maintenance dose of 25 mg.
Always take Wegovy® exactly as your treatment provider has instructed. If you are unsure about your dose, check with your treatment provider.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose of Wegovy®, skip the missed dose and continue taking Wegovy® as usual the following day.
What Are the Possible Side Effects of Wegovy®?
Like all medicines, Wegovy® can cause side effects, although not everybody experiences them.
Very common side effects
These may affect more than 1 in 10 people:
- Headache
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Being sick (vomiting)
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Feeling weak or tired
- Upset stomach or indigestion
These side effects usually go away over time.
Common side effects
These may affect up to 1 in 10 people:
- Feeling dizzy
- Burping
- Gas (flatulence)
- Bloating of the stomach
- Inflamed stomach (gastritis), which may cause stomach ache, nausea or vomiting
- Reflux or heartburn, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Gallstones
- Hair loss
- Changes in the way food or drink tastes
- Changes in skin sensation
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in patients with diabetes
For a complete list of side effects, warnings and precautions, please read the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your medicine.
Nausea and Wegovy®
Feeling sick (nausea) is a very common side effect of Wegovy® and may affect more than 1 in 10 people. It usually improves over time.
You should speak to your treatment provider if you are struggling with nausea.
If you experience nausea, NHS guidance referenced in the patient brochure recommends avoiding, where possible:
- Hot, fried, greasy or strong-smelling foods
- Eating too quickly
- Drinking a lot while you are eating
You may find it helpful to try:
- Eating smaller portions of food
- Ginger tea and foods containing ginger
- Eating slowly and staying upright after finishing your meal
- Taking regular sips of cold drinks
Keeping your mind occupied with something you enjoy and getting some fresh air may also help.
Warnings and Precautions
Talk to your treatment provider before using Wegovy® or during treatment if any of the following apply to you.
Dehydration
Wegovy® can cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. These side effects can lead to dehydration.
It is important to drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration, particularly if you have kidney problems. Speak to your treatment provider if you have any questions or concerns.
Inflammation of the Pancreas
Tell your treatment provider if you have previously had pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas.
Acute pancreatitis is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening side effect. Seek urgent medical attention and stop using the medicine if you experience severe, persistent pain in your stomach or abdomen, with or without nausea and vomiting.
Diabetes
Wegovy® must not be used as a substitute for insulin.
If you have diabetes, tell your treatment provider. Your treatment provider may need to adjust the dose of your diabetes medication to reduce the risk of low blood sugar.
Sudden Changes to Your Eyesight
If you experience sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight while taking Wegovy®, contact your doctor urgently.
This may be caused by a very rare side effect called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Your doctor may refer you for an eye examination and you may need to stop treatment with Wegovy®.
Diabetic Eye Disease
Rapid improvements in blood sugar control can temporarily worsen diabetic eye disease. If you have diabetic eye disease and experience problems with your eyesight while taking Wegovy®, speak to your treatment provider.
Delayed Stomach Emptying
If you have delayed stomach emptying, known as gastroparesis, Wegovy® may lead to serious or severe gastrointestinal side effects.
Talk to your doctor before using Wegovy® if you have gastroparesis.
Low Blood Sugar
Wegovy® can cause low blood sugar, particularly in people with diabetes who are also taking insulin or a sulfonylurea.
Warning signs can include:
- Cold sweat
- Cool, pale skin
- Headache
- Fast heartbeat
- Feeling sick
- Feeling very hungry
- Changes in vision
- Feeling sleepy or weak
- Feeling nervous, anxious or confused
- Difficulty concentrating
- Shaking
Your treatment provider will advise you how to manage low blood sugar and what to do if you experience these symptoms.
If you have diabetes, your treatment provider may ask you to monitor your blood sugar levels and may adjust your other diabetes medicines.
Allergies
Wegovy® contains:
- Semaglutide
- Salcaprozate sodium
- Magnesium stearate
Do not use Wegovy® if you are allergic to semaglutide or any of the other ingredients listed above.
Taking Other Medicines with Wegovy®
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
In particular, tell your healthcare professional if you take:
Levothyroxine: Your doctor may need to check your thyroid levels if you take Wegovy® together with levothyroxine.
Warfarin or similar oral anticoagulants: You may require more frequent blood tests to check how quickly your blood clots.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Wegovy® should not be used during pregnancy because it is not known whether it may affect an unborn child.
You must use contraception while taking Wegovy®.
If you are planning to become pregnant, you should stop using Wegovy® at least two months beforehand.
If you become pregnant while using Wegovy®, speak to your doctor immediately as your treatment will need to be changed.
You should not use Wegovy® while breastfeeding. The medicine passes into breast milk and it is not known how it may affect your baby.
Driving and Using Machines
Wegovy® is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. However, some people may experience dizziness, particularly during the first three months of treatment.
If you feel dizzy, do not drive or operate machinery until you feel better.
If you have diabetes and experience signs of low blood sugar, this can affect your ability to concentrate. Do not drive or use machinery if you experience symptoms of low blood sugar.
If You Are Due to Have Surgery
Tell your doctor that you are taking Wegovy® if you are due to have surgery where you will be under general anaesthesia.
Serious Side Effects
Seek medical advice immediately if you experience symptoms of a serious side effect.
Serious side effects listed in the Wegovy® patient information include acute pancreatitis, severe allergic reactions, certain eye conditions, bowel obstruction and other potentially serious complications.
You should read the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your medicine in full for detailed information about serious side effects and what action you should take.
Reporting Side Effects
Wegovy® is subject to additional monitoring to allow new safety information to be identified quickly.
If you experience any side effects, speak to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes possible side effects that are not listed in the Patient Information Leaflet.
Side effects can also be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme:
https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/
Side effects should also be reported to Novo Nordisk Limited Customer Care Centre on 0800 023 2573.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information about the safety of this medicine.
Further Information
Always read the Patient Information Leaflet supplied in the box with your Wegovy® medicine.
For further information and resources about treatment with Wegovy®, visit the official Wegovy® pill information website:
If you have questions about your treatment, contact your treatment provider for advice and support.