Oral Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Side Effects and Warnings
The most common side effects of Wegovy include gastrointestinal issues like nausea (the most frequently reported symptom), constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, and vomiting. Other side effects may include dizziness, fatigue, headache, heartburn, and runny nose or sore throat.
Available in a dose of up to 25 milligrams (mg), the Wegovy pill is taken daily in the morning when you first wake up, on an empty stomach and with no more than 4 ounces (oz) of water. You must then wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking any other oral medications.
This regimen may be a limiting factor for some: Even once-daily medications can fail if they don’t fit naturally into a person’s routine, says Auda Auda, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Baker Health in New York City.
“Oral semaglutide often falls short outside of trials because adherence and side effects become limiting factors,” says Dr. Auda. “It’s the most challenging of these weight loss pills due to its strict fasting and timing requirements.”
Wegovy isn’t recommended for people who have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer. (In rodent studies, Wegovy caused thyroid tumors, but it’s unclear how it may affect the human thyroid.) It’s also not recommended for those who have or have had problems with their pancreas or kidneys, type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathy, or mental health issues. It shouldn’t be used by people scheduled for surgery that requires anesthesia, those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within two months, or people who are breastfeeding.
If none of these contraindications apply to you and you can adhere to its specific administration instructions, the Wegovy pill may be an option. “Oral semaglutide may work for highly disciplined patients who want to avoid injections,” says Auda.
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