Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Overview
Wegovy is a brand name for semaglutide, a once-weekly injection made by Novo Nordisk. Health Canada has authorized it for chronic weight management, along with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, in adults and in teens aged 12 to 17 who meet the criteria.
Wegovy contains the same medicine as Ozempic and Rybelsus, which are authorized for type 2 diabetes, but it uses a different dose schedule. Wegovy is also authorized to lower the risk of a non-fatal heart attack in some adults with heart disease, and, with conditions, for a liver condition called MASH.
Wegovy needs a prescription. BC residents can speak with a BC-licensed doctor by phone through Avee Health to ask whether it is appropriate for them. The doctor decides based on your health history. A prescription is not guaranteed.
In Canada, Wegovy is authorized:
- For chronic weight management, along with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, in adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher, or a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or higher with at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, abnormal cholesterol or obstructive sleep apnea
- For chronic weight management in teens aged 12 to 17 with a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex, a body weight over 60 kg, and an inadequate response to diet and physical activity alone
- To lower the risk of non-fatal heart attack in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or higher
- To treat non-cirrhotic MASH (a fatty liver disease) in adults with moderate to advanced liver scarring (stages F2 to F3). This use was authorized with conditions, pending confirmatory trials.
Wegovy should not be used with Ozempic, Rybelsus or any other GLP-1 medicine. Its safety and effectiveness with other weight-management products have not been established.
Semaglutide
GLP-1 receptor agonist
weight management
Prescription required
Available
How Wegovy Works
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It copies GLP-1, a hormone your gut releases after you eat. It acts on appetite centres in the brain, so you feel full sooner and eat less, and it slows how quickly the stomach empties.
Semaglutide stays in the body for about a week, which is why Wegovy is injected once weekly.
Dosage Instructions of Wegovy
Your doctor sets your dose. The usual schedule in the Canadian product monograph raises the dose over 16 weeks:
- Weeks 1 to 4: 0.25 mg once weekly
- Weeks 5 to 8: 0.5 mg once weekly
- Weeks 9 to 12: 1 mg once weekly
- Weeks 13 to 16: 1.7 mg once weekly
- Week 17 onward: 2.4 mg once weekly (maintenance dose)
If a dose is hard to tolerate, your doctor may delay the next increase by 4 weeks. Adults who do not tolerate 2.4 mg can go back to 1.7 mg for up to 4 weeks. Teens follow the same schedule and may stay at 1.7 mg if they cannot tolerate 2.4 mg.
Wegovy is injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, once a week on the same day, at any time of day, with or without food. Use a different spot each week.
Missed dose: if your next dose is at least 2 days (48 hours) away, inject the missed dose as soon as you can. If your next dose is less than 2 days away, skip the missed dose and take the next one on your usual day. If you miss more than 2 doses in a row, your doctor may have you carry on with the schedule or restart the dose increase. Do not change your dose without talking to your doctor.
Storage Instructions
Single-use pens: store in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C. If needed, a pen with its cap still on can be kept below 30°C for up to 28 days. Multi-dose FlexTouch pens: before first use, store in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C. After first use, keep the pen below 30°C or in the refrigerator for up to 8 weeks. Follow the storage and disposal instructions in the package insert and keep out of reach of children.
Side Effects of Wegovy
The most common side effects affect the stomach and gut. In adult weight-management trials they were reported by the following share of people on Wegovy, compared with placebo:
- Nausea: 44%, compared with 16% on placebo
- Diarrhea: 30%, compared with 16%
- Vomiting: 24%, compared with 6%
- Constipation: 24%, compared with 11%
- Abdominal pain: 20%, compared with 10%
- Headache: 16%, compared with 11%
- Fatigue: 11%, compared with 5%
- Indigestion and decreased appetite: 9% each, compared with 3%
- Dizziness: 8%, compared with 4%
- Hair loss: 3%, compared with 1%
These effects are most common when starting Wegovy or raising the dose. About 4% of adults on Wegovy stopped it because of stomach and gut side effects, compared with 1% on placebo. In the trial in teens, nausea (42%) and vomiting (36%) were the most common effects.
Get medical help right away if you have:
- Severe stomach pain that does not go away, with or without vomiting (possible pancreatitis)
- A lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, or trouble swallowing or breathing
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat
- Vomiting or diarrhea that leaves you unable to keep fluids down
- New or worsening depression, or thoughts of suicide
- Signs of low blood sugar (sweating, shakiness, confusion), mainly if you also take a sulfonylurea or insulin
Important Safety Information About Wegovy
Thyroid tumours: the Canadian monograph carries a boxed warning. Semaglutide caused thyroid C-cell tumours in rodents. It is not known whether this happens in humans. Do not use Wegovy if you or a family member have had medullary thyroid cancer, or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Allergy: do not use Wegovy if you are allergic to semaglutide or any ingredient in it.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: do not use Wegovy while pregnant or breastfeeding. Stop it at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.
Pancreatitis: stop the medicine and seek care if you develop severe, persistent abdominal pain. Do not restart it if pancreatitis is confirmed.
Gallbladder problems: in adult trials, gallstones were reported in 1.6% of people on Wegovy and 0.7% on placebo. In the trial in teens, they were reported in 3.8% on Wegovy and in none on placebo.
Diabetic eye disease: retinal problems, mostly diabetic retinopathy, were reported in a trial in people with type 2 diabetes. Tell your doctor if you have diabetic eye disease or notice changes in your vision.
Low blood sugar: the risk is higher in people with type 2 diabetes who also take a sulfonylurea or insulin. The doses of those medicines may need to be lowered.
Kidneys: kidney injury has been reported with semaglutide. Vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration, so drink fluids and tell your doctor if these effects persist.
Mood: Wegovy should not be used by people with a history of suicide attempts or current suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor about any new or worsening depression, thoughts of suicide, or unusual changes in mood or behaviour.
Surgery and procedures: Wegovy slows stomach emptying. Tell your care team you take it before general anesthesia or sedation.
Heart rate: in adult trials, Wegovy raised heart rate by about 3 beats per minute on average.
Drug Interactions
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about everything you take, including non-prescription products. Points from the Canadian monograph:
- Insulin and sulfonylureas: the risk of low blood sugar is higher. Your doctor may lower the dose of these medicines.
- Warfarin and similar blood thinners: more frequent INR monitoring is recommended when starting Wegovy.
- Other medicines taken by mouth: Wegovy can slow stomach emptying, which could affect how they are absorbed. Studies found no clinically relevant effect on oral contraceptives, atorvastatin, digoxin or metformin.
- Medicines that raise heart rate or affect heart rhythm: use with caution.
- Ozempic, Rybelsus and other GLP-1 medicines: do not use them together with Wegovy.
Brands & DIN Number of Wegovy
Brand Names
Wegovy
Key Takeaways
- 1Wegovy is semaglutide, a once-weekly injection authorized in Canada for chronic weight management in adults and in teens aged 12 to 17 who meet the criteria.
- 2It is also authorized to lower the risk of non-fatal heart attack in some adults with heart disease.
- 3The dose goes up in steps over 16 weeks, from 0.25 mg to a 2.4 mg maintenance dose weekly.
- 4Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation are the most common side effects.
- 5Do not use it with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- 6Do not use it with Ozempic, Rybelsus or other GLP-1 medicines.
- 7Wegovy needs a prescription. BC residents can ask a BC-licensed doctor by phone whether it is right for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wegovy approved for weight loss in Canada?
How much does Wegovy cost in Canada?
Does BC PharmaCare cover Wegovy?
How do I get Wegovy in BC?
What is the difference between Wegovy and Ozempic?
How is Wegovy different from Zepbound?
What should I do if I miss a dose of Wegovy?
Can I use Wegovy if I am pregnant or planning a pregnancy?
Avee Editorial
Avee Editorial Team