Have you ever tried to lose weight and failed?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 73% of Americans above the age of 20 are overweight and obese, and it’s not because they don’t try to lose weight.
The body has a built-in system for maintaining a certain set point. So although your weight may fluctuate temporarily, it’s designed to return to its highest level.
Losing weight and keeping it off can reduce many health risks associated with obesity, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and COVID-19 complications. Research proves that losing as little as 5% of body weight can give you the required health benefits.
Sadly, there haven’t been a variety of safe and effective medications to manage chronic weight issues, and those that exist have disturbing side effects.
Some medications caused a lot of severe side effects that caused the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove them from the market.
Luckily, in June 2021, FDA approved semaglutide (Wegovy), the under-the-skin injection for chronic weight management.
Since 2014, Wegovy is the first weight loss medication approved to help people lose weight, and it works differently from other weight loss drugs to help you reach your goals.
What Is Wegovy?
Wegovy is an FDA-approved weight-loss drug that’s injected every week and targets brain areas that regulate appetite and food intake.
It belongs to a group of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. Wegovy mimics the activity of GLP-1, a natural hormone in the body, which suppresses appetite and delays stomach emptying. Both effects help you feel fuller and eat less.
Wegovy should be used along with a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activities. It should not be used as a replacement for weight loss tools.
How Does Wegovy Work?
By mimicking GLP-1, Wegovy reduces your appetite and food intake. After eating, GLP-1 stimulates the body to produce more insulin, regulating appetite by signaling the brain that you’re full.
Wegovy affects your blood sugar levels, helping you to feel more satisfied after a meal and feel fuller for longer, which can make a huge difference to your meal plan.
When you’re satisfied and feel fuller after a meal, you’re less likely to take snacks, and your chances of sticking to a lower-calorie diet are higher. This leads to weight loss.
Here at NP 2 GO Clinic, the process begins with an initial medication consultation. Next, our health practitioner reviews your medical history, discusses your weight loss goals, and determines if Wegovy is a good fit for you.
Your Wegovy prescription will be refilled monthly at your local pharmacy if you’re approved.
How Much Weight Can You Lose?
Wegovy (semaglutide) for weight loss was put in clinical trials and has been shown to help people drop an average of 15% to 20% of their starting body weight. This is triple what other drugs on the market achieve.
This means if you start your weight loss treatment weighing 200 lbs, you can lose an average of 30 pounds compared to other weight loss drugs, such as contrave and phentermine, that target suppression.
Related: Weight Loss Clinic of Oklahoma.
Who Is Eligible for Wegovy?
The FDA approved Wegovy for patients with excess weight and obesity with a BMI of 30 or higher and patients with a BMI of 27 or higher with an additional obesity-related health condition such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Wegovy is supposed to be supplemented with dietary changes and increased physical activity.
Who Should Not Use Wegovy?
Wegovy is not intended for you:
- If anyone in your family has ever had a rare type of thyroid cancer known as Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC)
- You have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- You have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide
- You’re breastfeeding, or pregnant
Wegovy comes with contraindications for certain conditions. Check with your healthcare provider if you have any of these medical conditions before using it.
- History of diabetic retinopathy
- Kidney disease
- Low blood sugar
- Pancreatitis
- Depression, suicidal thoughts, or any other mental disorder
Make sure also to inform your healthcare provider if you’re on any medication, such as prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.
Wegovy and medicine can affect the function of each other.
Tell your healthcare professional if you’re on diabetes medication, including sulfonylureas or insulin. Taking Wegovy slows stomach emptying and can interfere with drugs that need to pass quickly through the stomach.
How Should I Use Wegovy?
Once you’re approved for Wegovy our health care professional will guide and give you clear instructions on using semaglutide before you start and each time you get a refill.
Before using semaglutide, check for particles or discoloration. If any, don’t use the drug.
Clean the injection area with rubbing alcohol before injecting each dose and inject different parts each time to reduce the chances of injuring your skin.
“I’m in my 5th month, and down 40 pounds. I’ve gone from size 12 to a size 6. The medicine is doing its job. It’s extremely easy to use. I’ve been ahead of the curve and haven’t had any issues getting it. The downside is the side effects. Nausea has been my number one problem. But overall, I’m incredibly pleased.”
What Are the Possible Side Effects of Wegovy?
Wegovy is a safe medication for weight loss. The most common complaints are gastrointestinal and can include:
- Gas
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Gastroenteritis
- Constipation
Other side effects may include:
- Headache
- Low blood sugar
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
To minimize these side effects, your health care professional will start you at a lower dose of 0.25 mg every week and escalate the dose every month to 2.4 mg so that your body can adjust to the medication.
How Much Does Wegovy Cost in Oklahoma?
Wegovy is one of the new, highly sought-after weight loss medications on the market, so it may be a bit pricey, just like other FDA-approved weight-loss drugs.
When it comes to weight loss medications, there is one caveat: insurance coverage differs significantly in terms of coverage and treatments.
You’ll have to look up your insurance policy specifically to see if they will cover your Wegovy weight loss medication.
You’ll have to look up your insurance policy specifically to see if they will cover your Wegovy weight loss medication.
If it isn’t covered by insurance, we have the option to send it to our compounding pharmacy that compounds it for about $250/2mg (that would normally last 1.5-3 months depending on dosage) or $350/5mg that can last 2-3 months depending on dosage).
Without insurance coverage, Wegovy will cost about $1,400 per month, which may be a little expensive for most patients. However, if the price isn’t a problem for you or your insurance covers it, we’d be happy to book an appointment with you and walk you through to see if it’s a good fit for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wegovy the Same as Ozempic?
Yes, Both Wegovy and Ozempic are semaglutide medications. However, Ozempic is used to manage type 2 diabetes.
If you’re on Ozempic medication, you can have the same feeling of fullness after you’ve eaten, and you may want to eat less. This can cause weight loss as it does to those taking Wegovy.
However, Ozempic is not intended to be a weight-loss drug, so if you don’t change your diet while taking this medication, you won’t experience weight loss.
How Often Should I Take Wegovy?
Wegovy is taken once per week. To easily remember, you can take the same day and time every week.
Can I Take Wegovy and a Meal?
You can take Wegovy with or without food.
How Is the Wegovy Dosing Adjusted?
You will start with 0.25 mg injections once every week for four weeks. Then, if your body is responding well to the medication, your provider will increase the dosage every month for four months until you reach the highest dose of 2.4 mg.
If you’re not responding well or have side effects, your provider will delay increasing the dose for one month.
Taking steps to reduce weight not only prevents diseases but also reduces social stigma and the quality of life associated with overweight and obesity. Wegovy weight loss medication may sound expensive but it’s cheaper compared to the treatment of medical complications of obesity.
Wegovy may assist you in making the necessary lifestyle changes to lose weight and improve your health. Remember taking care of obesity can be complicated, so it is best to work with a qualified health care professional who is committed to working with you long-term.
Now that you know all there is to know about Wegovy weight loss medication, what’s next? How about learning about Monoclonal Antibody Infusions?