What is Wegovy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wegovy is the brand name for semaglutide, an injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist medication. Wegovy is approved as a weight loss medication and comes in weekly 2.4 milligram doses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FDA approved Wegovy in 2021 for weight management and weight loss. Wegovy dosages start at 0.25 milligrams per week and increase to the goal dose of 2.4 milligrams per week. It is meant for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wegovy shares the same drug name as Ozempic, which is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. Even though they share the same drug name, there are some differences between Wegovy and Ozempic<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Wegovy is intended for a different use than Ozempic and isn\u2019t meant to treat diabetes. Ozempic can result in weight loss, but it isn\u2019t meant for use as a weight loss drug or diet shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wegovy works to promote weight loss by slowing down digestion time and altering hormones that impact your appetite, which can help you consume fewer calories. Wegovy might also help combat insulin resistance<\/a>, a common cause of weight gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to supply chain issues, there is currently a shortage of Wegovy, according to the manufacturer. This might impact your ability to take Wegovy even if you have a prescription.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are some potential side effects of taking Wegovy<\/a>, which are likely to be the most intense when you first start taking it or when you increase your dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the most commonly reported symptoms of Wegovy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n More rarely, Wegovy might increase your risk of serious health issues like thyroid tumors, pancreatitis, gallbladder issues, and kidney problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You shouldn\u2019t take Wegovy if you or your family have a history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, which can increase your risk of developing thyroid tumors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When discussing wegovy alternatives, it\u2019s worth comparing Wegovy vs Saxenda<\/a>. Saxenda (liraglutide) is the only other injectable weight loss medication on the market besides Wegovy, and it is in the same medication class as Wegovy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Saxenda is used to treat obesity for people aged 12 years and older, while Wegovy is meant to treat people at least 18 years of age and older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FDA approved Saxenda in 2014 as a weight loss medication, so it\u2019s been used longer than Wegovy. Saxenda is approved for adults with a BMI over 27 and children aged 12-17 who are over 132 pounds and considered obese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saxenda is for daily use with a maximum dose of 3 milligrams. Like Wegovy, it comes in a prefilled injector pen. Saxenda<\/a> has a shorter duration once injected, which is why it\u2019s injected daily compared to Wegovy\u2019s weekly dosing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contrave is an oral weight loss medication approved by the FDA in 2014. Contrave works by impacting your appetite and the pathways in your brain that influence cravings. One of the ingredients in Contrave is the active ingredient in Wellbutrin, an antidepressant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people taking Contrave<\/a> may experience suicidal thoughts or actions, so it might not be suitable for people with a history of certain mental health diagnoses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Orlistat is one of the older prescription weight loss drugs and has been approved since 1999. It is an oral medication that blocks fat absorption in your diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Orlistat can cause fatty stools and stool leakage due to the high-fat content, which is one of the most commonly reported side effects of Orlistat<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phentermine, one of the ingredients in Qsymia, has been approved for short-term use since 1959. Qsymia was approved in 2012 to aid in weight loss for patients as young as 12. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Qsymia works to reduce appetite and may also alter the way food tastes, potentially making it less appealing and reducing your caloric intake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If patients haven\u2019t lost a significant amount of weight after the first 12 weeks of using Qsymia, it\u2019s recommended to discontinue the drug due to potential side effects like birth defects in mothers taking it, delayed increase in height in children, and increasing heart rate, among others side effects and risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imcivree is a melanocortin-4 (MC4) receptor agonist and is approved as a weight-loss medication for children and adults with certain genetic conditions and health issues that can cause weight gain and obesity. It isn\u2019t meant for general use among otherwise healthy adults as a weight loss aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have glucose intolerance\/diabetes, there are several GLP-1 receptor agonists (same drug class as Wegovy) that you may be able to try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These medications work to promote weight loss in similar ways as Wegovy but are primarily meant to treat diabetes. They are all injectable medications except for Rybelsus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There aren\u2019t any generic options for Wegovy, which is one of the reasons it\u2019s so expensive out-of-pocket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to GoodRx, four prefilled pens of Wegovy with 2.4 milligrams each (the target dose) cost around $1400, which would last for four weeks of weekly treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some health insurance companies might cover Wegovy, but the cost is quite high if you\u2019re paying on your own. Prescription drug coverage can also make Wegovy less expensive or even free, depending on your plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There aren\u2019t any oral alternatives to Wegovy in terms of a comparable oral weight loss aid. Rybelsus is an oral form of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic), but it is only approved to treat type 2 diabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of weight loss with Rybelsus vs Wegovy, here\u2019s how they compare:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A study cited on the wegovy website was done on almost 2,000 overweight or obese adults without diabetes. Participants taking Wegovy lost an average of 35 pounds over the 68-week study, which was about 15% of their starting body weight. Overall, 83% of people taking Wegovy lost at least 5% of their body weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to studies, the amount of weight lost with Rybelsus<\/a> is a bit lower. In a 52-week study<\/a> on patients with diabetes, the average weight loss while taking Rybelsus (the dose was increased to the maximum of 14 milligrams) was around 4.4 kilograms (~10 pounds).<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019d rather not take a prescription weight loss aid, there are some natural alternatives you might consider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Natural supplements aren\u2019t as likely to result in the same significant weight loss as prescription drugs, but they are usually safer and can be significantly more affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Berberine is a compound found in some plants and is a natural alternative for treating insulin resistance and high blood sugar. Taking berberine might also help you lose weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a small study<\/a> on people with metabolic syndrome (a condition that can lead to type 2 diabetes), berberine improved insulin sensitivity and reduced the waist circumference of participants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2020 meta-analysis<\/a> of 12 studies on berberine weight loss results<\/a> showed that berberine led to significant weight loss and reduced body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Reduced waist circumference can be indicative of losing visceral fat, which is fat that you carry in your abdomen. Visceral fat is linked with an increased risk of heart disease, even in people with a BMI that is considered healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Green tea contains compounds that can aid in weight loss. According to a study<\/a>, taking green tea extract for 12 weeks was associated with significant weight loss, as well as reduced waist circumference and levels of LDL cholesterol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part of the way green tea extract is thought to promote weight loss is by targeting appetite hormones and helping you to feel more satiated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eating enough protein, along with other healthy lifestyle habits, might help you lose weight naturally. Eating 25-30 grams of protein per meal can help reduce your appetite, promote weight loss, and reduce certain risk factors for health problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get plenty of protein from whole foods like meat, chicken, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, legumes, and soy products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you need extra protein in your diet, consider a whey protein supplement that is low in added sugar and can be added to things like smoothies or mixed with milk to make a high-protein shake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the reasons people might stop taking Wegovy include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t tolerate Wegovy even after you\u2019ve been taking it for a while, you might choose to stop taking it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve reached your weight loss goals while taking Wegovy, you might choose to stop taking it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main potential side effect of stopping Wegovy is that you might regain some of the weight you\u2019ve lost over time. In addition, any side effects you were experiencing while taking Wegovy will start to diminish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There isn\u2019t a need to taper the dose of Wegovy or gradually \u201cwean\u201d off it. It\u2019s considered safe to stop taking Wegovy \u201ccold turkey\u201d since it isn\u2019t meant to control any chronic health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wegovy is a prescription weight loss drug meant for use in adults who are considered overweight or obese. It comes in a prefilled injector pen, and its target dose is 2.4 milligrams once weekly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wegovy shares an active ingredient with Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes medication. Unlike Ozempic, Wegovy isn\u2019t approved to treat type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides Wegovy, other FDA-approved weight loss drugs include Contrave<\/a>, Orlistat, phentermine-topiramate, and setmelanotide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some natural alternatives to Wegovy include berberine, green tea extract, and eating adequate amounts of protein with each meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat are the side effects of Wegovy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPharmaceutical alternatives to Wegovy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Injectable weight loss medications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Other prescription weight loss drugs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Orlistat (brand names Xenical, Alli)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Setmelanotide (Imcivree)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Diabetes drugs that can cause weight loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Is there a generic for Wegovy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is there an oral alternative to Wegovy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNatural alternatives to Wegovy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Berberine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Green tea extract<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Protein<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reasons people might stop taking Wegovy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Side effects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Desired results achieved<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Are there any side effects of stopping Wegovy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Stopping Wegovy safely<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Explore More<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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