Wegovy is recommended for weight management in people with type 2 diabetes, or in overweight people who may be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued guidelines in 2023 recommending that it can be prescribed to people with a body mass index (BMI) over 30kg/m2 and at least one weight -related health condition (such as type 2 diabetes), within a specialist weight management service. It is also approved in the US by the FDA as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management.

Wegovy is an injection that you give yourself once a week and is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm. Your doctor or nurse will show you how to do this at first so you are confident with using it. It is important that you do not inject it into a muscle (intramuscularly) or vein (intravenously), and you should change the site that you inject yourself every week - do not use the same site for each injection.

Use Wegovy once a week, on the same day each week, at any time of the day. Standard dosing starts at a dose of 0.25 mg per week in your first month, increase this to 0.5 mg in your second month, then to 1 mg in the third month and 1.7 mg each week by the fourth month. From the fifth month onwards, your doctor may either keep you on the 1.7 mg dose weekly, or increase it to 2.4 mg. Please note this dosing may be different from person to person.

If you need to change the day of the week that you inject yourself for any reason, you may do so as long as your last dose of Wegovy was given 2 or more days before.

No.

Wegovy is not suitable if:

• you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)

• you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy

Before using Wegovy for the first time you should also tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:

• have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys

• have type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathy

• have or have had depression, suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (you should stop using Wegovy 2 months before you plan to become pregnant)

• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Wegovy passes into your breast milk

If you are taking other medication to treat diabetes, make sure your doctor is aware of this - because Wegovy slows stomach emptying it can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly.

Does Wegovy have side effects?

All medicines have the potential to cause side effects and Wegovy is no different here. The most common ones that may be experienced include:

• nausea

• stomach pain, heartburn or belching

• dizziness

• diarrhoea and vomiting

• headache

• tiredness

• runny nose or sore throat

• constipation.

Other possible side effects include pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas gland), gallbladder problems, allergic reactions and low mood. If you have diabetic eye disease (retinopathy) and are using insulin then Wegovy may lead to a worsening of your vision which may require treatment. If this occurs, inform your doctor.