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Drug Info

How quickly does Wegovy work?

You’re more likely to see quicker weight loss results on Wegovy if you eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly
Karen Berger medical writer and reviewer headshot
By | Feb. 20, 2024
A fork and spoon tied together with measuring tape: How quickly does Wegovy work?
In this article:

Wegovy (semaglutide) is an injected prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for chronic weight management—along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise. Many people ask: How long will Wegovy take to work? We’ll explain in more detail below, but the short answer is that it may start working within a few weeks. However, to get the best results, you need to take Wegovy as prescribed and combine it with dietary changes and increased physical activity. While individual results vary, in this NEJM clinical study, people who took semaglutide lost an average of 15% of their body weight over a period of 68 weeks.

How does Wegovy work?

GLP-1 is a hormone that regulates appetite and calorie intake. According to the prescribing information, Wegovy works by binding to and activating the GLP-1 receptor in the brain. By doing so, it helps decrease appetite and regulate food intake, helping people eat less. It also delays stomach emptying, which makes people feel fuller for longer. 

How to take Wegovy

Your healthcare provider will teach you how to use Wegovy, including how to inject yourself. When choosing a Wegovy injection site, you can choose from the stomach, thigh, or upper arm once a week. Be sure to choose a different injection site each week. 

You can inject Wegovy at any time of the day, but it should be injected on the same day each week. If you need to change the day of the week, you can, as long as your previous dose of Wegovy was injected two or more days before. If you miss a dose of Wegovy and your next dose is more than two days away, inject your dose right away. If you miss a dose of Wegovy, and your next dose is less than two days away, you can skip the missed dose and take the next dose on the regularly scheduled day. If you miss Wegovy for more than 14 days, you can take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day or consult your healthcare provider on how to restart treatment. 

Your healthcare provider will give you instructions on how to slowly increase your Wegovy dose. Generally, you will inject a dose of 0.25 mg every week for one month, then 0.5 mg once a week during the second month. In the third month, you will inject 1 mg every week, and in the fourth month, you will inject 1.7 mg every week. For the fifth month and thereafter, your healthcare provider will let you know if you should keep the dose at 1.7 mg per week or increase it to 2.4 mg weekly. 

You can take Wegovy with or without food. 

How long does it take for Wegovy to work?

Wegovy starts working right away, reaching its maximum effect in the body within one to three days. However, because Wegovy is started at a lower dose and slowly increased, it takes some time to get to the maintenance dose of Wegovy, which is 1.7 or 2.4 mg per week. Your healthcare provider will gradually increase the dose monthly during the first few months. This helps your body get used to the medication and minimizes some of the side effects, like stomach problems. 

Always remember that the rate of weight loss is different for each person. It may seem like for some individuals, the weight falls off, while others struggle more. Studies have found that using Wegovy with lifestyle changes (like eating a healthy diet and exercising) leads to a significant reduction in body weight. What’s more, the weight loss tends to be sustained, meaning you are likely to keep the weight off with continued use of Wegovy and lifestyle changes.

According to the NEJM study, after 68 weeks of treatment (1.3 years):

  • 86% of people lost 5% or more of body weight, which equates to a weight loss of 11 pounds for someone who started at 220 pounds.
  • 69% of people lost 10% or more of body weight, which equates to a weight loss of 22 pounds for someone who started at 220 pounds.
  • 50% of people lost 15% or more of body weight, which equates to a weight loss of 33 pounds for someone who started at 220 pounds.
  • 32% of people lost 20% or more of body weight, which equates to a weight loss of 44 pounds for someone who started at 220 pounds.

Wegovy weight loss after 68 weeks
Percent of body weight lost Percent of people who achieved this loss Actual weight loss in pounds (lbs) if starting weight was 220
5% or more 86% 11 lbs
10% or more 69% 22 lbs
15% or more 50% 33 lbs
20% or more 32% 44 lbs

Because individual results can depend on many factors, you can talk with your healthcare provider about how much weight you can expect to lose with Wegovy, as well as other lifestyle changes that may help in your weight loss journey. 

Wegovy vs. Ozempic

Ozempic and Wegovy both contain the active ingredient semaglutide, and both are made by the pharmaceutical manufacturer Novo Nordisk. 

Wegovy is FDA-approved as a weight loss drug. Ozempic is FDA-approved to control blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Ozempic can also be used to lower the risk of cardiovascular events, like heart attack and stroke, in adults with both Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Some healthcare providers prescribe Ozempic off-label (for a use that is not FDA-approved) because Ozempic can help people lose weight. 

Because Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same ingredient, they have many similarities. For example, they are both weekly injections and have the same side effects. Their dosages vary—Ozempic goes up to a maximum dosage of 2 mg per week, while Wegovy’s highest dosage is 2.4 mg per week.

According to a review of guidelines for weight loss treatment published in the American Journal of Managed Care, semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy) is a first-choice medication for long-term treatment when compared to other weight-loss medications. However, it did not compare Wegovy to Ozempic, possibly because Ozempic is not an FDA-approved weight loss drug. In Ozempic clinical trials, people who took Ozempic for about 40 weeks (10 months) lost about 14 pounds at the 2 mg per week dose. 

Because Wegovy and Ozempic are similar, the decision between one or the other may simply come down to factors like cost and insurance coverage. You can talk with your healthcare provider for more information about these medications.

Is Wegovy safe?

Common Wegovy side effects are mostly gastrointestinal and include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain
  • Constipation 
  • Heartburn
  • Burping 

RELATED: Does Wegovy make you tired?

Wegovy has a boxed warning, also known as a black box warning, which is the most serious warning required by the FDA. The warning states that the ingredient semaglutide has caused thyroid tumors in animal studies. It is not known whether this may occur in people who take Wegovy. Therefore, people who have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or people with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) should never take Wegovy. Also, anyone who takes Wegovy should be alert to symptoms of thyroid tumors, such as a lump in the neck, a hoarse voice, shortness of breath, or difficulty swallowing. 

Serious side effects may also occur with Wegovy. While allergic reactions are rare, if you have symptoms such as hives, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, get emergency medical help. 

Other serious reactions include but are not limited to: 

  • Suicidal thoughts or behavior: Be alert to any changes in mood or behavior and notify your health care provider right away if changes occur, or call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
  • Vision changes: Semaglutide may cause a worsening of diabetic retinopathy in people with diabetes. 
  • Pancreas problems: Symptoms may include severe stomach pain, which may spread to the back, nausea, and fast heart rate.
  • Gallbladder problems: Symptoms may include upper stomach pain, fever, clay-colored stools, and yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
  • Kidney problems: Symptoms may include swelling, tiredness, and less urination.
  • Low blood sugar: Symptoms may include dizziness, sweating, blurry vision, headache, confusion, shaking, and hunger.

This is not a full list of side effects. Others may occur. Consult your healthcare provider for more information about Wegovy’s side effects.

Wegovy cost

Without insurance, Wegovy costs $1,795 for a one-month supply of four 2.4 mg single-use injection pens.

However, there are some ways to get Wegovy for a lower cost:

  • If you do not have insurance, or if your insurance does not cover Wegovy, you can use a free Wegovy coupon from SingleCare. A SingleCare coupon can lower your monthly cost of Wegovy (2.4 mg dose) from $1,795 to as low as $1,234. This saves you $561 per month, or $6,732 over the year.
  • Check the Wegovy manufacturer website for more information regarding savings options. People with private or commercial insurance plans that cover some of the Wegovy cost may be eligible for a $0 copay every month for up to 13 months. If you pay out of pocket for prescriptions, or if your insurance does not cover Wegovy, you may be eligible for other savings. 
  • If you have looked into these options, and the price of Wegovy is still too high, check with your healthcare provider. There may be an alternative medication that can still be effective but more affordable.

Bottom line

Wegovy starts working in the body within a few days of taking it, but it could take weeks or months to see results. How quickly Wegovy works depends on various factors, such as diet, exercise, and the body’s unique metabolic response to the drug. Most people who take Wegovy lose an average of 15% of their body weight within a year and four months. To get the best results, you need to take Wegovy as prescribed, eat right, and increase your physical activity levels. Speak with your healthcare provider about whether Wegovy is right for you.

 

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