Wegovy or Mounjaro is a weightloss injection for overweight adults or adults with obesity. Injected once a week, it works by mimicking a hormone that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite. It can only be prescribed to adults with at least one weight-related condition and a body mass index (BMI) of at least 27 kg/m2 or to people with a BMI of 30.0 kg/m2 or more. It is prescribed as part of a weight management programme that might include diet changes, exercise or surgery.
What alternatives are there to Wegovy?
The closest medicine to Wegovy is Mounjaro or Saxenda, which is made by the same company, Novo Nordisk, but rather than a weekly dose is injected once daily. Saxenda works in the same way as Wegovy by suppressing your appetite, so you feel less hungry in general and fuller for longer after meals. It is also a prescription-only medication.
Other weight loss medicines include:
Wegovy Vs Saxenda 
Both drugs work in the same way – by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, but they contain different ingredients. Saxenda contains liraglutide rather than semaglutide and is injected daily rather than weekly. This makes Wegovy an easier option as you only need to inject it once a week.
Wegovy Vs Orlistat
Orlistat (available over the counter as Alli) works very differently from Wevogy. It’s a lipase inhibitor, which means it reduces the amount of fat that’s absorbed by your body. It is used in conjunction with a balanced diet and exercise programme and is only prescribed if you have a body mass index of 28 or more and other weight-related conditions or a BMI of 30 or more. It has common gastrointestinal side effects that include pooing more frequently and an oily discharge from your rectum.
Wegovy Vs Mysimba
Mysimba is a weight loss tablet that reduces your appetite, so you’ll feel full after eating less food. This is similar to how Wegovy works. The average weight loss recorded by patients taking Mysimba was around 3.7-5.7% of their weight, but this also depends on whether they made dietary changes and exercised. You can expect to lose 5% of your starting weight after 16 weeks (4 months) with Mysimba. But if you lose less than 5% of your body weight, your doctor will advise you to stop Mysimba and may suggest alternative weight loss treatments.
Wegovy Vs Xenical
Xenical is a weight loss pill that works by reducing how much fat from each meal your body absorbs. Instead of absorbing this fat from each meal, your body gets rid of it as waste. Xenical is taken 3 times a day before each meal. You must make sure the meals you take Xenical with include some fats. Xenical takes around 24 to 48 hours to change how you absorb fat, and you should start to see results from taking it within a few weeks.
Alternatively – or in addition to – a prescription for Wegovy, we may recommend alternative routes to weight loss, including
Wegovy, which is also known as semaglutide, works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is released after eating and boosts insulin release. It makes you feel full, so helps regulate your appetite, and therefore aids weight loss.
How long does Wegovy stay in your system?
Wegovy stays in your body for 5–7 weeks after your last dose.
How long does Wegovy take to work?
Wegovy starts working straight away, and you should start feeling fuller after your first few doses. However, people respond to medicines in different ways, so there’s no set time for when you’ll start to see results. It might take several weeks before the full effects are seen. If you do not see any results within 6 weeks of taking Wegovy, your doctor may want to try an alternative treatment.
Wegovy has been proven to be an effective tool for weight loss. In a 68-week medical study of 1961 adults living with obesity or excess weight with a related medical problem, about one in three achieved a 20% reduction in weight (in conjunction with a plan of reduced-calorie meals and increased physical activity).
What are the different dosages of Wegovy
There are five different doses of Wegovy: 0.25 mg, 0.5mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg. Each dose comes in its own colour pen. Each pen contains 4 doses and last for 4 weeks before you need to switch pens.
What is the recommended dosage of Wegovy?
Wegovy dosage starts low and increases gradually as you get used to the medication. This is done over a period of a few months.
Month 1:
You will most likely start with the recommended dose of is 0.25mg.
Month 2:
Your dose will be increased to 0.5mg one a week.
Month 3:
Your dose will be increased to 1mg.
Month 4:
Your dose will be increased to 1.7mg
Month 5 and beyond:
After Month 4, your dose will be increased to 2.4mg. This is the dose you will continue taking for the rest of your treatment.
To help you make sure you’re always using the correct dose, we will give you clear advice and instructions. Each dose of Wegovy also comes in a different colour, so you will quickly and easily be able to tell which dose you need and what it looks like.
You will always be given a clear dosing schedule by us and they will be available to support you if you have any questions or need help.
What are the possible side effects of Wegovy?
Wegovy may cause serious side effects including:
If you notice signs of any of these serious side-effects you should contact your doctor or healthcare professional.
Less serious and more common side effects may include:
Contact your doctor or healthcare professional if any of these side effects bother you or don’t go away.
Is Wegovy safe?
Yes, Wegovgy is safe for most people to take if a doctor has said it’s suitable for you. However, there are certain conditions and health circumstances that may make your doctor less likely to prescribe the medication. For example, if you have or have had pancreatitis, your doctor might not prescribe Wegovy. It’s also not safe to use if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant, and you should stop using it two months before you plan to become pregnant. It’s not known if Wegovy passes into your breast milk, so avoid it if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Wegovy?
Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking Wegovy. There are no known interactions between Wegovy and alcohol. However, alcohol and Wegovy both lower blood sugars, so it is advisable that you monitor your reaction to the medication in case you become lightheaded or dizzy.
Can I drive while taking Wegovy?
Yes, you can drive while taking Wegovy, but it is recommended that you proceed with care until you are sure how Wegovy affects you.
Can I take Wegovy long-term?
Wegovy has been approved by the MHRA for long-term treatment of obesity, and can be used for as long as it remains beneficial.
Is Wegovy addictive?
There is no evidence to suggest Wegovy is addictive.
Wegovy is prescription-only medicine. We will prescribe it after an initial assessment.
Can I get Wegovy over the counter?
No, you cannot get Wegovy over the counter as it is a prescription-only medication. This means you will need to speak to a doctor and have a health assessment to make sure that Wegovy is safe and appropriate for you to take. There are some alternative weight loss treatments that are available over the counter, such as Orlistat.
In the UK, only adults who match strict criteria and have a prescription can take Wegovy
Who should not take Wegovy?
You should not take it if:
In addition, you should tell your doctor if you:
There is no generic version of Wegovy available.
In America, the FDA recommends that it should not be used in combination with any other product intended for weight loss, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs or herbal products.
The medicine is prescribed by an Independent Pharmacist Prescriber after undergoing a clinical assessment.
