Wegovy reviews

Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics your natural GLP-1 hormone to reduce appetite, increase the feeling of fullness and slow emptying of the stomach. This helps reduce body weight by acting on the brain’s hunger centres.

Adults over 18 with a BMI over 30 (obesity), or over 27 (overweight) with a weight-related health condition like prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease or sleep apnoea. It must be combined with lifestyle changes like diet and physical activity. You can not use Wegovy if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or you have a personal/family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2, or you have type 1 diabetes.

Wegovy is prescribed for weight loss by specialist weight loss clinics. The criteria to be referred to a weight loss clinic varies in each area of the UK. The usual crtieria are a BMI over 35 or over 32.5 if you're Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean. OR a BMI over 30 or over 27.5 if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin, and you have a weight related health condition. Weight related health conditions include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea and cardiovascular disease, and some areas may include severe asthma, PCOS and other conditions in their criteria. To be eligible for referral, you usually must have engaged with a local weight loss programme encouraging healthy eating and exercise.

The average cost for Wegovy privately is between £165 to £300 per month.

In a large global trial, people with a BMI over 30 lost an average of around 15% over 16 months over use. Benefits plateau over time so lifestyle changes are key to long-term maintenance of weight loss.

There is no specific way to stop Wegovy, it is what works for you. Some people reduce the dose slowly, others stop it immediately.

Wegovy usually starts working quickly wihtin 4-8 weeks. However, it can take months to see a significant weight loss. Results will be improved if you also concentrate on making healthy dietary changes and increasing exercise including strength training.

If you have nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea as side effects with Wegovy, this can cause dehydration. If you have these symptoms and feel weak, thirsty or are passing little urine, seek medical advice. Abdominal pain can be caused by gallstones or pancreatitis which are risks associated with Wegovy and you should see a doctor with these symptoms. Some people experience mood change with Wegovy, so please speak to someone if you feel low. The Samaritans are available 24/7 365 days a year on 116 123 or call NHS 111, choosing option 2.

Wegovy and Ozempic are actually the same drug. The difference is in the licensing, Wegovy is licensed for weight loss, however Ozempic is lisenced to treat type 2 diabetes.

If you stop taking Wegovy, the effects will wear off so you may feel more hungry or interested in food again. This is why it is so important to change your habits while using the medication. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise, including strength training, while using Wegovy and after you stop it will help maintain your weight.

Weight regain is likely unless lifestyle changes are maintained. Most regain at least half of lost weight within 1 year.

As Wegovy is a fairly new drug, there is limited research on the long-term effects. As it is a new drug, it is still being monitored for safety, and any issue will be flagged up by health safety authorities.

Wegovy is known to cause gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea alongside reducing appetite. This can lead to dehydration and kidney failure which is why it's so important to drink plenty of water while using the medication. Wegovy can also increase the risk of gallstones and pancreatitis, which can be very serious. If you are diabetic and use Wegovy, you may be at risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar levels) and worsneing of diabetic retinopathy (an eye condition associated with diabetes). Finally, Wegovy increases the risk of aspiration (where stomach contents go into the lungs) during a general anaesthetic.

How you feel on Wegovy is individual. Some people feel worse due to side effects, whereas other people feel much better due to the benefits of weight loss for their overall health or health conditions.