Weight Loss Through Wegovy Injections: Exploring Adverse Reactions, Pricing, and Addition Information
Wegovy, a brand-name injection prescribed for weight loss and long-term weight management, has been making waves in the medical community. This GLP-1 receptor agonist, found in Wegovy, has shown significant benefits not only for weight loss but also for cardiovascular health.
In clinical trials, Wegovy proved effective in helping long-term weight loss, with most people who took Wegovy losing at least 5% of their body weight over 68 weeks. However, it's important to note that Wegovy is not the strongest weight loss drug, but it appears to be the most effective for long-term weight management according to recent guidelines.
The long-term cardiovascular effects of using Wegovy are impressive. A significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death by approximately 20% has been observed. This dual purpose—both weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction—is approved for adults with excess weight and cardiovascular disease.
Key points on cardiovascular benefits include a 20% relative risk reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in overweight or obese individuals, even before significant weight loss occurs. The cardiovascular benefits appear early during treatment, suggesting mechanisms beyond weight reduction.
Semaglutide, the active drug in Wegovy, likely improves cardiovascular outcomes via multiple pathways. These include weight loss leading to reduced blood pressure and improved cholesterol profiles, anti-inflammatory effects that stabilize blood vessel plaques and improve vascular function, better glucose control without causing hypoglycemia, blood pressure reduction, and improved insulin sensitivity.
Wegovy also impacts other cardiovascular risk factors such as lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure by small amounts and reducing total cholesterol levels. Because weight tends to be regained upon stopping semaglutide, continuous or long-term use may be necessary to maintain cardiovascular benefits, given that obesity is a chronic disease.
Wegovy is generally safe for the heart and is the first weight loss medication explicitly FDA-approved for its cardiovascular benefits. However, serious side effects of Wegovy can include increased heart rate, hypoglycemia, kidney damage, acute pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, eye problems, changes in mood, risk of thyroid cancer, allergic reaction, and suicidal thoughts.
Wegovy comes as a liquid solution inside a prefilled, single-dose injection pen. It's meant to be used alongside a low calorie diet and increased physical exercise. Your doctor or nutritionist can help you create a diet and exercise plan that works for you.
Wegovy is prescribed to help with weight loss and long-term weight management in adults who are overweight and have a weight-related health condition, adults and children 12 years and older who have obesity. Using Wegovy with other GLP-1 receptor agonists is not known to be safe or effective.
The medication is not available in a generic version, and the cost of Wegovy is based on several factors including your prescribed treatment regimen, your insurance plan, the pharmacy you use, and your location.
In these trials, people who took Wegovy also had a reduced waist circumference and lowered blood pressure. It's important to remember that everyone's body reacts differently to medication, and it's crucial to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider.
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recommends doctors consider prescribing semaglutide before other medications for the long-term management of obesity. Wegovy starts working as soon as you begin taking it, but your dosage is increased slowly, so it may take a few weeks before you start losing weight.
The dosage of Wegovy is typically increased over time, with your doctor starting you on a low dosage and increasing it as described in a table. Wegovy is given as a subcutaneous injection in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, and your doctor or another healthcare professional will teach you how to use a Wegovy pen to inject the medication yourself.
Mild side effects such as abdominal pain, bloating, burping, flatulence, nausea, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease, headache, dizziness, and fatigue may occur. However, it's important to seek immediate medical attention if you experience any serious side effects.
In summary, long-term use of Wegovy for weight loss not only reduces body weight but also provides significant protective effects against serious cardiovascular events, making it a valuable option especially for individuals with obesity and existing cardiovascular risk factors or disease.
- The long-term cardiovascular benefits of Wegovy, a weight loss medication, include a 20% relative risk reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events, even before significant weight loss occurs, due to semaglutide's multiple pathways that improve cardiovascular outcomes.
- Beyond weight loss, Wegovy shows promise for health-and-wellness by reducing other cardiovascular risk factors such as lowering blood pressure and total cholesterol levels.
- The American Gastroenterological Association recommends doctors consider prescribing semaglutide, the active drug in Wegovy, before other medications for long-term weight-management and obesity treatment.
- It's important to note that while Wegovy is generally safe for health and wellness, serious side effects, such as increased heart rate, hypoglycemia, and kidney damage, may occur, making open communication with healthcare providers crucial when using this drug for weight and cardiovascular management.
