As with all medicines, Wegovy can cause side effects.
Common side effects include:
- Nausea – the feeling of an upset stomach, this is the most common side effect of Wegovy, particularly in early treatment.
- Diarrhoea / vomiting – loose stools and being unable to keep food/fluid down.
- Constipation – inability to move your bowels
- Injection site reaction – inflammation / itchiness / redness around the injection site
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) – this is a dangerous side effect; a feeling of weakness or tiredness, not having enough energy. If you have these feelings, immediately phone NHS 24 (111) and consume a small sugary drink (not anything with diet in its name) or a sugary snack (eg. 4-5 jelly babies).
- Headache – the feeling of tension or pressure in your head
- Fatigue – the feeling of not having enough energy, wanting to sleep all the time
- Dizziness – the feeling of being lightheaded, dizzy or off balance
- Stomach Discomfort - the feeling of cramping (a tightening, squeezing, or spasm-like sensation) and discomfort originating from your lower abdomen. If you feel any sharp, dull, burning, or stabbing sensations please seek medical attention
Serious side effects
Note there are some serious side-effects associated with taking Wegovy. If you experience any of the following, please contact your healthcare provider immediately and make sure they are aware that you are taking this medication.
- Pancreatitis - this is inflammation (swelling) of your pancreas. It presents as continuous (for several days) severe pain in your stomach. It may or may not move to your back and can feature vomiting.
- Increased heart rate – this is the feeling of your heart racing when at rest (sitting or lying down).
- Serious allergic reaction – This presents as significant swelling of the face, tongue, lips, or throat; wheezing, clammy skin, collapsing or losing consciousness. It’s imperative that you contact 999 emergency services immediately if this occurs.
- Diabetic Retinopathy – This is altering of vision, such as blurry vision, shapes floating in vision, and sudden vision loss.
Less commonly, it’s thought that Wegovy can increase gallstone disease. Rarely, it’s possible that it can cause pancreatitis and serious allergic reactions / anaphylaxis.
If you develop abdominal pain whilst taking this medication, you should seek in-person medical advice immediately and advise that you are taking this medication. If you develop signs of an allergic reaction, such as difficulty in breathing, rash, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, then you should also seek in-person medical help immediately.
Please read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your treatment for full details of side effects.