Like most drugs, Wegovy may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects of Wegovy. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Wegovy. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Wegovy can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Wegovy’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Wegovy that have been reported include:
* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Wegovy can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Wegovy, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects of Wegovy that have been reported include:
* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.
Side effect focus
Learn more about some of the side effects Wegovy may cause.
Boxed warning
Wegovy has a
Risk of thyroid cancer. Semaglutide, the active drug* in Wegovy, increased the risk of cancerous thyroid tumors in animal studies. It isn’t known whether this risk is also increased in humans.
Symptoms of a thyroid tumor may include:
Due to this risk, doctors usually will not prescribe Wegovy if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of thyroid cancer).
Doctors also typically won’t prescribe Wegovy if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. This is a genetic (inherited) disorder of the endocrine system that may cause thyroid cancer.
* An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.
What might help
Call your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of a thyroid tumor while using Wegovy. They’ll examine you and will likely recommend lab tests to evaluate your symptoms. They’ll determine whether it’s safe for you to keep using Wegovy.
Nausea
Nausea was the most common side effect reported in Wegovy’s studies.
Nausea may go away with time as you continue using Wegovy. In studies, it was rare for people to stop taking the drug due to nausea.
Injecting too much Wegovy can cause severe nausea. (See “What should be done in case of overdose?” below to learn more.) But when Wegovy is used in its approved dosage, severe nausea isn’t an expected side effect.
What might help
Contact your doctor if you experience nausea that’s bothersome or doesn’t go away during Wegovy treatment. They may suggest a medication to reduce nausea. If your nausea still doesn’t go away, they may recommend that you stop using Wegovy.
Constipation
Constipation is possible with Wegovy treatment. This was among the more common side effects reported by people who took Wegovy in studies. But no one in these studies stopped taking Wegovy due to constipation.
Constipation caused by Wegovy may go away on its own as you continue treatment.
What might help
Contact your doctor if you have constipation while taking Wegovy, especially if it’s bothersome or doesn’t go away. They may recommend medication to relieve your constipation. If this doesn’t help, they might recommend stopping Wegovy treatment.
Allergic reaction
Some people may have an allergic reaction to Wegovy. Allergic reactions weren’t reported in studies of Wegovy, but they have occurred since the drug was approved.
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:
- skin rash
- itchiness
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.
Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Wegovy. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
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