Is Wegovy Safe For Weight Loss?

Wegovy is an injectable medication which contains the active ingredient semaglutide. It works by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which helps with weight loss by reducing appetite, increasing feelings of fullness, and slowing the rate of gastric emptying.

Wegovy is manufactured by Novo Nordisk, and was approved for use in the UK in September 2023 as a weight management treatment for adults with obesity, or those who are overweight and have weight-related health conditions.

While Wegovy underwent extensive clinical studies and is approved as a safe weight loss treatment, it can cause side effects, which will vary from person to person. If you are considering starting your Wegovy treatment course, it's important to be informed about the potential side effects and how to manage them.

We have written an informative guide listing the side effects and exploring the safety information about Wegovy, so that you can understand the treatment properly, whether you are considering taking it or increasing your dose.

Is Wegovy a safe medication?

Yes, the safety of Wegovy has been proven in clinical trials, and it recently received UK approval for weight management. In July 2024, the MHRA also approved semaglutide for reducing major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular death) in overweight and obese adults with established cardiovascular disease.

As with all medications, there is a risk of experiencing side effects, which we will explore in more detail shortly. To better understand how to take and store Wegovy, read our helpful guide on How To Take Wegovy Injections.

Can I get Wegovy over the counter?

Wegovy is only available via prescription, as your responses to the treatment need to be carefully monitored by a healthcare professional. If you experience serious side effects or find them difficult to tolerate, or if you don’t achieve the expected level of weight loss, your prescriber may need to adjust your dose or stop the treatment altogether.

You can fill out our brief online consultation to check your eligibility for Wegovy, and once approved, it can be purchased directly from the Pharmica website.

Recommended reading: Wegovy Dosage Guide

Wegovy side effects

While Wegovy is an approved treatment, side effects are frequently experienced when starting or increasing the dose, as your body needs time to adjust to the treatment. The severity and frequency of your side effects should subside over time.

Common side effects

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

• Headache
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Being sick (vomiting)
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Stomach pain
• Feeling weak or tired

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Feeling dizzy
• Upset stomach or indigestion
• Burping
• Gas (flatulence)
• Bloating of the stomach
• Inflamed stomach (‘gastritis’); signs include stomach ache, feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• Reflux or heartburn, also called ‘gastro-oesophageal reflux disease’
• Gallstones
• Hair loss
• Injection site reactions
• Change in the way food or drink tastes
• Change in skin sensation
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in patients with diabetes

Serious side effects

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• Complications of diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy). If you have diabetes you should inform your doctor if you experience eye problems, such as changes in vision, during treatment with this medicine.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis). Signs of an inflamed pancreas may include severe and long-lasting pain in your stomach, the pain may move to your back. You should see your doctor immediately if you experience such symptoms.
• Kidney or bladder stones. Signs may include back or lower abdomen pain, difficulty in urination or a change in colour of your urine.

Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people

• Severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic reactions, angioedema). You should seek immediate medical help and inform your doctor straight away if you get symptoms such as breathing problems, swelling of face, lips, tongue, and/or throat with difficulty swallowing, wheezing, fast heartbeat, pale and cold skin, feeling dizzy or weak.
• Hip fractures.

Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):

• Bowel obstruction. A severe form of constipation with additional symptoms such as stomach ache, bloating, vomiting, etc.

Certain individuals should not take Wegovy, such as those with pre-existing conditions that may be adversely affected by its effect on the body, or those taking certain medications. For more information, view our consultation for injectable treatments.

Recommended reading: Wegovy Side Effects: What You Need To Know

Is it safe to buy Wegovy online?

Yes, it is safe to buy Wegovy online from a trusted, registered and reputable service like Pharmica.

Pharmica is recognised as the #1 Weight Loss Service in the UK on Trustpilot and offers Wegovy alongside other weight loss medications, such as Mounjaro.

Complete an online medical consultation to see if Wegovy is right for you. Pharmica’s clinical experts and customer service team are best-in-class, offering dedicated online support to help you manage side effects and lose weight safely and sustainably.