What are the long-term side effects of Wegovy for weight loss?

This article was reviewed by Darragh O’Carroll, MD.

Long-Term Side Effects of Wegovy®

Key takeaways:

• The long-term side effects of Wegovy® may include problems with your pancreas, kidneys, or gallbladder. These side effects are rare.
• For many, Wegovy® is safe to use long-term, and the benefits outweigh the risks.
• Wegovy® is designed for long-term use and is FDA-approved for long-term weight management.

You might already know the short-term effects, like appetite control and weight loss. But what about the long-term side effects of Wegovy®?

Long-term effects are rare but can include an increased risk of pancreatitis, kidney problems, and gallstones.

Read on for more about the potential long-term side effects of Wegovy®, including how long you can take the medication for and whether side effects go away.

What Are the Long-Term Side Effects of Wegovy®?

The long-term side effects of Wegovy® can include issues with your gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas, and thyroid. But these side effects are rare.

A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis found that the most common side effects of Wegovy® are gastrointestinal (involving the stomach and digestion). That includes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In randomized controlled trials, these side effects were mild to moderate in severity and went away on their own.

On the whole, Wegovy® is considered safe for most people. A healthcare provider can look at your medical history and health profile to determine if Wegovy® is right for you.

The health benefits of losing weight with Wegovy® may outweigh any potential risks.

Common Side Effects of Wegovy®

The most common side effects of Wegovy® include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Headache

These side effects should clear up with time as your body adjusts to the medication.

Reach out to your prescribing healthcare provider if you’re struggling with Wegovy® side effects or if they’re not going away. Your provider may want to lower your dose, suggest alternative treatments, or recommend lifestyle tweaks to help.

Rare Wegovy® Side Effects

Wegovy® has a few rare, serious side effects. Those include:

• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Gallbladder problems, like gallstones and gallbladder disease
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) if used with some diabetes medications
• Acute kidney injury, when the kidneys stop working properly
• Increased heart rate
• Complications with an eye condition called diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes
• Suicidal thoughts (dial 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)

Wegovy® also comes with a boxed warning from the FDA stating that the active ingredient (semaglutide) causes thyroid tumors in rodents.

It’s unclear whether semaglutide can cause thyroid cancer or tumors in humans. But research so far suggests the drug isn’t associated with an increased risk of any type of cancer.

Who Can’t Take Wegovy®?

You can’t take Wegovy® if you:

• Are allergic to semaglutide or any other ingredients in Wegovy®
• Have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
• Have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• Are taking another GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist drug

Let your prescribing healthcare provider know about any health conditions you have or any medications you’re taking. They can make sure Wegovy® is right for you.

Is Wegovy® Safe for Long-Term Use?

For most people, Wegovy® is safe for long-term use. Its active ingredient was designed for diabetes, a lifelong condition, so the medication was made with long-term use in mind.

Plus, Wegovy® is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss and to help with weight maintenance long-term.

Research backs up its long-term safety.

A 2022 study looked at people with overweight or obesity taking Wegovy® for two years. It didn’t find any safety concerns.

More recently, a 2024 study looked at people with overweight or obesity and cardiovascular disease who took Wegovy® for four years. No new safety concerns came up in that research, either.

Do the Side Effects of Wegovy® Go Away?

Wegovy® side effects tend to go away on their own as your body gets used to the medication. You might experience side effects when you first start taking Wegovy® and when your dose increases.

If side effects don’t get better, they should go away when you stop taking Wegovy®. In that case, your provider can recommend a different weight loss medication that could suit your body better.

How Long Can I Take Wegovy®?

There isn’t a set timeframe for how long you can take Wegovy®. It’s designed for long-term use, so you can take it for years.

Depending on how your body reacts, you might want to take Wegovy® until you hit your goal weight, and then continue taking it for long-term weight management.

A healthcare professional can let you know if it’s safe to take Wegovy® long-term.

Wegovy® Alternatives for Weight Loss

There are plenty of Wegovy® alternatives to help you lose weight, including other GLP-1 injections and oral weight loss drugs.

Here are some of your options:

• Ozempic®. Ozempic® contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy® in a smaller dose.
• Mounjaro® and Zepbound®. Mounjaro® and Zepbound® are weekly injections like Wegovy®, but they contain the active ingredient tirzepatide.
• Victoza® and Saxenda®. These medications are daily injections containing liraglutide.
• Metformin. You might have heard of metformin as a diabetes drug. It’s a pill that’s sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss.
• Topiramate. Topiramate is an oral anti-seizure medication that can promote weight loss when combined with other medications.

Beyond weight loss medications, lifestyle changes can help you lose weight and improve your health. A medical provider will usually prescribe these changes alongside medication.

These include:

• Eating whole foods. Focus on nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.
• Doing more movement. Aim for at least 150 to 300 minutes of heart-pumping activity and at least two strength-training sessions a week. Also, try to walk and stand more throughout the day.
• Get enough sleep. Try to get seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Keeping a regular sleep schedule, avoiding large meals before bed, and winding down before bed without screens can improve your sleep.
• Drink more water. Staying hydrated can help control hunger and promote weight loss, especially if you drink a glass of water before meals.

The most effective weight loss treatment plan will involve a combination of these healthy habits. 

Long-Term Side Effects of Wegovy®: Final Thoughts

Just like many medications, there are potential side effects of Wegovy®. But rest assured, it’s safe for many people to use Wegovy® long-term.

Here’s the tl;dr:

• There are possible side effects. Long-term side effects of Wegovy® include problems with the pancreas, gallbladder, or kidneys. Gastrointestinal side effects are common, but they’re usually mild or moderate and go away with time.
• Wegovy® is designed for long-term use. Semaglutide is a medication for diabetes, a lifelong condition. And Wegovy® is FDA-approved for long-term weight management.
• The health benefits may outweigh the risks. Overweight and obesity come with health risks, too. You might find that reaching a healthy weight with Wegovy® improves your overall health and well-being, outweighing any risks.

Luckily, you don’t have to figure this one out alone. A healthcare provider can look at your medical history and overall health to figure out if Wegovy® is right for you and safe in the long run.

FAQs

See answers to common questions about the long-term effects of Wegovy® below.

What happens if you stay on Wegovy® for years?

If you stay on Wegovy® for years, you may lose weight and manage your weight. More research is needed on the long-term side effects of Wegovy®, but it’s considered safe for many people to take for years.

Is Wegovy® safer than Ozempic®?

Wegovy® and Ozempic® contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, so one isn’t necessarily safer than the other. Wegovy® has a higher dose of semaglutide than Ozempic®, but many of the side effects are the same.

Who can use Wegovy®?

You can use Wegovy® if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related health condition like high blood pressure (hypertension), type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

• Related: BMI Calculator
• Related: The 6 Best Weight Loss Supplements for Men

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This article originally appeared on Hims.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.