Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve a new treatment for obesity, known as Wegovy. Below we invite you to know all the details of this innovative drug for chronic weight control in obese or overweight adults.
What is the new Wegovy obesity treatment?
Wegovy, the new treatment for obesity, is an injection containing semaglutide 2.4 mg, which is indicated for adults who are obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30) or overweight (BMI greater than or equal to 27) who also have weight-related medical problems, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.
It is innovative because this injection is applied once a week and has been shown to be twice as effective as other anti-obesity treatments.
Who approved the use of this new treatment for obesity?
This treatment is the first FDA-approved drug to control chronic weight in obese or overweight adults since 2014.
Its use must be accompanied by a low-calorie diet plan and increased physical activity.
How is the new Wegovy obesity treatment taken?
this is a prescription drug that is applied once a week by injection, which is applied by means of a pen preloaded with the required dose. It is recommended that the injection is always given on the same day of the week, at any time of the day, with or without food.
The dose of this drug should be gradually increased over 16 to 20 weeks to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.
How long can it take Wegovy?
This is one of the few drugs approved by the FDA for the long-term treatment of obesity. However, the SELECT test is currently being performed to determine the long-term cardiovascular effects of Wegovy.
How does Wegovy work?
This drug contains semaglutide, which belongs to the drugs known as glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists or GLP-1 RA.
Among the effects that this drug has is that it increases the release of insulin from the pancreas, slows the emptying of the stomach and brain receptors that cause the reduction of appetite. As a result, the patient has a feeling of satiety or fullness, which lasts longer than with the natural levels of the hormone GLP-1.
What are the benefits of Wegovy?
According to a study published in the journal New England Journal of Medicine, The average body weight reduction in the using this new treatment for obesity was 14.9% after 68 weeks of therapy, Compared with a 2.4% placebo group weight loss.
What side effects does this new drug have against obesity?
According to the FDA, the most common side effects of Wegovy are:
- nausea
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- constipation
- abdominal pain
- Headache
- fatigue
- Dyspepsia (indigestion)
- dizziness
- abdominal distension
- Belching
- hypoglycemia
- flatulence
- Gastroenteritis
- gastroesophageal reflux
However, this drug can also cause serious side effects, the most notable of which are possible thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. Given this fact, there is the recommendation that it should not be used in people with a personal or family history of spinal cord carcinoma or in patients with a rare disease, known as multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome. 2 (MEN 2). It is also not recommended to use it if you have had a severe allergic reaction to semaglutide or any other ingredient in this drug.
Other serious side effects include:
- Inflammation in the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Gallbladder problems (including, gallstones). Pain in the upper abdomen, fever, yellowish skin and eyes, or fecal excrement similar in color to clay may also occur.
- Low blood glucose (hypoglycemia)
- Acute kidney injury
- diabetic retinopathy
- Increase in heart rate
- Suicidal behavior or thinking
If you experience the following conditions, you should inform your doctor before using this new treatment for obesity:
- You have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys.
- You have type 2 diabetes and a history of diabetic retinopathy.
- You have depression or mental health problems.
- She is pregnant or planning to become pregnant. You should stop using this drug two months before planning a pregnancy.
- She is breastfeeding or planning to do so.
This new treatment for obesity has so far only been approved in the United States, so in Mexico it is not yet available for consumption.
With information from Harvard Health Publishing, Wegovy.com, FDA, and AARP.