This website has been produced and funded by Novo Nordisk and is intended for adult patients in
the United Kingdom who have been prescribed Wegovy®▼ (semaglutide injection). Side effect reporting
information can be found in the footer of this page.
Wegovy®▼(semaglutide injection) safety information
Please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) found in the product carton for a full list of side effects, warnings and precautions.
This is not a real patient and is for illustrative purposes only.
On this page, you can find important information about ‘warnings and precautions’ and ‘side effects’ for Wegovy®.
You’ll also be able to find some ‘tips for managing nausea’ (feeling sick), which is a very common side effect of Wegovy®.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Wegovy® or during treatment if you have:
- Digestive system issues
Wegovy® can make you feel nauseous (sick), be sick (vomiting) or have diarrhoea. These side effects can cause dehydration (loss of fluids). It is important that you drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration. This is especially important if you have kidney problems. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
- Inflammation of the pancreas
Wegovy® can cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) which can cause severe pain in the stomach and back which does not go away. This is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. You should see a doctor immediately if you experience such symptoms. Stop using this medicine and seek urgent medical help if you experience: Severe, persistent pain in the stomach area (abdomen), with or without nausea and vomiting. This could be a sign of acute pancreatitis, which is serious and potentially life-threatening.
If you have experienced inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) before, please speak with a member of your healthcare team before using this medicine.
- Diabetes
Wegovy® must not be used as a substitute for insulin.
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
Wegovy® can cause low blood sugar. Warning signs of low blood sugar can come on suddenly. Common warning signs can include:- Cold sweat
- Cool pale skin
- Headache
- Fast heartbeat
- Feeling nauseous (sick)
- Feeling very hungry
- Changes in vision
- Feeling sleepy or weak
- Feeling nervous, anxious or confused
- Difficulty concentrating
- Shaking
Your healthcare professional will tell you how to treat low blood sugar and what to do if you notice these warning signs.
Low blood sugar is more likely to happen if you have diabetes and are taking a sulfonylurea or insulin. Your doctor may ask you to test your blood sugar levels. This will help your healthcare professional decide if the dose of the sulfonylurea or insulin needs to be changed to reduce your risk of low blood sugar.
- Diabetic eye disease
Fast improvements in blood sugar control may cause diabetic eye disease to become temporarily worse. If you have diabetic eye disease and experience eye problems while taking this medicine, talk to your healthcare professional. - Sudden changes to your eyesight
If you notice a sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight during treatment with semaglutide, urgently contact your doctor. This may be caused by a very rare side effect called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Your doctor will refer you for an eye examination by an ophthalmologist and you may have to stop treatment with semaglutide.
Wegovy® contains:
- Semaglutide
- Disodium phosphate dihydrate
- Propylene glycol
- Phenol
- Sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid
- Water
Do not use Wegovy® if you are allergic to semaglutide or any of the other ingredients listed above. See the Wegovy® Patient Information Leaflet (PIL), which comes with your pen, for more information.
In particular, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are using medicines containing the following:
- Warfarin or other similar medicines taken by mouth to reduce blood clotting (oral anti-coagulants). When you start treatment with e.g. warfarin or similar medicines, frequent blood testing to determine the ability of your blood to clot may be required.
- Wegovy® should not be used during pregnancy, as it is not known if it may affect your unborn child
- It is recommended to use contraception while using Wegovy®
- If you wish to become pregnant, you should stop using Wegovy® at least two months in advance
- If you become or are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby while using Wegovy®, talk to your doctor straight away, as your treatment will need to be stopped
You should not use this medicine if you are breast-feeding, as it is not known if it passes into breast milk.
Wegovy® is unlikely to affect your ability to drive and use machines. Some people may feel dizzy when taking Wegovy® mainly during the first three months of treatment. If you feel dizzy you should not drive or operate machines until you feel better. If you need any further information, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Tell your healthcare team if you have diabetes. Your doctor may adjust the dose of your diabetes medicines to prevent you from getting low blood sugar.
- Do not mix Wegovy® up with other medicines that you inject (e.g. insulins)
- Do not use Wegovy® in combination with other medicines that contain glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) (such as liraglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide or lixisenatide)
Using Wegovy® in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin can cause low blood sugar. Low blood sugar can reduce your ability to concentrate. Do not drive or use machines if you get any signs of low blood sugar. See the ‘low blood sugar’ section above for more information on the warning signs of low blood sugar.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, i.e. it is essentially ‘sodium-free’.
Please tell your healthcare professional that you are taking Wegovy® if you are due to have surgery where you will be under anaesthesia (sleeping).
Serious side effects
Common:
may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- Complications of diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy) — you should inform your doctor if you have diabetes and notice eye problems, such as changes in vision, while taking Wegovy®
Uncommon:
may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- Inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis) which could cause severe pain in the stomach and back which does not go away. This is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. You should see a doctor immediately if you experience such symptoms. Stop using this medicine and seek urgent medical help if you experience: Severe, persistent pain in the stomach area (abdomen), with or without nausea and vomiting. This could be a sign of acute pancreatitis, which is serious and potentially life-threatening.
- Kidney or bladder stones — signs may include back or lower abdomen pain, difficulty in urination or 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
Very rare:
may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
- A medical condition of the eye called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which may cause loss of vision without any pain. You should urgently contact your doctor if you notice sudden or gradually worsening eyesight. If you notice a sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight during treatment with semaglutide, urgently contact a healthcare professional. Please refer to section 2 of the Patient information leaflet (PIL) titled "Sudden changes to your eyesight" for further information.
Not known:
this means there is not enough data to determine how common this side effect is
- Bowel obstruction — a severe form of constipation with additional symptoms such as stomach ache, bloating, being sick (vomiting) etc
Side effects
Like all medicines, Wegovy® can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Very common of Wegovy®: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
- Headache
- Feeling nauseous (sick)
- Being sick (vomiting)
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Feeling weak or tired
These usually go away over time.
Common of Wegovy®: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- Feeling dizzy
- Upset stomach or indigestion
- Burping
- Gas (flatulence)
- Bloating of the stomach
- Inflamed stomach — the signs include stomach ache, feeling nauseous (sick) or being sick (vomiting)
- Reflux or heartburn
- 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 — see ‘Warnings and precautions’ section of this webpage or section four of the Patient Information Leaflet for the warning signs of low blood sugar
- Complications of diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy)
*may occur more frequently with semaglutide 7.2mg dose
For a full list of side effects, please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL).
Tips for managing nausea
Feeling sick (nausea) is a very common side effect of Wegovy®. You should speak to your healthcare team if you are struggling with nausea.
You can also try the following tips:
This is not a real patient and is for illustrative purposes only.
Watch what and how you eat
- Avoid hot, fried or greasy foods
- Avoid spicy or strong-smelling foods
- Avoid drinking alcohol
- Eat smaller portions more frequently and stop eating when you’re full
- Choose foods containing ginger, and drink ginger tea
- Try to eat slowly and keep upright after finishing your meal
- Try to take small sips of cold drinks to help keep hydrated
- Avoid drinking large amounts with food
This is not a real patient and is for illustrative purposes only.
Keep your mind busy
Distracting yourself with something you enjoy can help manage nausea, such as watching a film or listening to a podcast.
This is not a real patient and is for illustrative purposes only.
Fresh air
Getting fresh air by opening a window or spending time outside can help manage nausea.
The information on this website does not replace the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL), which you are advised to read in full. It is not intended as a substitute for clinical advice provided by your healthcare professional. Please contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your treatment and for clinical advice. Please refer to the PIL found in the product carton for further information on Wegovy®, further information on how to use Wegovy® and a full list of side effects, warnings and precautions.
Reporting side effects
▼This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information promptly. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ for how to report side effects.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. Side effects should also be reported to Novo Nordisk Limited (Telephone Novo Nordisk Customer Care Centre 0800 023 2573). Calls may be monitored for training purposes. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.