How to manage Wegovy side effects?

Key takeaways:

You have heard about Wegovy’s weight loss results and seen the before-and-after pictures. Your doctor is endorsing it, too.

It looks promising. But a part of you hesitates.

What if the side effects hit you hard?

What if your body reacts badly to it?

What if the adverse effects are irreversible?

Yes, Wegovy has some side effects.

But this is not the full story. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what those side effects look like, why they happen, and what you can do to feel better.

How does Wegovy work in the body?

How does Wegovy work?

Mimics natural hormone GLP-1

Slows digestion so you feel fuller for longer

Signals your brain that you’re full

• Smaller portions satiate your hunger
• You experience fewer cravings
• Your blood sugar levels stay steady
• You lose weight gradually and healthily

To understand Wegovy’s side effects better, we first need to know what exactly happens when we take the medicine.

Wegovy works by mimicking the actions of a hormone in your body called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1).

• Controls appetite:
  Wegovy targets the parts of your brain that control hunger. This reduces food cravings and makes it easier to eat less without feeling too hungry.
• Keeps you full for longer:
  It slows how quickly food leaves your stomach. As a result, meals keep you satisfied for longer, which naturally reduces the urge to overeat.
• Supports blood sugar control:
  After meals, Wegovy helps your body release more insulin and lowers glucagon levels in the blood.

This helps you:

• Stay full even with smaller meals.
• Feel less hungry between meals.
• Cut down on cravings.
• Manage blood sugar more effectively.
• Lose weight steadily over time.

Why does Wegovy cause side effects?

The reason why people experience side effects while on Wegovy is that the body is adjusting to new changes.

GLP-1 receptors are present in the gut, brain, pancreas, heart, kidneys, and blood vessels. When these receptors are activated by Wegovy, they affect how your body digests food, controls hunger, and regulates insulin.

That’s why symptoms like nausea, bloating, or tiredness are common in the beginning. They are signs that your body is shifting gears.

What are the side effects of taking Wegovy?

Like any medicine, Wegovy can cause side effects. But not everyone gets them, and most are mild and temporary.

According to the patient information leaflet, here are the side effects you must watch out for:

Mild side effects

Serious side effects:

These side effects demand prompt medical attention.

Do the side effects go away over time?

Yes, most Wegovy side effects do get better with time. Symptoms like nausea, tiredness, headache, constipation, or diarrhoea are common in the initial days of increasing your dose.

• Nausea often takes 7-8 days to settle.
• Diarrhoea usually lasts 3 days.
• Vomiting gets better after 2 days.
• Constipation can take about 47 days on average to go away.

How to manage Wegovy side effects?

Usually, doctors prescribe the lowest dose first and increase gradually. This is to give your body some time to get used to the new medication.

These simple and easy-to-follow tips will help you manage some common Wegovy side effects better:

• For nausea:

  • Eat several small meals instead of a couple of large ones.
  • Start your meals by eating thin dal or clear soup first.
  • Avoid masala and oil in your food for some time.
  • Eat mindfully.
  • Stay hydrated with adrak chai, pudina tea, jeera water, or nimbu paani.
  • Add hing in dals for better digestion.

• For vomiting:

  • Drink ORS or sweet lemon water.
  • Have light meals like khichdi or curd rice.
  • Avoid lying down immediately after meals.
  • Take small but frequent sips of water.
  • Try taking Wegovy before going to bed to sleep through symptoms.

• For diarrhoea:

  • Rehydrate with nimbu paani, nariyal paani, or lassi.
  • Eat apples, bananas, or curd rice.
  • Consume isabgol (psyllium husk) if your doctor permits.

• For constipation:

  • Drink at least 8–10 glasses of water daily.
  • Try triphala churna if your doctor permits.
  • Consume soaked methi seeds.
  • Have more whole vegetables, whole grains, and papaya.

• For decreased appetite:

  • Eat protein-rich foods like dal, paneer, soya, etc.
  • Start taking multivitamins if your doctor permits.
  • Eat small meals and do not force-feed yourself.

• For fatigue:

  • Stay well-hydrated.
  • Eat nutritious grains such as ragi, jowar, sattu, etc.
  • Consume iron-rich foods like spinach and beetroot.

• For headaches:

  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water every day.
  • Sleep for at least 8 hours a day.
  • Sleep at the same time each day.
  • Use over-the-counter pain relievers if needed.
  • Drink tulsi or chamomile tea for relief.

• For injection site reactions:

  • Rotate the injection sites every time.
  • Use a cold compress if there's swelling or discomfort at the site.

Also read: How to take Wegovy injection for weight loss

Why Wegovy affects different people in different ways?

You might feel, “Why does Wegovy affect me differently than others?”

You're not imagining it. Sensitivity to a particular medication can be different for everyone.

Some reasons include:

• You may have medical conditions related to the kidneys, eyes, or thyroid gland, which may affect your body’s ability to process Wegovy.
• You have a sensitive gut (perhaps because of IBS, IBD, Crohn's, etc.)
• Age and metabolism.
• Taking insulin or other medications like antidiabetics, anti-hypertensives, antidepressants, etc.
• Genetics

When should you visit the doctor?

Certain conditions or symptoms while on Wegovy may warrant you to visit your doctor as early as possible:

• A lump in your neck, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, or shortness of breath.
• Severe or ongoing stomach pain, with or without vomiting.
• Feeling lightheaded, weak, or dehydrated due to nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.
• Yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, or pale stools.
• The heartbeat feels fast or irregular while at rest.
• Low blood sugar symptoms such as shakiness, confusion, or sweating.
• Changes in vision, especially if you have diabetes.
• Feeling unusually tired, dizzy, or mentally unwell.
• Swelling, breathing difficulty, or skin reactions after an injection.
• Difficulty urinating, lower abdominal pain, or notice a change in urine colour.
• Bloating or constipation that does not improve.

To put it briefly

Yes, side effects can be frustrating, but they don't last forever. The long-term goal with Wegovy or any weight loss plan is to help you feel better at a sustainable pace.

And when you stay consistent and ask for help when needed, progress follows.