Wegovy® Drug Interactions You Need to Know About
Wegovy® is a weight loss medication that falls into a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which help to regulate blood sugar levels and suppress appetite.
As a result of these two mechanisms, Wegovy can help thos with obesity to lose body weight. It’s also used to treat weight-related health conditions like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy has interactions with certain drugs and substances that can prevent it from promoting weight loss and can impact how well other medications work.
In this article, we will discuss the various ways Wegovy interacts with other substances so you know how to take this drug safely.
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A Quick Recap: How Wegovy Works for Chronic Weight Management
Wegovy works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone in your body called glucagon-like peptide-1.
GLP-1 is released after eating and targets the areas of the brain that are responsible for appetite regulation.
Promoting the release of this hormone in the body can reduce feelings of hunger, which could lead to a lower food intake and subsequent weight loss.
Wegovy also regulates blood sugar levels which can have a positive impact on weight loss.
Lastly, Wegovy slows down how food moves through the digestive system — known as delayed gastric emptying — which can make people feel fuller for longer, potentially contributing to weight loss.
Key Point: Who Can Take Wegovy?
To be able to take Wegovy, you must fall into one of these two categories:
- You have an initial body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, which indicates obesity.
- You have a BMI of 27 or higher and at least one weight-related comorbid condition.
Why You Should Know About Wegovy Interactions
In order to take Wegovy safely and ensure any other medications you are taking work as they should, you need to know how Wegovy interacts with certain substances.
How Does Wegovy Interact with Other Drugs?
One of the main effects Wegovy has on the body is that it slows down the rate at which food moves through the gastric system. This is known as delayed gastric emptying.
This delay impacts how other medications are absorbed in the body. Slowed gastric emptying may mean drugs don’t reach the stomach or intestines — where they need to be absorbed — quickly enough.
Other weight management medications
There is currently limited research on how other weight loss drugs and appetite suppressants interact with Wegovy.
However, it isn’t advisable to take another receptor agonist, such as Ozempic or Mounjaro if you are taking Wegovy.
Combining multiple GLP-1 medications could increase Wegovy's side effects. There is also no current research that establishes if it’s safe to take more than one GLP-1 drug.
Insulin and other diabetes medications
One of Wegovy's main mechanisms involves reducing blood sugar levels, a function shared by other diabetes treatments such as insulin and sulfonylureas.
For this reason, taking Wegovy and other diabetes medications at the same time can result in very low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia.
If you are diabetic, there is a chance that combining these medications could further affect blood sugar levels which is why it’s important to monitor these closely.
Oral contraception and other hormone therapies
There is no current scientific evidence that Wegovy and oral contraceptives or hormone treatments interact.
One clinical trial tested the oral contraceptive ethinylestradiol (levonorgestrel) and found no interaction at all.
However, it’s important to remember that if you take contraceptives orally, they may not be absorbed by the body completely due to delayed gastric emptying — which may affect their efficacy.
This is why it’s generally recommended to use more than one contraceptive method if you are taking Wegovy and you’re sexually active.
Anticoagulants or antiplatelet medications
It’s possible that Wegovy could impact the way that blood thinning medications like Warfarin and other anticoagulants work in the body.
Although research on these interactions is limited, using Wegovy could increase your risk of experiencing adverse bleeding events.
This makes it important that your blood clotting parameters are monitored regularly if you’re taking these medications and Wegovy.
Thyroid medications
Wegovy may affect how thyroid medications are absorbed in the body, which could potentially alter how effective they are. These absorption problems are thought to be the result of delayed gastric emptying.
Thyroid medications like levothyroxine can interfere with blood sugar regulation, which means they can reduce the efficacy of semaglutide.
Psychiatric medications or antidepressants
Some psychiatric medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may interact with Wegovy. This could result in serotonin syndrome, which is a life-threatening condition where there is too much of this chemical in the body.
Pain medication
Some pain medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen can reduce how well Wegovy works.
If you are buying over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication, tell your pharmacist that you are taking Wegovy.
Taking this proactive step can help ensure that you receive the right guidance to make the most of your medication regimen.
Immunosuppressant medications
Immunosuppressants are medications that people may need to take after an organ transplant.
Wegovy may interact with these medications, so it’s crucial that you speak to your transplant team before you start Wegovy.
Supplements and other over-the-counter drugs
It’s difficult to ascertain whether particular supplements — such as vitamins and minerals — and Wegovy might interact because most of them are not regulated in the same way that prescription drugs are.
This means there is limited information available about the possible interactions between Wegovy and supplements.
However, supplements containing stimulants like caffeine may interfere with how Wegovy works. Caffeine can cause lowered blood sugar and dehydration, which can result in unpleasant side effects like nausea and vomiting.
How Does Wegovy Interact with Other Substances?
Aside from prescription medicines and OTC drugs, there are some other substances that may interact with Wegovy.
Herbal remedies
Herbal remedies are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other governing bodies.
For this reason, it is currently unknown if there are any interactions between Wegovy and herbal remedies.
You should always check with your pharmacist before buying any herbal medicines while you are on Wegovy.
Alcohol
Although there aren’t any known interactions between Wegovy and alcohol, this substance can have an effect on your blood sugar levels.
If you drink alcohol and it lowers your blood glucose, you may experience hypoglycemia if you’re taking Wegovy as well.
This is because of Wegovy’s mechanism to lower blood sugar levels.
Speaking with Your Healthcare Provider About Taking Wegovy
It’s important to be honest with the healthcare professional you are consulting with if you’re interested in starting Wegovy.
You should let them know about any other drugs you are taking, any medical conditions you have, and your substance use.
Your healthcare professional will need to consider all these aspects before they can consider prescribing Wegovy to you.
Key Point: Report Any Adverse Effects to Your Healthcare Provider
The most common side effects of Wegovy include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and headaches.
If you experience any adverse or allergic reactions to Wegovy, get medical attention immediately.
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Safety Tips for Wegovy Treatment
When used correctly, Wegovy can be effective for chronic weight management and obesity.
Here are some steps to follow to use Wegovy safely:
Use the Wegovy pen correctly
Wegovy comes in the form of a prefilled injection. It should be administered once a week in the upper arm, abdomen, or thigh.
Follow these steps to ensure you’re using the Wegovy pen the right way:
Clean the injection area with an alcohol swab or soap and water
Remove the pen cap and position the pen so you can see the window
Press firmly against the skin — this will release the needle
The pen will click, indicating that the injection has started
A yellow bar will move down the pen window, and the pen will click again
Once the yellow bar has stopped moving, remove the pen from your body
Use a cotton pad or gauze to clean up any blood
Start with the recommended initial dose
When you initially begin using Wegovy, your doctor will typically start you on a dose of 0.25mg.
They may then gradually increase the dose over time. This is done to decrease the potential side effects of this medication.
Don’t increase or change your dosage if you aren’t seeing results. Speak to your healthcare provider if you feel you are not reaching your weight loss goals.
Follow your doctor’s instructions
Always take Wegovy exactly as prescribed, and follow your healthcare provider’s instructions closely. Taking the medication at the same time every week is usually recommended. How to manage a missed dose
If you have missed your Wegovy dose and your next dose is more than 48 hours away, you should administer the injection as soon as possible. Don't take the missed dose if your next dose is less than two days away.
Commit to a healthy lifestyle
The FDA has approved Wegovy for weight loss in conjunction with certain lifestyle modifications such as a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity.
Although Wegovy should reduce your appetite, it's important that you prioritize exercise and follow a balanced and nutritious diet.
Key Point: Lose Weight with a Personalized Program
Through the LifeMD online weight management program, you will meet with healthcare providers and a life coach to help develop a weight loss plan that is personalized to your specific needs and lifestyle.
If you qualify, leading clinicians can also prescribe Wegovy or another GLP-1 medication to help you lose body weight and achieve your goals.
When you choose LifeMD’s weight management program, you’re choosing expert clinical guidance, in-depth metabolic testing, ongoing support, and excellent physician care.
Where Can I Learn More About Wegovy Interactions?
At LifeMD, you can speak to an online doctor or nurse practitioner about weight management medications like Wegovy.
Should your healthcare provider feel that Wegovy is the right medication for you, they will provide advice and guidance about any drug interactions you should know about. Learn more right here.
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