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Wegovy (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injection for weight management. It copies GLP-1, a gut hormone that signals fullness to your brain and slows how quickly your stomach empties. It is authorised across the EU and is prescribed by licensed doctors when clinically appropriate.

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What it is

Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide, an EU-authorised prescription medicine, authorised for use in the EU since 6 January 2022 under EMA marketing authorisation EMEA/H/C/005422. Because Wegovy is centrally authorised, one EU authorisation covers all 27 member states. It carries the same active substance as Ozempic but a different authorised indication and a different dose ladder.
Active ingredient: semaglutide. Dosage range: 0.25 – 2.4 mg / week.
Wegovy is authorised for:
  • Weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or more, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity
  • Weight management in adults with a BMI of 27 to under 30 kg/m² who also have a weight-related health condition
  • Weight management in adolescents aged 12 and over with obesity and a body weight above 60 kg

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How it works

Semaglutide is a once-weekly agonist that activates the GLP-1 receptor. It is a close copy of GLP-1, the hormone your gut releases after you eat, sharing about 94% of its structure — which is why it fits the same docking points on cells, though built to last much longer in the body. Once attached, it signals the parts of the brain that control hunger, including the hypothalamus and brainstem, so appetite falls and most people eat less without consciously trying.

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Dose schedule

1

Weeks 1–4 · 0.25 mg once weekly

Starting dose. Do not increase during this period.
2

Weeks 5–8 · 0.5 mg once weekly

Continue to build up. Your doctor may adjust based on your response.
3

Weeks 9–12 · 1 mg once weekly

Continue to build up. Your doctor may adjust based on your response.
4

Weeks 13–16 · 1.7 mg once weekly

Continue to build up. Your doctor may adjust based on your response.
5

Week 17+ · 2.4 mg once weekly (maintenance)

Maximum maintenance dose. Your doctor will reassess every 3 months.

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How to inject it

Wegovy is injected just under the skin (subcutaneous) — not into a vein or muscle. Do not shake the pen.
Rotate between abdomen, thigh, or upper arm each week. Clean the area with an alcohol swab and let it dry.
Pick a day that works for you. If you miss a dose, take it within 4 days of the missed dose. If more than 4 days have passed, skip that dose and take your next one on the regular scheduled day.
Remove the needle after each injection and dispose of it safely in a sharps container. Never reuse needles.
Store unused pens in the refrigerator (2–8°C). Once opened, keep at room temperature below 30°C for up to 30 days. Do not freeze. Keep away from direct heat and light.

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What the studies reported

STEP 1, the peer-reviewed pivotal trial (N=1,961, 68 weeks, DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03548935), excluded adults with type 2 diabetes.
Additional Wegovy presentations — oral tablets of 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg, and a 7.2 mg pen — appear in the Spanish medicines register as authorised but not yet marketed there.

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Managing side effects

Contact your doctor if you have severe abdominal pain that does not go away, persistent vomiting, signs of an allergic reaction (rash, itching, swelling of the face or throat), or any symptom that worries you or feels unusual.

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What to expect

Most people notice reduced appetite within 2–4 weeks. Weight loss is assessed at 3 months — a loss of 5% or more of starting weight is considered a good response. Your doctor monitors progress and adjusts the treatment plan as needed.

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Common questions

Most patients notice reduced appetite within 2 to 4 weeks. Weight loss is assessed at 3 months — a loss of 5% or more of starting weight is considered a good response. Your doctor monitors progress and adjusts the treatment plan as needed.
Wegovy slows how quickly your stomach empties, which can delay alcohol absorption and may increase its effects. Discuss your alcohol intake with your doctor if you are concerned.
If treatment is stopped, appetite and weight are likely to return. Wegovy is prescribed alongside diet and activity changes as part of a medically supervised plan — discuss any plan to stop with your doctor.
Both contain semaglutide, but Wegovy has a different authorised indication and a different dose ladder. Wegovy is authorised for weight management; Ozempic is authorised for type 2 diabetes. The Wegovy dose ladder goes up to 2.4 mg once weekly.
Wegovy is authorised for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 to under 30 with a weight-related health condition. The STEP 1 pivotal trial excluded adults with type 2 diabetes. Discuss your medical history with the reviewing doctor.
Nausea is very common in the first weeks — eating smaller meals, avoiding fatty foods and eating slowly usually helps it improve within 1 to 2 weeks. Constipation or diarrhoea and fatigue are also common. Contact your doctor for severe or persistent symptoms.

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How Hi-Doctor handles it

An EU-licensed doctor reviews your case and, if eligible, issues an electronic prescription valid at any EU pharmacy under Directive 2011/24/EU. See the semaglutide page for the underlying mechanism and how Wegovy differs from Ozempic, how it works for the consultation process, and pricing for the consultation fee.

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Start a consultation

Weight-loss consultation

Answer the weight-loss questionnaire and a registered doctor reviews it. They decide whether treatment is appropriate, which one, and at what dose — and declining is a normal outcome. See what it costs and how the review works.
This page is reference information, not medical advice and not a prescription. Whether a medicine is appropriate for you is decided by a registered doctor after reviewing your consultation.