WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – A new weight loss option is now available for people seeking alternatives to weekly injections.
The Wegovy pill became available on Monday, offering the first oral option for a medication previously only available as a weekly injectable. The FDA approved plans for the pill late last month.
The medication is manufactured in Raleigh by Novo Nordisk, marking the start of a new era for weight loss treatment.
More accessible weight loss option
Before the pill’s availability, people like Shakira Highsmith only had the choice of using weekly GLP-1 injectables to help lose weight.
“I was scared. I know the very first time I took it, I took it out, and I was like, okay, you can do this,” Highsmith said. “I give myself a shot weekly, arm, leg or the stomach, but it wasn’t bad and I am not a needle person, I hate needles. But it was comfortable enough to where I was okay to do it on my own at home.”
Highsmith, a mother of four, has lost 60 pounds since April after starting the Wegovy injectable.
“I was prediabetic, and I had high cholesterol before I got on it,” she said. “No longer am I prediabetic with high cholesterol, I am happy about that because I want to live long for my kids. I just feel happy that I finally lost the weight I had been trying to lose for years.”
Pricing and availability
Novo Nordisk says the medicine is now available at 70,000 pharmacies. For people without insurance coverage, the pill costs $149 per month. With insurance, prices are $25 per month.
While Highsmith says the pill seems like a great option, she plans to stick with the weekly injectable for practical reasons.
“I would forget to take the pill every day, and I feel like when you are taking something like that, you have to be on a routine like 7 a.m. every morning,” she said. “That is what I like about the shot, take it once a week and you don’t have to worry about it until the following week.”
Encouraging others
Despite her preference for injections, Highsmith encourages others to consider GLP-1 medications.
“If you are thinking about getting on a GLP-1, don’t let fear stop you,” she said. “Get on it, it’s worth it.”
The symptoms of the injectable and pill versions are similar. Some local pharmacies say they are still waiting for shipments of the new pill to arrive.
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