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New weight-loss pill: 6 things you should know<\/p>\nAlyssa Billingsley for GoodRx<\/p>\n
\t\tNew weight-loss pill: 6 things you should know<\/p>\n
For decades<\/a>, researchers have been looking for an effective weight-loss pill<\/a>. But the recent success of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) weight-loss injections<\/a> has sparked new hope \u2014 especially for those frustrated with existing oral options<\/a>.<\/p>\n But for many, injections aren\u2019t the most convenient or preferred choice. The possibility of achieving similar weight-loss results with a daily pill is appealing \u2014 and is now a reality. The FDA approved Wegovy<\/a> (semaglutide), which was previously available only as an injectable GLP-1, in pill form<\/a> for weight loss<\/a>.<\/p>\n GoodRx,<\/a> a platform for medication savings, shares what you should know about oral semaglutide (Wegovy) for weight loss \u2014 how it works, how to take it, and more.<\/p>\n Key takeaways:Wegovy (semaglutide) was initially available as a weekly injection. Recently, the FDA has approved an oral pill version that you take every day.The 25 mg Wegovy pill dose may lead to similar weight loss as the 2.4 mg Wegovy injection dose.It\u2019s possible to switch from Wegovy injections to Wegovy pills (and vice versa). Your prescriber can help you do this safely.1. Wegovy pills work the same way in the body as the injections<\/p>\n Both injectable and oral Wegovy contain the same active ingredient: semaglutide. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps people lose weight<\/a> by:<\/p>\n Activating the brain\u2019s appetite centers to reduce hunger and food cravings.Slowing how quickly food leaves the stomach, which can help you feel full sooner and for longer.Managing blood glucose (blood sugar) levels to prevent spikes after eating.<\/p>\n The main difference between oral and injectable semaglutide is how it enters the body, not what it does once it\u2019s there.<\/p>\n Good to know: Oral semaglutide is also available in lower doses for Type 2 diabetes as Rybelsus<\/a>. Its injectable counterpart<\/a> is sold as Ozempic<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. Oral Wegovy has shown weight loss similar to Wegovy injections<\/p>\n Wegovy injections and pills haven\u2019t been compared directly in a study. But separately, both forms appear to result in similar amounts of weight loss.<\/p>\n The OASIS 4 trial<\/a> studied the 25 mg oral semaglutide dose. The study included adults considered obese or overweight with at least one weight-related health condition. At 64 weeks (almost 15 months), people in the semaglutide group lost almost 14% of their starting body weight on average. Those who remained on treatment for the full duration lost about 17% on average.<\/p>\n The OASIS 4 results are comparable to the results from the largest injectable Wegovy trial. Participants had about 15%<\/a> average weight loss with the highest dose (2.4 mg) within a similar timeframe.<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s important to keep in mind that higher injectable Wegovy doses may be approved in the near future. During studies, the 7.2 mg dose resulted in nearly 21%<\/a> average weight loss.<\/p>\n 3. Oral Wegovy is taken every day to build up consistent levels in the body<\/p>\n Wegovy injections are administered once a week. This is because most of the dose<\/a> reaches your bloodstream, and it takes your body about one week<\/a> to remove half of it. The Wegovy pill, on the other hand, isn’t absorbed as well. So it\u2019s taken daily to help build and maintain a steady level of the medication in your bloodstream.<\/p>\n Taking Wegovy pills every day as directed helps you get the most from the medication. If you find that you\u2019re missing doses, there are medication reminder apps<\/a> and other strategies<\/a> that can help keep you on track.<\/p>\n 4. Wegovy pills need to be taken on an empty stomach \u2014 and timing really matters<\/p>\n Because they are absorbed differently than the injections, Wegovy pills have specific instructions to follow. This helps ensure that you\u2019re absorbing as much of your dose as possible. You\u2019ll need to:<\/p>\n Take your dose first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything else.Swallow it with no more than 4 oz of plain water (no coffee, juice, or other drinks).Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking other liquids, or taking other medications.<\/p>\n Skipping or shortening this wait time can reduce how much semaglutide your body absorbs.<\/p>\n 5. You\u2019ll start with a low oral Wegovy dose and work your way up<\/p>\n If you\u2019re new to treatment with Wegovy, you\u2019ll follow a specific dosage schedule when starting Wegovy pills. This involves starting with a low-dose tablet that\u2019s gradually increased every month or so until you reach a target maintenance dose, similar to Wegovy injections<\/a>. Following this schedule helps your body get used to the medication and minimizes side effects.<\/p>\n But if you\u2019re switching directly from Wegovy injections, you may start with a comparable oral dose right away. Your prescriber will give you instructions for the dose and timing the transition.<\/p>\n 6. Oral Wegovy can cause side effects similar to injectable Wegovy<\/p>\n Since both forms contain semaglutide, they can cause similar side effects<\/a>. The main difference is that Wegovy injections can cause injection site reactions<\/a> (such as irritation), while the pills do not.<\/p>\n Common side effects<\/p>\n These side effects are most likely to occur when starting Wegovy treatment or after your dose is increased. They\u2019re usually mild to moderate in severity and tend to improve over time.<\/p>\n NauseaVomitingDiarrheaStomach painConstipationIndigestionSerious risks to know about<\/p>\n More serious but less common risks include:<\/p>\n Gallbladder problems, such as gallstonesPancreatitis<\/a> (inflammation of the pancreas)Gastroparesis<\/a> (slowed stomach emptying)Kidney problems, often related to dehydrationPotential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors (boxed warning<\/a>)<\/p>\n Because of potential thyroid risks, people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, or with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, shouldn\u2019t take semaglutide<\/a>. You may also be advised to avoid semaglutide if you have a history of pancreatitis or severe gastroparesis.<\/p>\n Can you switch from Wegovy injections to Wegovy pills (and vice versa)?<\/p>\n Yes, it\u2019s possible to switch between Wegovy injections and Wegovy pills.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re currently using the 2.4 mg Wegovy injection dose, you can switch to the 25 mg pill. You\u2019ll wait one week after your last injection before starting the pill. And if you\u2019re taking the 25 mg Wegovy pill dose, you can switch to the 2.4 mg injection (or 1.7 mg if you can\u2019t tolerate the 25 mg pill). You\u2019ll start the injection the day after stopping the pill.<\/p>\n Your healthcare professional can help determine the most appropriate dose and timing based on your current treatment, side effects, and personal preference.<\/p>\n How to save on the Wegovy pill<\/p>\n There are ways to save on the Wegovy pill, which is available as a brand-name medication. Coupons and manufacturer copay cards can help make your prescription more affordable. If you have commercial insurance, you could pay as little as $25<\/a> per month with a copay savings card.<\/p>\n The bottom line<\/p>\n Oral semaglutide (Wegovy) is now FDA-approved for weight loss. This provides a new option for people who are interested in a daily pill or don\u2019t want to give themselves shots. Weight loss appears to be comparable between the Wegovy injection and the pill.<\/p>\n Wegovy pills have specific instructions to follow when taking them to ensure proper absorption. This includes taking your dose first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with no more than 4 oz of plain water. You\u2019ll also need to wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other medications.<\/p>\n Talk to your healthcare team if you\u2019re interested in starting or switching to Wegovy pills. They can help determine if oral Wegovy is a good fit for you.<\/p>\n This story<\/a> was produced by GoodRx<\/a> and reviewed and distributed by Stacker<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Alyssa Billingsley for GoodRx New weight-loss pill: 6 things you should know For decades, researchers have been looking…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":281038,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[134,524,111,139,69],"class_list":{"0":"post-281037","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-medication","10":"tag-new-zealand","11":"tag-newzealand","12":"tag-nz"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=281037"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281037\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/281038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=281037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=281037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=281037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}