Wegovy is one of the latest weight loss medications to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, offering millions of Americans struggling with obesity an exciting new, proven treatment option to consider. Approved in June 2021, Wegovy is indicated for obese adults as well as overweight adults who struggle with at least one weight-related health condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol).
How does Wegovy work?
The main ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, which was originally developed to treat diabetes by improving blood sugar control. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor drug that stimulates the release of insulin in the body.
High demand leads to long-term drug shortages
Soon after its approval, Vegovi was described as a “game changer” by many doctors specializing in obesity care, and even a “revolutionary treatment” with the potential for impressive weight loss results.
Unfortunately, just a few months after Wegovy was approved by the FDA, the drug was in short supply due to manufacturing issues affecting production. This, combined with unprecedented demand for prescription drugs, eventually led to a massive Wegovy supply shortage that has yet to be remedied. In fact, as of August 2022, Novo Nordisk was pulling doses from the shelves to prevent new patients from starting the drug, as further doses became nearly impossible to find for established patients. The pharmaceutical company also stopped all promotions of the drug and asked doctors to discontinue it.
Barriers to getting Wegovy lead to risky alternatives
Although proven to be effective for both diabetes and weight loss, GLP-1 drugs are very expensive and not widely covered. Costs for the drug can exceed $1,000 per month, making it unaffordable for many. Because of these supply chain issues and Wegovy’s high cost, many were looking for alternative solutions that could offer comparable results.
As a result, it was discovered that compounding pharmacies and websites attempted to “spoof” the drug by compounding semaglutide and mixing it with other ingredients such as vitamin B12 and/or L-carnitine, offering it at a fraction of the cost. Dr. McGowan and his colleagues strongly advise against taking complex Wegovy.
“If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” says Dr. Christopher McGowan, CEO and medical director of True You Weight Loss. “Simply put, complex Wegovy is not safe. It falls into completely unregulated territory and is probably illegal as well. The safety and efficacy of combining Wegovy with other ingredients has never been studied, and compounding pharmacies are not regulated by the FDA.”
B. There are currently no solutions or shortcuts to this prescription weight loss medication.”
How much weight can I lose with Wegovy?
The good news is that if you qualify for Wegovy and can get the Novo Nordisk drug, it can support safe, effective, long-term weight loss. In one of the FDA’s most successful Wegovy trials, participants lost an average of 14.9 percent of their initial body weight (about 33 pounds) over 68 weeks. Those who received a placebo lost only 2.4 percent. In trials, the injection has been shown to be safe and effective, with only a few minor side effects, including nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, and constipation.
It’s important to note that the drug is meant to be taken indefinitely, just as you would take medication for other chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Research shows that when a patient comes off the medication, they are likely to regain the weight they lost.
When will Wegovy be widely available?
While Novo Nordisk claimed in a recent financial report that Wegovy should be available in all doses by the end of 2022, obtaining Wegovy may still be difficult for many obese patients. The high cost of this monthly prescription and the fact that it is not covered by health insurance can be a major ongoing barrier for many adults who struggle with chronic weight issues. Regardless, sophisticated Wegovy should never be considered an alternative to the real thing.
To learn more about our True You Weight Loss medication program, visit our True You Rx Program page.