We’re here to support you throughout your weight loss journey, offering tips to help you manage side effects and providing reassurance if you have any concerns.
While Wegovy has helped many people reach their health goals, it’s crucial to understand what to watch for along the way. Below, we’ve outlined the most common and rare side effects, along with guidance on when to seek help.
Very common: These side effects may occur in more than 1 in 10 people and usually go away over time. They are most common when first starting Wegovy and when increasing the dose.
- Examples: feeling sick (nausea), vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain, headache, fatigue.
Common: These side effects may occur in up to 1 in 10 people.
- Examples: dizziness, indigestion, heartburn, bloating, burping, flatulence, injection site reactions (redness, swelling), gallstones, allergic reaction ((e.g., rash, itching, and eczema), low blood pressure, hair loss, changes in sense of touch, changed sense of taste, gastritis.
In patients with type 2 diabetes, rapid improvements in blood sugar control can temporarily worsen diabetic eye disease (retinopathy), a common side effect of Wegovy. If you have this condition and notice eye problems while taking Wegovy, contact your GP or call 111 for advice.
Uncommon: These side effects may occur in less than 1 in 100 people.
- Examples: kidney stones, increased heart rate, and low blood sugar (also known as hypoglycaemia).
- Hypoglycaemia can occur in people without type 2 diabetes, and patients should look out for symptoms such as feeling hungry, dizzy, tired, weak, confused, anxious or irritable, sweating, shaking, tingling lips, heart palpitations, or blurred vision. Contact your GP or call 111 for advice if these symptoms occur.
- SERIOUS: pancreatitis. This is inflammation of the pancreas that can cause severe stomach pain which can radiate to your back that doesn’t go away. Most patients feel very ill with pancreatitis and may present with severe vomiting that does not settle. You should call 999 or attend A&E right away if you experience these symptoms.
Rare: These side effects may occur in less than 1 in 1000 people.
- SERIOUS: severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). This can present as difficulty breathing, swelling of lips, tongue and/or throat, difficulty swallowing, rapid heartbeat. You should call 999 or attend A&E right away if you experience these symptoms.
Reporting Side Effects
If you experience any side effects—whether listed here or not—please visit our GLP-1 hub for more guidance on what to do.