Medication education
About Wegovy (semaglutide)
Wegovy is a prescription-only, once-weekly injectable medicine containing semaglutide, authorised for chronic weight management alongside lifestyle change. Whether it is appropriate for you is a decision for a qualified doctor after an individual assessment.
- Active ingredient
- Semaglutide
- How it acts
- GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Format
- Once-weekly injection
- Status
- Prescription-only
OverviewWhat Wegovy is
Wegovy is the brand name for an injectable form of semaglutide, a prescription medicine given as a once-weekly injection under the skin.
It acts on the GLP-1 receptor, which is involved in appetite regulation. Wegovy is authorised for chronic weight management and is intended to be used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity — not on its own.
How it works, in plain language
Semaglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor. In plain terms, this helps reduce appetite, increase feelings of fullness and slow stomach emptying, which can support weight management as part of a broader, clinician-led plan.
Approved-use context in India
Semaglutide injection (Wegovy) is an approved product in India for chronic weight management in adults, as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. India's drug regulator, CDSCO, has recorded Wegovy (including the FlexTouch presentation) among approved semaglutide products.
Wegovy is distinct from Ozempic, which is a semaglutide product approved for type 2 diabetes. Approval does not guarantee outcomes, and whether Wegovy is appropriate for you is a doctor's individual decision.
Why individual assessment is required
Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine that is not suitable for everyone, and it is not a quick fix. A doctor must review your health, history and any contraindications before it is considered, and it is used alongside lifestyle support, not instead of it.
Important factors a doctor may review
- Your medical history and current health
- Existing medicines and possible interactions, including any diabetes medicines
- Personal and family history relevant to safety, including any thyroid C-cell tumour history
- Kidney, liver, pancreatic and gallbladder health where relevant
- Pregnancy or reproductive plans
- Your readiness for the lifestyle change that accompanies treatment
- Whether the potential benefit outweighs the risk for you
Important contraindication categories
Wegovy must not be used in certain situations. A doctor will check for these before considering it:
- A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)
- A previous serious hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to semaglutide or any of its components
Important warnings and precautions
- Pancreatitis: inflammation of the pancreas has been reported; seek urgent care for severe, persistent abdominal pain.
- Gallbladder problems: gallstones and related events have been reported.
- Dehydration and kidney risk: significant vomiting or diarrhoea can cause dehydration, which may affect kidney function.
- Severe gastrointestinal conditions: not recommended in people with severe gastroparesis or severe gastrointestinal disease.
- Hypoglycaemia: people who also use insulin or certain other diabetes medicines have an increased risk of low blood sugar.
- Thyroid C-cell tumours: seen in animal studies; relevance to humans is uncertain, which is why MTC/MEN2 history matters.
- Planned surgery or procedures involving anaesthesia or deep sedation: tell your care team you take this medicine.
General monitoring
If prescribed, your response, tolerability, weight and relevant laboratory markers are reviewed over time, and any dose adjustment is made by your treating clinician. Lifestyle support continues alongside treatment.
Common side effects
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation — most common when starting or increasing a dose
- Reduced appetite, indigestion or abdominal discomfort
- Injection-site reactions such as redness or itching
Serious symptoms — seek medical attention
- Severe, persistent abdominal pain (possible pancreatitis)
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat, or difficulty breathing
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea leading to dehydration
- Symptoms of very low blood sugar if you also take certain diabetes medicines
Pregnancy and reproductive planning
Semaglutide is not recommended during pregnancy, and weight-management treatment is not appropriate while pregnant. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or could become pregnant, tell your doctor before any treatment decision.
If you take other diabetes medicines
If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea for diabetes, using Wegovy alongside them can increase the risk of low blood sugar. Any adjustment to your diabetes medicines must be made by your treating clinician — never on your own.
How the planned Saathya programme may support you
- Doctor-led assessment before any prescription decision
- Diagnostics to inform suitability, where appropriate
- Nutrition and strength support alongside treatment
- Dose and side-effect tracking with care-team escalation
- Ongoing monitoring and maintenance planning
Availability and pricing: Saathya Health is in pre-launch. The availability and pricing of any medication have not been announced, and joining the waitlist does not guarantee a prescription or any specific medicine.
Wegovy — your questions
Sources
The pharmacological and safety information on this page is grounded in regulator-approved prescribing information. India-approval context refers to CDSCO records; non-Indian labels are cited only for general safety context and are not Indian approval evidence.
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