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    Wegovy®

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    We are now offering Wegovy® to new and existing patients. Please start a medicated weight loss consultation and our clinicians will prescribe the right treatment for you. 

    Wegovy® is a weight loss drug which is used to help people with high body mass indexes (BMI) lose weight. Our clinicians will check your BMI, before they prescribe this treatment.  

    Wegovy is a new drug that can be used to help people lose weight by around 15% (over 68 weeks).     ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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      About Wegovy®

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      What is Wegovy®

      Wegovy® is a weight loss drug containing the active ingredient, semaglutide. It’s injected into the body once a week to help you lose weight. Wegovy® is thought to be an effective weight loss drug when used alongside a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise. 

      The drug has recently been approved in the UK and is available now. It was approved in the USA in 2021. 

      How does Wegovy® work?

      Wegovy® essentially works by suppressing the appetite and regulating food intake. The active ingredient, semaglutide, mimics the action of the hormone that’s involved in regulating appetite. This means you feel fuller for longer and less hungry. This can help you to eat less and hopefully lose weight.

      It works best when it’s taken at the same time as making lifestyle changes (healthier diet and increased exercise). In fact, around 85% of users lost at least 5% of their weight, compared to just 40% losing 5% when no lifestyle changes were made.  

      How effective is Wegovy®? 

      When Wegovy® is combined with a reduced calorie diet and increased exercise, a 68-week study has shown that:

      • Around 85% of people lost more than 5% of their body weight
      • 66% of people lost more than 10% of their body weight
      • 48% of people lost more than 15% of their body weight
      • 30% of people lost more than 20% of their body weight 

      This compares to just 60% of people losing 5% of their weight when taking Saxenda® along with a reduced calorie diet and physical activity counselling.   

      Who can take Wegovy®? 

      Wegovy can be used by adults ages 18-75 who have:

      • A BMI of 30 or above
      • A BMI of 27 or above and you have a weight-related health condition such as:
      • Asthma
      • Cardiovascular disease
      • Depression
      • Diabetes (As we are an online service, we are unable to prescribe Wegovy to diabetics for patient safety reasons)
      • Fatty liver disease
      • Gallbladder disease 
      • High blood pressure
      • History of certain cancers 
      • Osteoarthritis or gout 
      • PCOS 
      • Sleep apnoea 

      You won’t be able to take Wegovy® if you:  

      • Are over 75
      • Are pregnant or breastfeeding
      • Have liver, kidney or heart failure, an eating disorder or pancreatitis
      • Are taking insulin, sulphonylureas or other weight loss drugs that work in the same way as Wegovy, e.g. Victoza.  

      Taking Wegovy®

      You inject Wegovy® just once a week into your tummy, thigh or upper arm.  

      Wegovy® injections come in a variety of doses. Depending on where you are in your Wegovy® journey, you will need to take a different dose. 

      The dose is gradually increased to make sure you cope with any potential side effects until you get to a maintenance dose, this process is known as titration. 

      If all goes to plan and you can tolerate the treatment, the dosing schedule will be as follows:

      • Weeks 1-4: 0.25mg weekly
      • Weeks 5-8: 0.5mg weekly
      • Weeks 9-12: 1mg weekly
      • Weeks 13-16: 1.7mg weekly
      • Weeks 17 onwards: 2.4mg weekly 

      Wegovy dosing schedule

      How long does Wegovy® take to work?

      Wegovy® has been shown to be an effective weight loss treatment, when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.  

      In clinical trials (Step 1 and Step 4), around 85% of people lost more than 5% of their body weight when using Wegovy and following a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise plan:  

      • Around 85% people lost at least 5% of their starting body weight after 6 months 
      • Around 66% people lost more than 15% of their starting body weight after one year 

      Wegovy® injection potential side effects

      Like all medications, some people might feel some side effects from taking Wegovy®. It’s thought that more than one in 10 people might experience headaches, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, tummy ache or nausea. 

      Some people might also experience dizzy spells, indigestion and bloating among other symptoms. Find out more by reading the patient information leaflet here.   

      Using our Wegovy® service

      If you’d like to request Wegovy® for weight loss, please complete our online consultation. During this we’ll ask you a series of questions to assess if the treatment is right for you and your weight loss journey. 

      If it’s your first time ordering from us, you’ll also need to upload a video showing your ID and weight, so we can verify your identity and BMI. If you’re prescribed, you can have your treatment delivered the next day.

      Please note - if you live in Northern Ireland, it’s important you know that Wegovy will be prescribed for you off label. This means the manufacturers haven’t licenced the use of Wegovy in Northern Ireland yet. We will still ensure Wegovy is safe for you to take according to the guidelines we use in Great Britain. 

      How Online Doctor will support you while taking Wegovy®

      If you’re taking Wegovy®, our clinicians will support you through your journey in a variety of different ways.   

      As part of your ongoing support from our clinical team, we’ll send you a follow up questionnaire after you’ve been taking the treatment for around one week, to see how you’re getting on.   

      We have a range of healthy lifestyle advice and wellbeing resources to support you on your weight loss journey. 

      The included nutritional assessment offers information on national dietary guidelines and main food groups to help you improve your overall health.  

      We’ll remind you when it’s time to reorder, so you don’t miss out on treatment.   

      At certain intervals you’ll be asked to update our clinicians on your weight, to make sure the treatment is still suitable.

      If you have any questions or queries you can send our team a message in your Patient Record.  

      Storing and throwing away your Wegovy® pens

      Any Wegovy® pens that haven’t been opened should be kept in the fridge. During use you can keep the pens for 6 weeks in the fridge or room temperature (below 30°C).

      Pens need to be disposed of in the sharps bin you’re given when you start your treatment. When you're prescribed Wegovy® we’ll let you know how to get rid of the sharps bin and its contents. 

      Alternative weight loss treatments

      There are weight loss treatments available in the UK, other than Wegovy®. We recommend that you speak to a clinician to find out what is right for you.

      Other weight loss treatments include:

      The NHS has helpful weight loss diets and exercise routines which can support you on your weight loss journey alongside a medicated treatment.   

      Wegovy® delivery information

      Wegovy® requires cold storage during transportation (2-8 degrees Celsius) and, if available, will be dispatched Monday – Friday only for next day delivery. Orders approved after 5pm on Friday will be dispatched the following Monday.

      We use packaging that keeps your treatment at the right temperature for up to 36 hours during transit. If cold storage is disrupted during the delivery process, the medication will be able to be used for up to six weeks. Once you have received your medication it is important you keep it stored in the fridge.

      Wegovy® must be delivered to your home address to ensure safe storage as soon as possible. Please follow the tracking information provided by Evri to make sure you are available for delivery. LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor cannot take any responsibility for lost or stolen parcels once delivery has taken place, and no refunds will be issued. 

      Please do not use a pharmacy address. It is likely your delivery will be rejected or disposed of. No refunds will be issued if this happens. 

      Weight loss treatments comparison

      Name Wegovy® Saxenda® Orlistat/Xenical Mysimba
      Active ingredient Semaglutide Liraglutide Orlistat Naltrexone/Bupropion
      How to take it Weekly injection Daily injection Up to three daily tablets Up to four daily tablets
      How it works Reduces/regulates appetite Reduces/regulates appetite Reduces fat absorption Reduces/regulates appetite
      Effectiveness* Around 85% 60% 45% 62%
      *% of people losing more than 5% of body weight.

      How our online weight loss service works

      1. Complete our simple, confidential online consultation

        5 mins

      2. One of our clinicians confirms your suitability

        Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm

      3. Discreet delivery to your door

        Next day delivery

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