Wegovy® (Semaglutide) for Weight Loss in the West Midlands

Wegovy® (Semaglutide) for Weight Loss in the West Midlands

Wegovy® contains semaglutide and is a prescription medicine used for weight management alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Our Wolverhampton-based medical weight management clinic welcomes patients from across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell, West Bromwich, Solihull and surrounding areas.

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How Does Wegovy® Help with Weight Loss?

Wegovy® contains semaglutide, a medicine that acts on the GLP-1 receptor. GLP-1 is involved in regulating appetite and food intake.

Semaglutide can increase feelings of fullness and reduce hunger, food intake and food cravings. When combined with appropriate dietary and physical activity changes, this can support weight loss and longer-term weight management.

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Who May Be Suitable for Wegovy®?

For weight management in adults, Wegovy® may be considered for people with:

• A BMI of 30 kg/m² or above (obesity), or

• A BMI of at least 27 kg/m² but below 30 kg/m² (overweight) together with at least one weight-related health condition.

Examples of weight-related conditions include abnormal blood glucose, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal blood fats, obstructive sleep apnoea or cardiovascular disease.

Suitability is not determined by BMI alone. A full clinical assessment is required before treatment is prescribed.

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Is Wegovy® a Tablet or an Injection?

Wegovy® is given as a once-weekly injection under the skin.

It can be injected into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm and can be administered at any time of day, with or without meals.

Your clinician will explain how to use the injection correctly.

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How Is Wegovy® Taken?

Treatment is normally started at a low dose and gradually increased. This helps reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal side effects.

The usual dose escalation schedule is:

• Weeks 1–4: 0.25 mg once weekly

• Weeks 5–8: 0.5 mg once weekly

• Weeks 9–12: 1 mg once weekly

• Weeks 13–16: 1.7 mg once weekly

• Maintenance dose: 2.4 mg once weekly

For adults with obesity, where clinically appropriate and additional treatment effect is required, the dose may be increased to 7.2 mg once weekly after at least 4 weeks at the 2.4 mg dose.

Dose increases should only take place following clinical assessment and advice from the prescribing clinician.

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What Happens If I Miss a Wegovy® Dose?

If a dose is missed, it can generally be taken as soon as possible provided this is within 5 days of the missed dose.

If more than 5 days have passed, the missed dose should be skipped and the next dose taken on the usual scheduled day.

If several doses have been missed, your treatment may need to be restarted at a lower dose.

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How Effective Is Wegovy®?

Clinical trials have demonstrated that semaglutide can produce clinically meaningful weight loss when used alongside diet and physical activity.

Individual results vary. Weight loss depends on several factors including treatment response, diet, physical activity, medical conditions and adherence to treatment.

Treatment should therefore form part of a wider personalised weight management programme rather than being relied upon in isolation.

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The 6-Month Treatment Review

Response to treatment should be reviewed.

If a patient has not lost at least 5% of their starting body weight after 6 months of treatment, a decision should be made about whether continuing Wegovy® remains appropriate, taking into account the individual's benefits and risks.

We therefore monitor weight loss, treatment response, side effects and overall clinical progress.

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What Are the Common Side Effects of Wegovy®?

The most frequently reported side effects affect the digestive system.

These include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Constipation

• Abdominal pain

Headache and fatigue are also very commonly reported.

Some gastrointestinal side effects are particularly noticeable while the dose is being increased and may improve with time.

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Are There Serious Side Effects?

Serious adverse effects can occur.

Acute pancreatitis has been reported with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Persistent, severe abdominal pain may be a symptom and requires urgent medical assessment.

Other important risks and precautions include dehydration caused by gastrointestinal side effects, gallstones, severe allergic reactions, intestinal obstruction and certain eye complications.

Sudden loss of vision, including partial loss of vision, requires urgent medical assessment.

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Who Should Take Extra Care with Wegovy®?

Before prescribing Wegovy®, your clinician will consider your medical history and whether additional precautions are required.

Particular consideration may be necessary if you have:

• A history of pancreatitis

• Diabetes

• Diabetic retinopathy

• Gastroparesis or significant digestive problems

• Kidney problems

• Severe liver problems

• Severe heart failure

• Planned surgery requiring general anaesthesia or deep sedation

Wegovy® is not recommended in severe gastroparesis or end-stage renal disease.

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Does Wegovy® Interact with Other Medicines?

Your complete medication history should be reviewed before treatment.

Wegovy® should not be used together with another medicine containing semaglutide or another GLP-1 receptor agonist.

People using insulin or sulfonylureas may have an increased risk of low blood glucose and may require adjustment of their diabetes treatment.

Additional monitoring may also be required for people taking warfarin or other coumarin anticoagulants.

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Wegovy® and Pregnancy

Wegovy® should not be used during pregnancy.

Women who could become pregnant are advised to use contraception while taking semaglutide.

If pregnancy is planned, Wegovy® should be stopped at least 2 months before attempting to become pregnant because semaglutide remains in the body for a prolonged period.

Wegovy® should also not be used while breastfeeding.

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Why Have a Clinical Assessment Before Taking Wegovy®?

Weight loss medicines are not suitable for everybody.

Before prescribing Wegovy®, we assess factors including your:

• BMI and weight

• Medical history

• Current medicines

• Previous weight management attempts

• Relevant health conditions

• Diet and physical activity

• Individual weight management goals

Where clinically appropriate, additional measurements or investigations may also be considered.

Wegovy® will only be prescribed when the prescribing clinician considers treatment clinically appropriate.

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Book a Wegovy® Weight Loss Assessment

If you are considering Wegovy® (semaglutide) for weight loss, you can book a consultation with our prescribing clinician.

We will assess your medical history, current medicines, weight and individual circumstances to determine whether Wegovy® or another weight management treatment may be appropriate for you.

A consultation does not guarantee that Wegovy® or any other medicine will be prescribed.