Side Effects of Wegovy: Common Risks & How to Manage Them

Wegovy (semaglutide) can be a powerful tool for chronic weight management—but it's also a medication with real side effects. Most are gastrointestinal (GI) and often improve over time, especially with slower eating, hydration, and smart food choices. A smaller set are serious "stop-and-call-your-clinician" risks that you should know before you ever take your first dose.

Wegovy is now available as both a once-weekly injection and a once-daily pill (NPR; NBC News). Both forms contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide), and the side effect profiles are similar (NPR). This guide covers what to expect and how to manage side effects for both.

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At-a-Glance: Common vs. Serious Side Effects

The manufacturer's Wegovy page provides an overview of common and serious side effects, plus key warning symptoms (see Wegovy side effects and safety information).

Common (Often Manageable)

The manufacturer lists these as common side effects (applicable to both injection and pill):

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Stomach (abdominal) pain
• Headache
• Tiredness (fatigue)
• Upset stomach
• Dizziness
• Bloating
• Belching
• Gas
• Stomach flu (gastroenteritis)
• Heartburn
• Runny nose or sore throat

Serious (Don't "Push Through" These)

Wegovy can cause serious side effects. The manufacturer highlights warnings including:

• Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer (boxed warning; do not use with personal/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2)
• Pancreatitis
• Gallbladder problems (including gallstones)
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially if used with insulin or sulfonylureas
• Dehydration leading to kidney problems
• Severe allergic reactions
• Vision changes in people with type 2 diabetes
• Increased heart rate
• Depression or thoughts of suicide
• Food or liquid entering the lungs during surgery/procedures with anesthesia or deep sedation (also discussed by Mayo Clinic)

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Why It Happens: Mechanisms Behind Side Effects

Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. In plain English: it reduces appetite and can slow digestion—great for feeling full sooner, but that same "slow down" effect can trigger nausea, reflux, or that heavy/full feeling.

This mechanism is the same whether you're using the injection or the pill—which is why the side effects are so similar between the two forms.

A practical takeaway: many side effects are strongest during dose increases, which is why prescribers typically step up slowly (see our Wegovy dosing chart and weekly schedule).

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Timing: When Side Effects Start and How Long They Last

Side effects often show up early and around dose increases.

The manufacturer notes that nausea is often mild to moderate and transient, and that GI side effects were more common with Wegovy than placebo and more likely to lead to discontinuation in studies.

What to expect

• First 1–4 weeks: nausea/fullness and appetite changes are common.
• After dose increases: symptoms may flare.
• If symptoms are severe or not improving: contact your prescriber—this can be a sign you need a slower titration, a pause, or a different plan.

Pill-specific timing note

If you're taking the Wegovy pill, remember that it must be taken on an empty stomach with a sip of water, and you must wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other oral medications (NPR; USA Today). Some people find that having a bland, small breakfast ready right when the 30-minute window ends helps manage morning nausea.

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Managing Common Symptoms

1) Nausea

What often helps (tips from the manufacturer):

• Eat smaller meals and eat slowly.
• Use bland, low-fat foods during symptom spikes.
• Avoid lying down right after eating.

Pill users: If morning nausea is particularly challenging, keep in mind you can't eat for 30 minutes after taking the pill. Some people find sipping ginger tea (after the 30-minute window) or having a very light, bland breakfast helps.

Call your clinician urgently if nausea is paired with severe abdominal pain, ongoing vomiting, dehydration, or inability to keep fluids down.

2) Diarrhea

What often helps:

• Prioritize hydration.
• Go easy on high-fat meals, alcohol, and very spicy foods.

Cleveland Clinic emphasizes hydration and warns that significant fluid loss can be dangerous (Cleveland Clinic drug guide).

3) Vomiting

What often helps:

• Small sips of fluid frequently.
• If vomiting is persistent or severe, contact your clinician.

Both the manufacturer and Cleveland Clinic highlight dehydration and kidney-problem risk when vomiting/diarrhea are significant.

Pill users: If you vomit shortly after taking the pill, contact your prescriber for guidance on whether to take another dose.

4) Constipation

What often helps:

• Hydration + fiber (increase gradually).
• Walking after meals.

5) Abdominal Pain, Bloating, Belching, Reflux/Heartburn

These can overlap and may be worsened by:

• Large meals
• Greasy meals
• Eating quickly

If abdominal pain is severe and persistent (especially if it radiates to the back), treat it as a red flag for pancreatitis and seek medical guidance urgently.

6) Headache, Dizziness, Fatigue

These can sometimes be "secondary" effects from:

• Not eating enough
• Dehydration
• Low blood sugar (especially if also on diabetes medications)

Cleveland Clinic notes hypoglycemia risk with other blood sugar–lowering drugs and lists symptoms to watch for (Cleveland Clinic drug guide).

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Red Flags: When to Seek Urgent Care

Use this section like a quick triage guide.

Stop and Get Urgent Care Now (ER / Call Emergency Services)

• Signs of severe allergic reaction (swelling of face/lips/tongue/throat, trouble breathing, fainting)
• Severe abdominal pain (with or without vomiting), especially if pancreatitis is possible

For the full warning symptom list, refer to the manufacturer's Wegovy safety information.

Call Your Clinician Urgently (Same Day)

• Possible pancreatitis: persistent stomach pain that doesn't go away, sometimes radiating to your back, with or without vomiting
• Gallbladder problems: upper stomach pain, fever, jaundice, clay-colored stools
• Kidney problems from dehydration: very low urination, dizziness, extreme thirst, or ongoing vomiting/diarrhea
• Thyroid tumor symptoms: neck lump/swelling, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath
• New or worsening mood changes / suicidal thoughts
• Vision changes (especially if you have type 2 diabetes)

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Adolescents (Ages 12–17): Safety Considerations

Wegovy is FDA-approved for adolescents aged 12 and older with obesity, defined on the manufacturer's site as an initial BMI at the 95th percentile or greater for age and sex.

What side effects look like in teens

In general, the day-to-day side effects families notice tend to be the same GI symptoms listed earlier—nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and stomach pain—plus non-GI issues like headache and fatigue. Practically, that means the same basics matter even more: hydration, small meals, and early communication with the prescriber if eating and drinking are becoming difficult.

Red flags to take seriously in this age group

Because the serious risks are rare but time-sensitive, it helps to be crystal clear on what warrants urgent help:

• Possible pancreatitis: severe stomach pain that won't go away (sometimes radiating to the back), with or without vomiting.
• Possible gallbladder problems (including gallstones): upper stomach pain, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools.
• Signs of dehydration: very low urination, dizziness/faintness, extreme thirst, or persistent vomiting/diarrhea.
• New or worsening mood changes: depression, unusual behavior changes, or thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

If any of those show up, contact the prescriber urgently (and seek emergency evaluation if pain is severe).

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Injection vs. Pill: Are Side Effects Different?

The side effect profiles for the Wegovy injection and pill are broadly similar because both contain semaglutide and work through the same mechanism (NPR).

The main practical difference is the daily timing requirement for the pill, which may affect how you manage morning nausea or plan your first meal.

For a complete overview of the oral option, see: Wegovy pills: 2026 guide to approval, cost & results.

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Copy/Paste Side Effect Tracker

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FAQs

Can Wegovy cause pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is listed as a serious risk. The manufacturer advises stopping Wegovy and contacting a healthcare provider if you have severe stomach pain that will not go away.

Can Wegovy cause gallstones?

Wegovy is associated with gallbladder problems including gallstones; the manufacturer lists warning symptoms like upper stomach pain, fever, jaundice, and clay-colored stools.

Is Wegovy safe for people with heart disease?

Wegovy injection is FDA-approved to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in certain adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity/overweight; in the trial cited by the FDA, major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 6.5% on Wegovy vs 8% on placebo (FDA press announcement).

I'm scheduled for surgery—what should I do?

Tell the surgical/anesthesia team that you take Wegovy. The manufacturer warns of aspiration risk with anesthesia or deep sedation, and Mayo Clinic also notes this risk. This applies whether you're using the injection or pill.

Does the Wegovy pill have different side effects than the injection?

The side effects are broadly similar because both forms contain semaglutide (NPR). The main differences are practical: the pill doesn't cause injection-site reactions, but it does require strict timing (empty stomach, 30-minute wait before eating).

Is there a pill version of Wegovy?

Yes—the FDA has approved a once-daily oral Wegovy tablet (NPR; NBC News). It must be taken on an empty stomach in the morning with a sip of water, then you wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking. For full details, see: Wegovy pills: 2026 guide to approval, cost & results.

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Summary Checklist

• Follow your prescribed titration schedule (don't jump doses early): Wegovy dosing chart and weekly schedule
• If using the pill: follow the timing rules—empty stomach, wait 30 minutes before eating/drinking (NPR)
• Don't use Wegovy with other semaglutide-containing products or GLP-1 receptor agonists unless your clinician explicitly instructs it (manufacturer warning)
• Hydrate proactively, especially if you have GI symptoms (Cleveland Clinic guidance)
• Know the red flags (severe abdominal pain, allergic reaction signs, dehydration symptoms)
• If you're losing weight quickly, consider tracking body composition, not just scale weight. A DEXA scan can separate fat mass from lean mass and estimate visceral fat; learn more in Body composition vs weight and our DEXA visceral fat guide.

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Next Steps (BodySpec Resources)

• New to the pill? Wegovy pills: 2026 guide to approval, cost & results
• Need a dosing refresher? Wegovy dosing chart and weekly schedule
• Want realistic expectations? Wegovy before and after: results and timeline
• Concerned about regaining weight later? Semaglutide weight gain: causes, risks, and prevention
• Want to track fat vs. muscle changes? Prepare for your BodySpec scan and book a DEXA scan

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This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice. For side effects that are severe, persistent, or concerning, contact your healthcare professional.