FDA Approved GLP-1 Medication

Wegovy is a brand-name version of the generic medication semaglutide, which is a type of medication called a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist. Instead of that tongue-twister of a name, we call these medications “GLP-1s” for short.

Wegovy is FDA-approved and clinically proven to help with weight loss. How? It acts like a natural hormone your body uses to regulate blood sugar and appetite—key steps in resetting your biological set point to help you maintain a new, lower weight. In fact, the STEP 4 clinical trial saw people who combined Wegovy with lifestyle changes lose an average of 10.6% of their body weight after 20 weeks, and 17% after 68 weeks. Learn more about Wegovy and weight loss.

Wegovy dosing starts out low, then gradually increases over the first few months until a steady dose is reached. If prescribed, your Ro-affiliated provider will work with you to find the schedule and dosing that’s right for you.

Due to significant demand, Novo Nordisk — the manufacturer of Wegovy, Ozempic, and Saxenda — expects supply shortages of some of these medications. Novo Nordisk is anticipating that demand for Wegovy will continue to outpace supply. Patients may have difficulty filling Wegovy prescriptions at the lower doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg and Saxenda prescriptions through the remainder of 2023 and potentially beyond. We’ve seen that around half of patients are still unable to get access to the impacted Wegovy doses or Saxenda doses after 1 month of waiting.

Ro and Ro-affiliated providers are taking additional steps to support new and existing patients on their weight loss journeys. If you’re prescribed a GLP-1 medication and there’s more than a 30-day delay from the time your prescription is sent to the pharmacy to when it is filled, we’ll issue a credit to your account so that your next month of the Body Program is free. Read eligibility requirements here.

For patients who are prescribed Wegovy or Saxenda and are on their pharmacy's waitlist, our concierge is contacting your pharmacy periodically to check on the status of your prescription.

A provider may also make adjustments to a treatment plan for a patient on Wegovy or Saxenda if they determine it’s clinically appropriate. These adjustments may include prescribing alternate GLP-1 medications (if appropriate), working with you to create a personalized treatment plan, or recommending adjustments to diet, lifestyle, and current fitness activities.

For patients just getting started, the first steps in the Body Program are unaffected by the supply shortages — including taking a metabolic lab test and connecting with a provider to review their health history. If a provider ultimately determines Wegovy or Saxenda is a good fit, the sooner a patient joins the program, the sooner our team can get to work trying to find medication in stock at a pharmacy nearby.

Wegovy comes in a prefilled injection pen. If prescribed, you (or someone in your household) will administer the injection under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or arm once a week.

While a routine injection may sound intimidating, the Wegovy pen uses a tiny needle designed to minimize discomfort. You’ll also receive clear instructions on using the injection pen, and your Ro-affiliated provider can offer additional advice.

In the pivotal STEP 4 clinical trial, people who combined Wegovy with a healthy diet and exercise lost an average of over 4% of their body weight by eight weeks. Those who reached a steady dose of 2.4 mg per week lost an average of 10.6% of their body weight in the first 20 weeks of treatment—and over 17% of their body weight within 68 weeks.

Everyone responds to Wegovy differently, and if prescribed, your Ro-affiliated provider will work with you to get the best results for you.

See if Wegovy is right for you here.

How to get Wegovy covered by insurance—it’s a very important question! Well, you can consider us your insurance concierge.

Our partners will work directly with your insurance provider to help with the process of determining coverage for your GLP-1 medication, which is paid for separately from the Body Program. Ro does not accept insurance for the Body Program, which is cash pay only. At this time, those with any form of government healthcare coverage (including programs such as Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE), whether primary or secondary, are not eligible for the Ro Body Program. These plans typically do not cover the type of medication the Ro Body Program may prescribe. Unfortunately, this means that those on Medicare or eligible for Medicare cannot join the Ro Body Program.

All medications carry a risk of potential side effects. Wegovy’s side effects are typically mild and often improve within the first few weeks of treatment. When they occur, it’s usually when doses are increased, then tend to improve once a steady dose is reached. Some of the most common side effects include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Upset stomach

• Stomach pains

• Constipation

• Diarrhea

• Heartburn

• Acid reflux

• Belching and gas

• Dizziness

• Headaches

• Fatigue

More severe side effects are uncommon but possible. Serious side effects include:

• Thyroid cancer—The FDA has issued its most serious warning (called a BOXED WARNING) that GLP-1s may be associated with a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma. So far, this side effect has primarily been seen in laboratory studies using rodents, so the risk to humans has not been determined.

• Pancreatitis

• Gallbladder disease

• Rapid heartbeat

• Severe allergy (hypersensitivity)

• Low blood sugar

• Vision problems (diabetic retinopathy)

• Kidney disease

• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

Please see the full Prescribing Information, including the BOXED WARNING, for complete safety information.