Who should not take Wegovy

Wegovy is highly effective for weight loss, but some people with certain medical conditions shouldn’t take it. We spoke with Dr. Felix Gussone, MD to understand who should not take Wegovy.

Wegovy (semaglutide) belongs to a group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists and can be highly effective for weight loss. If you have obesity or if you are overweight and have additional health issues related to your weight, your healthcare provider might prescribe Wegovy to help you lose weight. Most people tolerate Wegovy well and can take the medication, but in some instances, you shouldn’t take Wegovy. 

You shouldn’t take Wegovy if you have a history of certain health conditions, such as certain types of thyroid tumors called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). You also shouldn’t take Wegovy if you have had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide, if you are pregnant, possibly pregnant, or planning to get pregnant in the next two months. Before prescribing Wegovy, your healthcare provider will ask you about these and other conditions and decide if Wegovy is right for you.

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Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

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Current version

October 25, 2023

Written by

Felix Gussone, MD

Fact checked by

Yael Cooperman, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Yael Cooperman, MD, Ro

Yael Cooperman is a physician and works as a Senior Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.