Stomach effects are common
In the weight-loss studies in the semaglutide (Wegovy) drug label, stomach sickness affected 44 in 100 people given the shot. a
In those same studies, stomach sickness affected 16 in 100 people given a dummy shot. a
The dummy shot contained no active medicine.
The drug label also describes diarrhea, vomiting and constipation. a
Severe diarrhea or vomiting can lead to loss of body fluids and damage the kidneys. a
Check the cancer warning
The semaglutide drug label carries a boxed warning about a rare cancer named 'medullary thyroid cancer'. a
A boxed warning is the strongest drug alert from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal drug agency. a
Tumors seen in mice and rats led to the cancer warning. Tumors are growths in the body, and it is still unknown whether semaglutide causes them in people. a
The drug label rules out semaglutide if you have had a rare cancer called 'medullary thyroid cancer'. It also rules it out if anyone in your family has had that cancer. a
MEN 2 is the name of a rare illness that can pass from a parent to a child. The drug label rules semaglutide out for people who have it. a
If a cancer or inherited illness in your family has an unclear name, ask for help. Ask the person writing the prescription to help check the medical records.
The drug label also says semaglutide cannot be used if a past serious allergic reaction was caused by it or any of its other ingredients. a
Bring up your health history
Discuss past serious stomach problems and an illness recorded as 'pancreatitis', or pancreas inflammation. Also discuss gallstones or other gallbladder trouble, eye damage from diabetes, and other diabetes drugs. a
Ask for help checking an old diagnosis if its name is unclear.
Pregnancy plans are also part of that review. a
The drug label asks patients to tell their care team about semaglutide before planned surgery or other procedures. a
Food left in the stomach may enter the lungs during surgery or other procedures when medicines make you unconscious or very sleepy. a
Know how to get help
The Wegovy drug label warns that severe stomach pain or pain that will not go away can signal pancreas inflammation. The pain may reach the back. a
If the person prescribing suspects this illness, the drug label tells them to stop Wegovy. a
Before treatment, ask how quickly to seek help for that pain and where to get care if nobody answers. Ask what to do about the medicine while waiting for medical advice.
MedlinePlus says to call 911 or get emergency care if a severe allergic reaction causes trouble breathing or a swollen tongue. b