Wegovy (semaglutide): dose, side effects and what to eat

How does Wegovy work?

Semaglutide acts on the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, known as GLP-1. This is a signal involved in appetite and blood sugar regulation. The medicine usually increases feelings of fullness and reduces hunger. It may also slow stomach emptying after eating [1].

You may find that a usual portion now feels too large. That feeling does not tell you how much food your body needs. If you eat very little for weeks, you may not get enough protein, fibre, fluids or variety [3]. Our role is to adapt your eating plan to your actual appetite and health.

The medical indication includes diet and physical activity. This does not mean going hungry or following a rigid list. In consultations, we check whether your meals are still balanced and whether you can maintain your everyday strength.

To understand the range of treatments, see our guide to GLP-1 medicines. To find out which other brands contain the same active ingredient, see our semaglutide guide.

Who is Wegovy authorised for?

The indication for injectable Wegovy in adults includes obesity, with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or above. It also includes overweight, with a BMI of 27 to less than 30 kg/m², when at least one weight-related health problem is present [1]. Your doctor will consider your medical history, other treatments and whether this medicine is suitable for you.

For adolescents, the injection product information requires obesity and a weight above 60 kg [1]. A minor must be assessed by a specialist team.

Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide, but their authorised indications differ. Ozempic is indicated for type 2 diabetes in adults [4]. Wegovy is indicated for weight management under the conditions above [1] [2].

The maximum dose also differs. Wegovy injection may reach 7.2 mg weekly in certain adults; Ozempic reaches 2 mg weekly [1] [4]. See our Ozempic guide for details about that medicine.

BMI helps define the indication, but it does not sum up your health. Spain’s GIRO guide also recommends assessing your clinical, functional and personal circumstances [5]. That is why we ask about strength, your relationship with food, health conditions and realistic follow-up options. A conversation like this helps you agree specific health goals with your medical team.

Dose and medical follow-up

The once-weekly injection starts at a low dose. Gradual increases aim to improve digestive tolerability. The usual schedule in the product information is [1]:

• Weeks 1 to 4: 0.25 mg once a week
• Weeks 5 to 8: 0.5 mg once a week
• Weeks 9 to 12: 1 mg once a week
• Weeks 13 to 16: 1.7 mg once a week
• Usual maintenance dose: 2.4 mg once a week

In adults who started with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above, the doctor may increase the dose to 7.2 mg a week after at least four weeks on 2.4 mg [1]. This is done if further benefit is expected and the dose is tolerated. This 7.2 mg presentation is authorised, but was not marketed in Spain as at 26/09/2026.

If significant digestive symptoms occur, the prescriber may delay an increase or temporarily return to the previous dose [1]. Never change the interval or adjust the pen yourself. Tell your doctor about any medicines you take, especially if you have diabetes.

If you take warfarin or acenocoumarol (Sintrom), the product information recommends more frequent INR monitoring when starting, because cases of low INR have been reported with acenocoumarol [1]. An effect on oral contraceptives is not expected [1].

Oral Wegovy has a different schedule: one tablet daily, starting at 1.5 mg and increasing every four weeks up to 25 mg [2]. It is taken on an empty stomach with water, and you must wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other medicines by mouth [2]. The milligrams in the tablet and injection are not equivalent; your doctor will advise you if switching from one form to the other [2].

Oral Wegovy tablets (1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg) are authorised in the European Union and have product information in CIMA, but were not marketed in Spain as at 26/09/2026 [2]. They should not be confused with Rybelsus, which is oral semaglutide for type 2 diabetes.

Price and funding in Spain

Wegovy requires a prescription, but it is not funded by Spain’s National Health System. The 2.4 mg injectable formulation is listed as not funded by resolution in the Ministry of Health’s database [6]. Anyone who buys it pays the full price. The situation may change, so it is worth checking each formulation.

Reference retail price: €179.89 – €223.64. This price is indicative: we have not been able to verify it by national code in a public official source. Each dose may have a different price, and the total cost depends on how long you and your doctor agree to continue treatment.

Authorisation of the tablets does not mean that they are funded or already marketed in Spain: these are separate decisions. To compare formulations and find out what to check before starting, see our GLP-1 price guide.

Side effects of Wegovy

Digestive symptoms are the most common, particularly while the dose is being increased. The table reports trials of injectable semaglutide 2.4 mg over 68 weeks. It does not describe the frequency with the 7.2 mg dose or tablets [1].

These durations are medians observed in trials, not an individual timeframe. Some people have no symptoms; others need their dose reviewed. If you vomit or have diarrhoea and cannot drink, follow the “When to seek medical help” section. For manageable symptoms, see our advice on nausea with GLP-1 medicines and constipation with GLP-1 medicines.

What to eat while taking Wegovy

The priority is to make sure that reduced appetite does not leave your meals short of protein, fluids and variety. An eating plan is built around everyday foods, according to your preferences and symptoms. A small plate could contain fish or pulses, vegetables and a portion of rice or potatoes. The amount is then adjusted to your tolerance [3].

If nausea follows a large meal, try a smaller plate and eat slowly. If skipping a meal leaves you without energy, prepare a simple option for that time. If you are constipated, increase fibre gradually and drink throughout the day. These changes complement medical assessment when symptoms persist.

When you eat less because of a lack of appetite, it matters even more to make each meal count.

What we see in consultations

A common question is whether high-protein yoghurts are enough. They can be convenient, but they do not replace a varied eating plan. Eggs, pulses, fish, plain dairy products and other options can help spread protein across meals. We also look at strength and day-to-day functioning, as well as weight [3].

Another common situation is having meals so small that they contain hardly any solid food. We look at the whole week, not just a picture of breakfast. This helps us distinguish one day of low appetite from a repeated pattern of insufficient intake.

If a large meal is difficult, splitting it up may help you get through the day with enough energy. For example, save some of your plate for later and see whether you can tolerate it then. If you still cannot manage food for several days, speak to the person prescribing your medicine. The severity of your symptoms may mean that your medical regimen needs reviewing [1].

Clinical evidence recommends paying attention to diet quality and strength training while using GLP-1 medicines [3]. For a structured example, see what to eat with GLP-1 treatment and a weekly meal plan. For muscle support, see protein and muscle with GLP-1 treatment.

Your first step this week | Notice whether each main meal contains a source of protein you can tolerate.

What happens when you stop taking Wegovy?

When the medicine is stopped, some of your appetite may return and you may regain weight. In an extension of the STEP 1 trial, people who stopped semaglutide and the lifestyle intervention regained, on average, two-thirds of the weight they had lost over the following year [7]. This figure describes a study group; it does not predict what will happen to you.

It is therefore a good idea to agree with your doctor how your follow-up will work. Your diet, strength, sleep and everyday environment still need attention. Building routines during treatment can help you identify what may be difficult to maintain before stopping it.

You may have been advised to continue on a lower dose. This may form part of an individual medical plan, but neither the product information nor the withdrawal trial supports it as a way to prevent weight regain [1] [7].

Your medical team decides the duration and dose; we work on habits you can maintain.

Find the full explanation in weight regain after Ozempic and Wegovy.

When it is not indicated or needs special assessment

The formal contraindication in the European product information is an allergy to semaglutide or any of the medicine’s ingredients [1]. Other situations require a specific medical decision:

• It must not be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you are planning a pregnancy, stop it at least two months beforehand [1].
• If you have a history of pancreatitis, it should be used with caution. If symptoms occur, stop taking it and seek medical advice [1].
• It is not recommended in severe gastroparesis [1]
• If you have diabetes and use insulin or other medicines that lower blood glucose, your doctor will review your risk of hypoglycaemia [1] [8].

If you have a current or previous eating disorder, mention it before starting. Your assessment should involve your doctor and a mental health professional [3] [9]. This is not a contraindication in the product information, but it allows risks and needs to be considered without judgement.

Wegovy if you live outside Spain

European authorisation, the marketed formulation, price and healthcare coverage do not automatically apply in another country. Check the situation with your local health authority and the person prescribing your medicine. Your regimen should follow the authorised product information where you live.

If you live in Latin America, nutritional follow-up can take place online if it meets your needs. Before arranging it, we ask that you have a prescriber responsible for the medicine and a way to ask about adverse effects. Your diet is adapted to the foods, schedules and resources available where you live. We do not recommend cross-border purchases or substitutions between formulations.