I'm a Doctor Who Prescribes Wegovy and These Are the 5 Side Effects No One Talks About

Wegovy is a popular prescription medication that has been helping many people manage their body weight. The drug works by mimicking the natural GLP-1 hormone, helping to curb appetite and slow down the digestion process. Although Wegovy has been deemed successful and approved by the FDA for use in chronic weight management, it's still a prescription drug and should be carefully considered before taking it.

It's wise to educate yourself before taking any drug in order to avoid potentially unpleasant side effects. Wegovy activates GLP-1 receptors in the brain, making it a very powerful medication when used properly. One way to empower yourself is by speaking with a medical professional.

We're here to offer some useful insight after speaking with doctors who prescribe Wegovy to patients. They shared five side effects no one talks about.

Wegovy fuels weight loss in several ways. For one, food remains in the stomach for a longer period of time, so patients feel full quicker and remain full longer.

"It slows the passage of food through the intestines which can cause constipation," explains Dr. Gillian Goddard, MD, Board-Certified Endocrinologist and Author of "The Hormone Loop." "But it also acts in the brain to tell the brain you're full, and calms cravings by reducing the reward people get from eating certain types of food. Both the overall reduction in food intake, and the reduction in carbohydrate intake are likely responsible for the fatigue people experience with these medications."

These are some of the lesser-known side effects of Wegovy everyone should be aware of.

According to Dr. Goddard, fatigue is one side effect that tends to surprise people, and it can be caused by a few reasons.

"One [reason] is people rely on rises in blood sugar and activating their reward system to feel alert," Dr. Goddard says. "Another potential problem is that hunger and thirst are very closely related signals in our brain. When people feel less hungry, they tend to drink less water too which can lead to dehydration. Finally, I think not providing your body with enough fuel can make you feel tired. Many people are taking very large doses of GLP-1 RAs which is essentially reducing their appetite too much. So, they aren't eating enough, which can make you tired."

Gallstones is another surprising Wegovy side effect that, while not a direct cause of the medication, can be the result of rapid weight loss.

"It happens after bariatric surgery, too," Dr. Goddard says. "The key here is to aim for a moderate rate of weight loss, something in the neighborhood of one to two pounds per week."

Wegovy can cause a loss in facial volume and overall body composition changes, also known as "Ozempic Butt" or "Ozempic Face."

"Rapid weight loss, especially in older patients, causes volume changes in the face and other body regions and can create an aged appearance," explains Dr. Fernando Ovalle Jr., MD, a double board-certified plastic surgeon, Obesity Medicine Specialist, and Expert Contributor and Reviewer for Drugwatch.com.

Some patients experience the loss of "food joy," food aversion, and sometimes mood changes pertaining to these shifts, including anxiety or depression, Dr. Ovalle Jr. says.

Being more sensitive to alcohol is another common yet lesser-known side effect of Wegovy.

"Altered cravings for addictive substances require monitoring in susceptible patients," stresses Dr. Ovalle Jr.

Why exactly are these side effects under-discussed? There are several reasons.

According to Dr. Ovalle Jr., "These medications are relatively new at scale (a few years), so the medical community is still learning from longer term, real-world use. [In addition,] patients may not connect psychological or aesthetic changes to the medication."

Adopting all-around healthy lifestyle habits is key in any weight-loss journey.

"The key to using Wegovy while minimizing side effects is to eat a balanced diet that is high in fiber and low in simple carbohydrates but contains some high fiber complex carbohydrates as well as some healthy fat," notes Dr. Goddard. "Eating smaller, more frequent meals can minimize symptoms as can focusing on staying adequately hydrated even if you don't always feel thirst."

In addition, you can work with your doctor to manage how quickly you're losing weight.

"A slow steady weight loss of one to two pounds per week allows people to feel they are making real progress on their weight-loss journey while reducing the risk for adverse events like gallstones," Dr. Goddard adds.

​​If you're curious about what else GLP-1s can do, check out 5 Surprising Health Benefits of GLP-1 Drugs That Have Nothing to Do With Weight Loss.