Canadians now have access to Wegovy, an on-label weight loss medication made by the same manufacturers of Ozempic. This drug was officially launched on Monday despite being approved in Canada since 2021. According to Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam of Obesity Canada, Wegovy holds promise for those battling obesity and diabetes. It is not just a cosmetic solution for shedding a few pounds, but a medical treatment approved for people living with obesity. In addition to weight loss, Wegovy has been shown to improve cardiovascular health in individuals with a previous history of heart issues.
The prevalence of obesity in Canada has tripled over the last three decades, affecting one in four adults. Obesity not only diminishes quality of life and life expectancy but also increases the risk of serious chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Dr. Sockalingam believes that medications like Wegovy will have a significant health impact for Canadians by providing another tool in the toolbox for treating obesity. Wegovy is the brand name for a medicine called semaglutide, the same drug as Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Ozempic, which belongs to a family of medicines known as GLP-1 analogues designed to control blood sugar and induce weight loss by making people feel full.
Wegovy contains the same drug, semaglutide, as Ozempic but at a higher dose. Dr. Tom Elliott, an endocrinologist and medical director of BCDiabetes, stated that Wegovy’s formulation is the same as Ozempic’s but comes at a maximum dose of 2.4 mg per week compared to Ozempic’s maximum dose of one milligram per week. While Ozempic is primarily approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, Wegovy is specifically approved for chronic weight management and is administered as a higher-dose injection once a week. Elliott has been prescribing Ozempic off-label for weight management and plans to transition his patients to Wegovy now that it is accessible.
Wegovy is typically prescribed for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 kg or higher who have at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. It is recommended for individuals looking for an effective obesity treatment and is intended to be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to improve weight loss. While Wegovy represents a crucial treatment option for obesity, it should not be viewed as a quick fix for shedding a few pounds. Dr. Sockalingam emphasized that it is a medication for a medical condition and should be used under the guidance of a physician due to potential gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
The most common side effects of Wegovy include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, tiredness, upset stomach, dizziness, bloating, belching, gas, stomach flu, and heartburn. Dr. Elliott mentioned that side effects are rare but may occur, with nausea being the main concern. One drawback to Wegovy is its price, as it is expected to cost approximately C$4,726 per patient per year. This cost may not be covered by public insurance or private plans immediately, making it a significant financial consideration for individuals who may need to be on Wegovy indefinitely to maintain weight loss. Despite the potential side effects and cost, many individuals may find Wegovy to be a valuable treatment option for obesity management.
