{"id":626908,"date":"2024-02-20T12:02:38","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T17:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=626908"},"modified":"2025-12-15T12:42:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T17:42:07","slug":"how-quickly-does-wegovy-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-quickly-does-wegovy-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How quickly does Wegovy work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wegovy<\/a> (semaglutide) is an injected prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for <\/span>chronic weight management<\/span>\u2014along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise. Many people ask: How long will <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a> take to work? We\u2019ll explain in more detail below, but the short answer is that it may start working within a few weeks. However, to get the best results, you need to take Wegovy as prescribed and combine it with <\/span>dietary changes<\/span><\/a> and increased physical activity. While individual results vary, in an <\/span>NEJM <\/span><\/i>clinical study<\/span>, people who took semaglutide lost an average of 15% of their body weight over a period of 68 weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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Save up to 80% on Wegovy with SingleCare<\/p>\n\t\t\t

Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. SingleCare helps find the best price for you.<\/p>\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\tWegovy 2.4 mg\/0.75 mL (4 Pens)\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t23666 - Hampton, VA\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\"Kroger\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t$1170.27\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\"Harris\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t$1170.27\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tSee Wegovy prices at all pharmacies<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n

How does Wegovy work?<\/span><\/h2>\n

GLP-1 is a hormone that regulates appetite and calorie intake. According to the prescribing information, Wegovy works by binding to and activating the GLP-1 receptor in the brain. By doing so, it helps decrease appetite and regulate food intake, helping people eat less. It also delays stomach emptying, which makes people feel fuller for longer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to take Wegovy<\/span><\/h2>\n

Your healthcare provider will teach you how to use Wegovy, including how to inject yourself. When choosing a Wegovy injection site<\/a>, you can choose from the stomach, thigh, or upper arm once a week. Be sure to choose a different injection site each week.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can inject Wegovy at any time of the day, but it should be injected on the same day each week. If you need to change the day of the week, you can, as long as your previous dose of Wegovy was injected two or more days before. If you miss a dose of Wegovy and your next dose is more than two days away, inject your dose right away. If you miss a dose of Wegovy, and your next dose is less than two days away, you can skip the missed dose and take the next dose on the regularly scheduled day. If you miss Wegovy for more than 14 days, you can take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day or consult your healthcare provider on how to restart treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your healthcare provider will give you instructions on how to slowly increase your Wegovy dose. Generally, you will inject a dose of 0.25 mg every week for one month, then 0.5 mg once a week during the second month. In the third month, you will inject 1 mg every week, and in the fourth month, you will inject 1.7 mg every week. For the fifth month and thereafter, your healthcare provider will let you know if you should keep the dose at 1.7 mg per week or increase it to 2.4 mg weekly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can take Wegovy with or without food.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How long does it take for Wegovy to work?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Wegovy starts working right away, reaching its maximum effect in the body within one to three days. However, because Wegovy is started at a lower dose and slowly increased, it takes some time to get to the maintenance dose of Wegovy, which is 1.7 or 2.4 mg per week. Your healthcare provider will gradually increase the dose monthly during the first few months. This helps your body get used to the medication and minimizes some of the side effects, like stomach problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: Can I start Wegovy at 1.7 mg?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Always remember that the rate of weight loss is different for each person. It may seem like, for some individuals, the weight falls off, while others struggle more. Studies have found that using Wegovy with lifestyle changes (like eating a healthy diet and exercising) leads to a significant reduction in body weight. What\u2019s more, the weight loss tends to be sustained, meaning you are likely to keep the weight off with continued use of Wegovy and lifestyle changes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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