UPDATE: As of Thursday 1st of August 2024, Wegovy is available in Australia. The much anticipated weight loss medication is now available.
What Is Wegovy?
Wegovy is a once-weekly weight loss injectable pen designed to tackle chronic weight challenges by helping adults lose weight and to keep it off. It contains semaglutide, which is a prescription only medication, and belongs to the class of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists.
Wegovy is a disposable pen with a built-in needle to allow for easy administration. It is injected in the fat tissue around the lower abdomen, thigh or upper arm.
How Does Wegovy Work?
Semaglutide works by targeting an area in the brain which regulates appetite. It works by delaying the stomach emptying which helps with suppressing appetite while giving the feeling of fullness for longer.
The Wegovy dose is gradually increased to minimise the possible side effects of treatment. The dose begins at 0.25mg and over the course of 5 months it increases monthly. The maintenance dose is 2.4mg weekly.
With any weight loss plan, a healthy lifestyle is important. People should follow a reduced calorie meal plan and increased physical activity. These habitual changes are recommended for long term success of Wegovy.
Who can use Wegovy?
It can be used by adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Alternatively, those with a BMI of 27 or more, accompanied by weight-related medical conditions can also benefit from its usage. It can be used by people with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, or high cholesterol. Patients with type 2 diabetes will need close monitoring of blood glucose upon commencing Wegovy treatment.
If someone is already taking a medication with semaglutide, they shouldn’t use Wegovy at the same time. It’s also not clear how Wegovy interacts with other medications, over-the-counter products, or herbal items, so it’s best to avoid using these together.
Wegovy cannot be used in conjunction with certain conditions. These include pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, acute gallbladder or kidney issues, and diabetic retinopathy.
Is Wegovy Available In Australia?
Yes, as of 1st August 2024, Wegovy is available in Australia. It was registered with the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) in 2022 however was awaiting release in Australia. The PBS has not yet released a cost associated with Wegovy. However there is a good chance that it would be similar to the cost of other medications from its class.
Obesity’s potential to trigger serious health complications has elevated it to a chronic global health concern. Therefore the USA released Wegovy in 2021 and Europe released it in mid 2023. It has been released in Australia in August 2024.
How to get Wegovy in Australia?
Wegovy is a prescription only medicine now available in Australia. It can be prescribed by any registered doctor to those who fit the prescribing criteria. You can be assessed by an Australian doctor in person or online by completing an online health assessment followed by a video or phone consultation.
Consult a doctor
How Does Wegovy® Work? | Wegovy® (semaglutide) Injection 2.4 mg
WEGOVY (Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd) | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg Official Physician Site (novomedlink.com)
