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For Pharmacists
Practical tips for pharmacists
Your role in counseling patients after they’ve been prescribed Wegovy® is critical. Patients look to your expertise, guidance, and care as a complement to their doctor’s office visit.
What is Wegovy®?
- Wegovy® is the first and only once-weekly GLP-1 RA for chronic weight management
- Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m2 (obesity) or ≥27 kg/m2 (overweight) in the presence of at least 1 weight-related comorbid condition (eg, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or dyslipidemia)
GLP-1 RA, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist.
The Wegovy® dosing schedule1
- The Wegovy® starting dose is 0.25 mg per week
- Patients escalate the Wegovy® dose up every 4 weeks for 16 weeks
- Follow the dose-escalation schedule to minimize gastrointestinal adverse reactions
Remember to reinforce adherence to the dosing schedule, which is designed to minimize gastrointestinal adverse reactions.
Talk to your patients about potential side effects, including nausea, and how to manage them.
If patients cannot tolerate an increased dose during dose escalation or are experiencing tolerability issues, advise them to speak with their prescriber.
Every patient is different. Here are general considerations for helping your patients manage nausea2,3:
Eat bland, low-fat foods, such as crackers, toast, and rice
Avoid lying down after they eat
Go outdoors for fresh air
Eat foods that contain water, like soups and gelatin
Eat more slowly
Important storage and administration instructions to share with patients
Storage and handling for Wegovy®
Keep the Wegovy® single-dose pens refrigerated between 36 °F to 46 °F (2 °C to 8 °C)
Before removing the cap, the pen can be kept from 46 °F to 86 °F (8 °C to 30 °C) up to 28 days
- Do not freeze
- Protect Wegovy® from light
- Wegovy® must be kept in the original carton until time of administration
- Discard the Wegovy® pen after use
Get familiar with how to use the Wegovy® pen
How to dispense Wegovy®1
The information you need to order Wegovy® for your pharmacy
- Wegovy® comes in 5 packs (one for each strength)
- Each pack contains 4 Wegovy® pens (one pen for each week)1
NDC, National Drug Code; SC, subcutaneous.
*A 3-month supply for appropriate patients would be dispensed as 3 packs, each containing 4 Wegovy® 2.4 mg dose single-use pens (2.4 mg/0.75 mL) for a total dispense quantity of 9 mL.
How to store and handle Wegovy® in your pharmacy
Storage and handling for Wegovy®
- Store Wegovy® pen in refrigerator from 36 ºF to 46 ºF (2 ºC to 8 ºC)
- If needed, prior to cap removal, Wegovy® pens can be kept from 46 ºF to 86 ºF (8 ºC to 30 ºC) up to 28 days
- Do not freeze
- Protect Wegovy® from light
- Wegovy® must be kept in the original carton until time of administration
- Discard the Wegovy® pen after use
Learn about Wegovy® straight from your phone
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Important Safety Information for Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg
WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS
- In rodents, semaglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether Wegovy® causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as human relevance of semaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined
- Wegovy® is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of Wegovy® and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (e.g. a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with Wegovy®
Indications and Usage
Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in:
- adults with an initial body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m2 (obesity) or ≥27 kg/m2 (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition (e.g., hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or dyslipidemia)
- pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with an initial BMI at the 95th percentile or greater standardized for age and sex (obesity)
Limitations of Use
- Wegovy® contains semaglutide and should not be coadministered with other semaglutide-containing products or with any GLP-1 receptor agonist
- The safety and effectiveness of Wegovy® in combination with other products intended for weight loss, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal preparations, have not been established
- Wegovy® has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis
Important Safety Information
Contraindications
- Wegovy® is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2, and in patients with a prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or to any of the excipients in Wegovy®. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema have been reported with Wegovy®
Warnings and Precautions
- Risk of Thyroid C-Cell Tumors: Patients should be further evaluated if serum calcitonin is measured and found to be elevated or thyroid nodules are noted on physical examination or neck imaging
- Acute Pancreatitis: Acute pancreatitis, including fatal and non-fatal hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, has been observed in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide. Acute pancreatitis was observed in patients treated with Wegovy® in clinical trials. Observe patients carefully for signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis (including persistent severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back, and which may or may not be accompanied by vomiting). If acute pancreatitis is suspected, discontinue Wegovy® promptly, and if acute pancreatitis is confirmed, do not restart
- Acute Gallbladder Disease: Treatment with Wegovy® was associated with an increased occurrence of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis. The incidence of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis was higher in Wegovy® pediatric patients aged 12 years and older than in Wegovy® adults. In clinical trials in adult patients, cholelithiasis was reported by 1.6% of Wegovy® patients and 0.7% of placebo patients. Cholecystitis was reported by 0.6% of Wegovy® patients and 0.2% of placebo patients. In a clinical trial in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older, cholelithiasis was reported by 3.8% of Wegovy® patients and 0% placebo patients. Cholecystitis was reported by 0.8% of Wegovy® pediatric patients and 0% placebo patients. Substantial or rapid weight loss can increase the risk of cholelithiasis; however, the incidence of acute gallbladder disease was greater in Wegovy® patients than in placebo patients, even after accounting for the degree of weight loss. If cholelithiasis is suspected, gallbladder studies and appropriate clinical follow-up are indicated
- Hypoglycemia: Wegovy® lowers blood glucose and can cause hypoglycemia. In a trial of adult patients with type 2 diabetes, hypoglycemia was reported in 6.2% of Wegovy® patients versus 2.5% of placebo patients. Patients with type 2 diabetes taking Wegovy® with an insulin secretagogue (e.g. sulfonylurea) or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. Inform patients of the risk of hypoglycemia and educate them on the signs and symptoms. Monitor blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes
- Acute Kidney Injury: There have been postmarketing reports of acute kidney injury and worsening of chronic renal failure, which in some cases required hemodialysis, in patients treated with semaglutide. Patients with renal impairment may be at a greater risk of acute kidney injury, but some events have been reported in patients without known underlying renal disease. A majority of the events occurred in patients who experienced nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, leading to volume depletion. Monitor renal function when initiating or escalating doses of Wegovy® in patients reporting severe adverse gastrointestinal reactions and in patients with renal impairment reporting any adverse reactions that could lead to volume depletion
- Hypersensitivity Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema) have been reported with Wegovy®. If hypersensitivity reactions occur, discontinue use of Wegovy®, treat promptly per standard of care, and monitor until signs and symptoms resolve. Use caution in a patient with a history of anaphylaxis or angioedema with another GLP-1 receptor agonist
- Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: In a trial of adult patients with type 2 diabetes, diabetic retinopathy was reported by 4.0% of Wegovy® patients and 2.7% of placebo patients. Rapid improvement in glucose control has been associated with a temporary worsening of diabetic retinopathy. Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for progression of diabetic retinopathy
- Heart Rate Increase: Mean increases in resting heart rate of 1 to 4 beats per minute (bpm) were observed in Wegovy® adult patients compared to placebo in clinical trials. More Wegovy® adult patients compared with placebo had maximum changes from baseline of 10 to 19 bpm (41% versus 34%) and 20 bpm or more (26% versus 16%). In a clinical trial in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with normal baseline heart rate, more patients treated with Wegovy® compared to placebo had maximum changes in heart rate of 20 bpm or more (54% versus 39%). Monitor heart rate at regular intervals and instruct patients to report palpitations or feelings of a racing heartbeat while at rest. If patients experience a sustained increase in resting heart rate, discontinue Wegovy®
- Suicidal Behavior and Ideation: Suicidal behavior and ideation have been reported in clinical trials with other weight management products. Monitor patients for depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior. Discontinue Wegovy® in patients who experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors and avoid in patients with a history of suicidal attempts or active suicidal ideation
Adverse Reactions
- Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) are: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal distention, eructation, hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes, flatulence, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and nasopharyngitis
Drug Interactions
- The addition of Wegovy® in patients treated with insulin has not been evaluated. When initiating Wegovy®, consider reducing the dose of concomitantly administered insulin secretagogues (such as sulfonylureas) or insulin to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia
- Wegovy® causes a delay of gastric emptying and has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. Monitor the effects of oral medications concomitantly administered with Wegovy®
Use in Specific Populations
- Pregnancy: May cause fetal harm. When pregnancy is recognized, discontinue Wegovy®. Discontinue Wegovy® in patients at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy
- Pediatric: Adverse reactions with Wegovy® in pediatric patients aged 12 years and older were similar to those reported in adults. Pediatric patients ≥12 years of age treated with Wegovy® had greater incidences of cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, hypotension, rash, and urticaria compared to adults treated with Wegovy®
Please click here for Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.
References
1. Wegovy® [package insert]. Plainsboro, NJ: Novo Nordisk Inc.; 2022.
2. When you have nausea and vomiting. Medline Plus website. Updated August 22, 2016. Accessed November 15, 2022. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000122.htm
3. Nausea and vomiting. Cleveland Clinic. Accessed November 15, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/8106-nausea--vomiting