10 Long-Term Side Effects of Wegovy You Should Know About Before You Start Taking It

Medications like Wegovy have helped a lot of people reach their weight-loss goals. But like with all medications, there are potential risks. 

Many people are familiar with some of the mild digestive side effects that improve over time — like nausea, diarrhea, and low blood sugar. But Wegovy can also cause rare long-term complications. 

As millions more people have taken Wegovy since its approval, researchers have learned much more about its long-term risks and continue to study them.

1. Gallbladder problems

Wegovy can lead to problems with your gallbladder and bile duct system. The gallbladder is an organ near your liver. It stores bile, a yellowish liquid that helps digest fats. When you eat, the gallbladder releases bile through a duct system that connects to your intestine. This helps you break down and absorb fat from your diet. 

Wegovy can increase the risk of gallstones and inflammation of your gallbladder. This could be related to the weight loss from taking Wegovy. That’s because when people lose a lot of weight (or lose weight quickly), they’re at higher risk of experiencing gallbladder issues. But it’s possible that the medication itself may also increase the risk on its own. 

Gallbladder issues like inflammation and gallstones can cause blockages in your bile duct system. The symptoms of gallbladder problems include: 

• Abdominal pain

• Fever

• Nausea

• Vomiting 

In the short term, these issues can be treated. But more severe cases may require surgery to remove gallstones or your gallbladder. And any surgery can increase your risk for longer-term health complications. So it’s important to be aware of this risk.

But these side effects are rare. Less than 2% of adults taking Wegovy developed gallstone problems in clinical trials.

2. Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is another rare but serious side effect of Wegovy seen in clinical trials. 

The pancreas is another digestive organ near the gallbladder. It releases enzymes and hormones that help regulate metabolism and digestion. If the pancreas becomes inflamed, it can cause intense abdominal pain and frequent vomiting. 

Like the gallbladder problems mentioned above, these pancreas issues can be treated. But they can also lead to long-term complications in more severe cases.

Earlier studies raised concerns that Wegovy might increase the risk of pancreatitis. But larger studies and more recent reviews haven’t found a clear increase in pancreatitis risk. Because pancreatitis has been reported in people taking Wegovy, healthcare professionals still recommend stopping the medication and seeking medical care if symptoms develop.

It’s not clear whether having a history of pancreatitis increases your risk of being diagnosed with pancreatitis while taking Wegovy. And pancreatitis can’t always be prevented. But limiting or avoiding alcohol will lower your risk.

3. Stomach paralysis

One of the ways that Wegovy helps with weight loss is by slowing down stomach emptying. This helps you feel full after eating smaller amounts of food. But in some cases, people taking Wegovy and similar medications have developed stomach paralysis (also known as gastroparesis). 

With gastroparesis, food and liquids move through your stomach more slowly than they should. As a result, the stomach contents may remain in your stomach for a prolonged period of time. 

This can lead to:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Bloating

• Uncomfortable feelings of fullness

Gastroparesis wasn’t noted in the initial clinical trials of Wegovy. But as more people have taken Wegovy, a few cases have been reported. And some studies have found a potential link. In some cases, gastroparesis went away when the medication was stopped, but not always.

Certain situations and health conditions can increase your risk for gastroparesis. Be careful taking Wegovy if any of the following apply to you:

• You have diabetes. 

• You’re taking medications that slow down your digestive system, like opioids.

• You’ve had stomach surgery in the past.

• You have certain nervous system conditions, like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.

4. Blocked intestines

Wegovy may lead to another serious digestive complication called a bowel obstruction or blocked intestines. This happens when food gets stuck in your intestine and creates a blockage that prevents intestinal contents from moving in the right direction. 

Bowel obstruction can cause intense abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Similar to the side effects above, this complication is rare. But it’s a serious condition that requires emergency care and even surgery.

5. Kidney problems

Some people have experienced sudden (acute) kidney injury while taking Wegovy. Here’s why.

Common Wegovy side effects, like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, can all lead to dehydration. And more severe cases of dehydration can affect your kidneys. With severe dehydration, your kidneys don’t receive enough blood flow. This causes kidneys to not function as well as the body needs them to. But this kind of kidney injury is usually reversible. That means it gets better once someone is rehydrated. 

Your medical care team may recommend monitoring your kidney function while you take Wegovy if you:

• Have underlying kidney problems

• Experience severe gastrointestinal side effects that could make you dehydrated

6. Bone loss

Research suggests that people taking Wegovy may experience small decreases in bone mineral density (BMD), especially in weight-bearing bones like the hips and spine. Much of this bone loss appears to be related to the weight loss itself rather than a direct effect of the medication on your bones. 

Importantly, studies haven’t consistently linked Wegovy to an increased risk of broken bones (fractures).

There aren’t a lot of studies yet that look at bone loss over time in people taking Wegovy long-term. This will change as more people take this medication over longer periods of time. 

Still, it’s important to be aware of this possible risk and discuss it with your healthcare team — especially if you already have a higher-than-average risk of bone loss, including if you:

• Are a woman after menopause

• Have osteoporosis or osteopenia

• Have had a previous fracture from a minor fall

• Take medications that weaken bones, such as long-term corticosteroids

Healthcare professionals may recommend regular weight-bearing and resistance exercise, along with getting enough calcium and vitamin D. They may also suggest a bone density (DXA) scan. Since early osteoporosis usually doesn’t cause symptoms until a fracture occurs, screening can help identify bone loss early.

7. Muscle loss

When people lose a significant amount of weight with Wegovy, they can lose a significant amount of muscle along with fat. This isn’t unique to Wegovy — it happens with most rapid or substantial weight loss. Because Wegovy also reduces appetite, some people may also have trouble getting enough protein, which can make muscle loss worse.

Muscle loss can affect your health as you age, including your strength, balance, and mobility. It can also affect your bone health metabolism. But there are ways to help preserve muscle mass while taking Wegovy:

• Make sure you eat enough protein throughout your day

• Get regular, moderate-intensity physical activity

• Do regular strength (resistance) training

8. Hair loss

Hair loss has been reported by 3% of people taking Wegovy. That’s compared to 1% of people taking a placebo in clinical trials. But it seems to be more rare in follow-up studies. 

Experts think the hair loss is more likely related to rapid weight loss and reduced calorie intake than to semaglutide itself. Rapid weight loss, including after weight-loss surgery, is also known to cause hair loss. 

The type of hair loss caused by Wegovy is known as telogen effluvium, or stress-related hair loss. If you do experience hair loss while taking Wegovy, the effect is usually temporary. Getting enough protein and nutrition in your diet may help prevent hair loss and support regrowth while taking Wegovy.

9. Increased heart rate

People taking Wegovy in clinical trials had small increases in their heart rate. On average, their heart rates increased by 1 to 4 beats per minute. But some people had even greater increases. 

For many people, this may not be a problem (or noticeable). But increased heart rate can be a bigger deal for people with certain heart conditions, like atrial fibrillation or heart failure. 

If you notice skipped heartbeats, heart palpitations, or a racing heartbeat at rest while taking Wegovy, it’s a good idea to discuss this with your healthcare team. If your heart rate is consistently increased while taking Wegovy, you may need to stop taking the medication.

10. Serious eye problems

Semaglutide has been linked to three different eye conditions, all of which can lead to serious vision impairment:

• Diabetic retinopathy

• Macular degeneration

• A rare type of eye stroke called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)

These risks can sound scary, so let’s take a closer look at what the research shows.

Is Wegovy safe?

Overall, Wegovy and other semaglutide medications are regarded as safe. 

After reading through this list of the potential long-term side effects of Wegovy, it can feel like the risks outweigh the benefits. But keep in mind that most of these side effects are rare. For most people, the health benefits of Wegovy outweigh the risks. 

Wegovy can help with more than just weight loss. It also has benefits for things like heart health and stroke prevention.

If you’re at higher risk for any of the long-term side effects above, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take Wegovy. Talk to a healthcare professional you know and trust, like your primary care provider. They can help you understand your risk so you can make a decision that feels safe to you.

Frequently asked questions

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts