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 all medications, there are potential risks. 

Many people are familiar with some of the immediate side effects — like nausea or low blood sugar. But this medication has only been approved by the FDA since 2021, so healthcare professionals and people who use it are still learning about some of the longer-term complications of taking Wegovy and similar medications. Here we take a closer look at 10 long-term risks of Wegovy.

1. Gallbladder problems

Wegovy can lead to problems with the gallbladder and bile duct system. The gallbladder is an organ near the 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 the intestine. This helps you break down and absorb fat from your diet. 

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

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

• Abdominal pain

• Fever

• Nausea

• Vomiting 

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In the short term, these issues can be treated. But more severe cases may require surgery to remove gallstones and/or the gallbladder itself. 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.

2. Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is another serious but rare 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, these issues can be treated. But they can also lead to long-term complications in more severe cases.

It should be noted that a recent review casts doubt on the link between Wegovy and pancreatitis. But others still confirm a small risk. It’s not clear if having a history of pancreatitis in the past increases the risk of being diagnosed with pancreatitis while taking Wegovy. And pancreatitis cannot always be prevented. But limiting alcohol or avoiding it altogether will lower your risk of the condition.

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• Are Ozempic and Wegovy knockoffs safe? Many people turn to compounding pharmacies when they can’t otherwise get semaglutide. It’s important to know how they work and the risks involved.

3. Stomach paralysis

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

With gastroparesis, food and liquids in the stomach don’t empty into the intestines as they should. The stomach contents may remain in the 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 are taking Wegovy, a few people have experienced this condition. 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 a person’s risk for gastroparesis — so be careful taking Wegovy if you have any of the following:

• Diabetes 

• Medications that slow down your digestive system, like opioids

• Prior stomach surgery

• Certain nervous system conditions like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease

4. Blocked intestines

Recent research has revealed that Wegovy may lead to another serious digestive complication. Some people reported blocked intestines, also called a bowel obstruction, while taking Wegovy. This is when food gets stuck in the intestine and creates a blockage, preventing 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 acute kidney injury while taking Wegovy. Here’s why.

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

If you have underlying kidney problems, or if you experience severe gastrointestinal side effects that could make you dehydrated, your medical care team may recommend monitoring your kidney function while you take Wegovy. 

6. Hair loss

Hair loss was reported by 3% of people taking Wegovy, compared to 1% of people taking a placebo in clinical trials. But it seems to be more rare in follow-up studies. It’s more likely that hair loss is due to weight loss rather than the medication itself. After all, rapid weight loss — like after weight-loss surgery — is known to cause hair loss. And, this can happen with the weight loss caused by Wegovy, too.

The condition leading to hair loss caused by Wegovy is known as telogen effluvium, or stress-related hair loss. If you do experience hair loss, the effect is usually temporary. But there are steps you can take to help prevent hair loss or help it regrow while taking Wegovy, including:

• Making sure you get enough protein and nutrition from your diet

• Relieving stress with meditation or mindfulness practice

• Getting plenty of exercise

7. Increased heart rate

People taking Wegovy in clinical trials experienced small increases in their heart rates. Their heart rates increased by 1 to 4 beats per minute, on average. 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 heart conditions, like atrial fibrillation or heart failure. 

If you feel missed heartbeats, palpitations, or 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 on Wegovy, you may need to discontinue the medication. 

8. Diabetic retinopathy

In people who have diabetes, taking Wegovy may increase the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. This condition affects the blood vessels in the back of the eye and can lead to vision loss.

The active ingredient in Wegovy, semaglutide, is also used to treat high blood sugar in people with diabetes. It sounds contrary, but rapid improvement in blood sugar can worsen diabetic retinopathy in the short term. If you have diabetes or diabetic retinopathy and plan to start Wegovy, it’s important to discuss this risk with a healthcare professional.

Semaglutide has also been linked to another rare eye condition that affects vision, but experts are still working out the exact details. 

9. Thyroid cancer

Wegovy carries an FDA black box warning regarding its possible association with a rare type of thyroid tumor. This was discovered during safety studies in rodents that were given semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy. But it’s difficult to make a direct comparison between the effects of semaglutide on rodents and the effect of Wegovy in humans. 

Follow-up studies in humans suggest an incidence of less than 1%, so the risk seems to be very low. But the makers of Wegovy still say that certain groups of people at high risk of thyroid tumors should avoid taking Wegovy. These include people with:

• Personal or family history of medullary cell carcinoma of the thyroid

• Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)

10. Mental health side effects

Some people who took Wegovy in clinical trials reported suicidal thoughts. This side effect wasn’t common, but it’s a serious side effect. The FDA has been investigating whether there’s an increased risk of suicidal thoughts when taking Wegovy. 

Preliminary data and follow-up data haven’t shown a link between medications like Wegovy and suicidal thoughts, but the research is ongoing. It’s important to be aware of this potential side effect, especially if you have a history of mental health conditions such as depression. 

Depression is a common mental health condition that affects how someone thinks and feels. And having depression doesn’t necessarily cause someone to have suicidal thoughts. But some people may experience worsening depression or severe depression with thoughts of suicide. 

If you have a history of severe depression or have had suicidal thoughts in the past, it’s especially important to discuss this with a medical professional before starting Wegovy. Let them know right away if you have any new or worsening depression symptoms or suicidal thoughts while taking the medication.

When to get help

If you’re taking Wegovy, and you’ve noticed these or other side effects, it’s best to get help. Consider speaking with the healthcare professional who prescribed it for you as soon as you can. They can help rule out other causes of your symptoms and help you come up with a plan for next steps.

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Written by:

Joanna Jan, MD

Joanna Jan, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and licensed to practice medicine in the state of Pennsylvania. In 2017, she received her board certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined her interests in clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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