Wegovy comes in different doses and patients start with a low dose and then each month the dose increases until the fifth month when it reaches the maximum where patients will remain
For Ozempic, the FDA-approved escalation schedule begins at 0.25 mg weekly for 4 weeks, increases to 0.5 mg for at least 4 weeks, then may increase to 1 mg and potentially 2 mg based on glycemic response
Position statement of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)
More serious but less common side effects to watch for at this dose include acute pancreatitis (symptoms: severe abdominal pain radiating to the back, nausea, vomiting), gallbladder problems (symptoms: sudden pain in the upper right abdomen, fever, jaundice), and significant hypoglycemia if combined with certain diabetes medications
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