Beyond the Wegovy 2.4mg Injection Pen? What Wegovy 7.2mg is Promising

Wegovy (semaglutide) has been a life-changing medication for many people over the last few years. At doses up to 2.4mg, patients have reported an average of 14-15% weight loss after one year. However, recently, the launch of the newly approved 7.2mg has brought to attention the opportunity for more effective weight loss

What’s the News?

Recently, NovoNordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy have announced that their 7.2mg dose has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This dose is three times as high as the pre-existing 2.4mg dose, with (on average) higher effectiveness.

In two parallel trials, the 7.2 mg dose produced average weight loss of around 20% weight loss. And the maximum weight loss found was up to 25% compared to the maximum of 20% on the 2.4mg dose. Improvements were also found regarding patients’ blood pressure, waist size, lipids, and glycaemic control.

This new approval means that patients who plateau on the pre-existing 2.4mg dose can now be escalated to the 7.2mg dose to further their treatment and benefit further from GLP-1 treatment.

How is the Dose Administered?

Currently, the new 7.2mg dose cannot be delivered in a single injection. This new dosage will require three injections of the existing 2.4mg pen on the same day of the week. The injection site must still be rotated to avoid any bruising or skin irritation that can be cause by repeated injections to the same area.

What’s the Catch?

As is often which higher doses of medication, the side effects which usually accompany GLP-1 treatment such as nausea, diarrhoea, and other gastro-intestinal effects, are more likely and potentially amplified. More frequent and more intense side effects are particularly likely during the titration stage, when increasing your dose.

What Does This Mean for You?

This new launch means that the new 7.2mg dose of Wegovy is available under the private sector from selected online pharmacies. Titration to this new highest dose must be done in line with guidance meaning that patients wishing to move up to this treatment must have titrated from the lowest dose gradually. This is the case even if wishing to switch from another GLP-1 medication such as Mounjaro or Nevolat. 

 This dose is a huge step and so it’s important to take full consideration when moving up to this treatment. Pairing this, and all GLP-1 treatments, with lifestyle changes and a healthy diet.

The Bottom Line

The emergence of the new 7.2 mg weekly Wegovy dose represents a new improvement in treatment for weight management. Offering an option for those who may not find the results they are looking for in the 2.4mg dose. When paired with careful management of side effects and monitoring, the new 7.2mg dose is an exciting new frontier in weight management treatment.