Wegovy (Semaglutide)

Wegovy (semaglutide) has the same main ingredient as Ozempic, but it is used and dosed differently. In studies, people taking Wegovy with lifestyle changes lost about 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks.

An oral version of Wegovy was approved in December 2025. A February 2026 study by Truveta, a group of U.S. health systems that share data, found that many people who previously used GLP-1 medicines switched from shots to pills. Of those starting oral semaglutide for weight loss, about one-fourth had used Wegovy shots and about one-fifth had used Zepbound (tirzepatide) shots. Most people taking the pill had switched from these shots.

How Wegovy Works

Wegovy works similarly to a natural hormone in your body called GLP-1, which helps manage appetite and blood sugar.

Clinical trials have shown significant weight loss compared to not using the drug. Researchers reported that after 68 weeks, a large portion of people taking Wegovy achieved weight loss of 5%, 10% and 15% compared to those not taking the medication.

However, Wegovy can contribute to gastrointestinal side effects, including delayed digestion, nausea, vomiting and stomach paralysis (gastroparesis).

Alternatives to Wegovy

Wegovy belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists. There are several medications in this class, and some may work better for you than others. These drugs are typically prescribed for weight management or diabetes.

You should talk with your doctor if you are wondering about the differences between Mounjaro vs. Ozempic. A medical provider can also help you decide which one is better for you when comparing Wegovy vs. Ozempic.

Wegovy’s original label included a black box warning — the FDA’s most serious alert — about a cancer risk identified in animal studies. The warning states that people with personal or family histories of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) should not use Wegovy.

By May 19, 2026, the FDA had received 17,009 reports of adverse events related to Wegovy. Of these, 7,843 were serious, including 107 deaths. However, reports to the FDA Adverse Event Monitoring System do not necessarily mean the drug caused these events.

The most common Wegovy side effects are gastrointestinal, including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation and stomach pain. The STEP-1 clinical trials found that side effects could affect 10% to 44% of participants. They often occur during a dose increase as the body adjusts.

Serious but rare side effects include pancreatitis, gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), gallbladder disease and NAION-related vision loss.

The FDA also requires a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumor risk based on rodent studies.

Wegovy and Stomach Paralysis (Gastroparesis)

Wegovy slows down the rate at which food leaves your stomach. Research has linked semaglutide drugs (Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus) to a more than three times higher risk of gastroparesis and a 3.5 times higher risk of ileus compared to non-users.

“Wegovy’s delayed gastric emptying may cause or exacerbate gastroparesis in those so predisposed, something I’m seeing with increasing frequency in practice,” Dr. Bharat Pothuri, a board-certified gastroenterologist and founder of GastroDox in Houston, told Drugwatch.

He added that “the gastrointestinal risks aren’t trivial.”

A 2025 study in BMJ Open Gastroenterology discovered that people taking Wegovy, Ozempic or Rybelsus had a higher risk of developing gastroparesis. Their risk was over three times higher than people on a weight loss drug called bupropion-naltrexone and more than six times higher than those who had a sleeve gastrectomy.

A 2023 study in Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B found that people taking GLP-1 medications experience ileus at a rate 3.5 times higher than those who do not. Ileus is a condition where the intestines act as if they’re blocked, even when there is no physical obstruction.

A warning about ileus was added to the Wegovy label in 2023.

Wegovy and Vision Loss (NAION)

Wegovy contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic, and has been linked in research to an increased risk of NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy). The eye condition is characterized by poor blood flow to the optic nerve. It can cause sudden, typically permanent vision loss in one eye.

As of May 2026, the FDA has not required Novo Nordisk to add a NAION warning to Wegovy’s label.

A 2024 study published in the International Journal of Retina and Vitreous found that using a semaglutide medication like Wegovy more than doubled the risk of NAION over five years. This increased risk was the same regardless of whether or not people had diabetes.

A 2025 study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found a small but increased risk of NAION in people taking semaglutide. The American Academy of Ophthalmology highlighted this study, saying it showed “patients taking semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — may be at higher risk of developing an eye condition that can cause blindness.”

“For NAION, however, rare though it is, I do believe sight-related side effects should be given a more prominent place on the label. Perception of these drugs as ‘miracle drugs’ may obscure dangerous complications that require more informed consent,” Dr. Pothuri said.

Sudden vision loss is a medical emergency. Anyone experiencing sudden, painless vision loss while taking Wegovy should seek immediate evaluation by an ophthalmologist or emergency physician.

Vision loss and other serious side effects have also sparked GLP-1 lawsuits. Because NAION can be permanent, it’s an especially concerning risk to medical and legal professionals alike. “There are obviously other risks that are warned about with taking Ozempic or Wegovy, but a lot of those risks are temporary in nature,” Danielle Gold told Drugwatch. “If you develop NAION while on this medication, it will likely result in permanent visual impairment.”

Patients who experienced gastroparesis, ileus or NAION-related vision loss after taking Wegovy have filed lawsuits against Novo Nordisk. Cases are consolidated in MDL 3094 in federal court along with related semaglutide and tirzepatide claims.

Wegovy Lawsuits Claiming Gastroparesis and Stomach Injuries

Wegovy lawsuits claiming gastroparesis, intestinal blockages and other gastrointestinal injuries have been combined in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in an Eastern Pennsylvania federal court.

MDLs allow several similar lawsuits to be consolidated into a single litigation, expediting the legal process.

As of May 2026, there were 3,636 lawsuits pending in the MDL. The MDL involves lawsuits naming Wegovy along with other GLP-1 drugs.

In November 2025, additional Wegovy lawsuits were combined in a multicounty litigation in New Jersey state court. MCLs function similarly to MDLs by making the judicial process more efficient.

Lawsuits claim that Wegovy and other GLP-1 medications caused “gastroparesis, ileus, intestinal obstruction or pseudo-obstruction or other gastrointestinal injury.”

Each lawsuit alleges that GLP-1 medications may cause stomach injuries. They question whether the manufacturers were aware of these risks and if they adequately informed patients and doctors.

Additionally, the lawsuits raise concerns about the misleading or incomplete safety information.

Wegovy Lawsuits Claiming Vision Loss

Patients who developed NAION after taking Wegovy have filed lawsuits alleging Novo Nordisk failed to warn of vision-loss risks.

In December 2025, Wegovy lawsuits were combined with similar lawsuits into a multidistrict litigation in an Eastern Pennsylvania federal court. Plaintiffs in these lawsuits claimed they received NAION injuries after taking other GLP-1 drugs.

Additional NAION-related Wegovy lawsuits were combined in November 2025 into a multicounty litigation (MCL) in New Jersey state court. MCLs work similarly to MDLs but at the state level.

If you experience severe side effects after taking Wegovy, it’s important to take specific steps. These include getting medical help, consulting with your doctor and talking to an attorney if you’ve been seriously injured.

Should You Stop Taking Wegovy?

You should not stop taking Wegovy or any other prescription medication without talking to your doctor first. Stopping a medication suddenly may cause side effects. Your doctor can recommend a way to stop taking Wegovy safely.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these life-threatening side effects after taking Wegovy.

You can report serious side effects that you experience from Wegovy to the FDA’s MedWatch program. You can also report health issues you have with other medicines, medical devices, dietary supplements, baby formula and cosmetics.

If you or someone in your family has experienced a severe reaction to Wegovy, it’s important to inform your doctor. They can provide important medical information that will help the FDA understand what happened and improve safety for everyone.

How To File a Wegovy Lawsuit

If you developed NAION, gastroparesis, or another serious injury after taking Wegovy, you can request a free case review. Drugwatch partner attorneys will evaluate your medical records against current MDL criteria to determine your eligibility. Statutes of limitations vary by state, so it’s best to consult a lawyer as soon as possible to preserve your options.