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Semaglutide (Wegovy°) for excess body weight: nothing new

  Marketing Authorisations  While awaiting publication of the full, detailed results of the "Select" trial, it is best not to count on semaglutide to achieve durable weight loss, but to focus instead on a comprehensive non-pharmacological approach.
Full article (3 pages) available for download by subscribers

  • GLP-1 receptor agonists such as liraglutide and semaglutide have not been shown to prevent the clinical complications of excess body weight in obese patients or overweight patients with a cardiovascular risk factor. 
     
  • Their adverse effects include: gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, intestinal obstruction); renal failure; cholelithiasis and pancreatitis; hypoglycaemia, especially when combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea antidiabetic; and injection-site reactions. Cases of pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, goitre, increased heart rate and cardiac arrhythmia have been reported.

©Prescrire 1 February 2023

Source: "Semaglutide (Wegovy°) for excess body weight" Prescrire International 2023; 32 (245): 36-38. Subscribers only.

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See also:

"Liraglutide (Saxenda°)
in obesity in adolescents"
Prescrire Int 2022;
31 (242): 260-261.
Pdf, subscribers only

"Liraglutide and obesity.
Still no satisfactory
weight loss drug"
Prescrire Int 2016;
25 (167): 5-8.
Pdf, subscribers only

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