Are you considering Semaglutide (Wegovy) as a solution for chronic weight management? Here at Better Your RX, we believe understanding your medications is key to taking control of your health journey. So, let’s delve into the composition of Wegovy and discuss its active and inactive ingredients, how it’s made, and the possibility of allergic reactions.
What Is Wegovy And What Is It Made Of?
Wegovy (semaglutide) is an injectable medication manufactured for chronic weight management. The key ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, synthesized using the fascinating mechanism of recombinant DNA technology.
Active Ingredient: Semaglutide
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy, known to mimic the effects of a gut hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), hence, it’s described as a GLP-1 agonist. Semaglutide is also present in a few other medications, including Ozempic and Rybelsus.
Each Wegovy pen may contain variable amounts of semaglutide, depending on the dose encapsulated within:
- 0.25 mg (identified by a light-green pen)
- 0.5 mg (noted by a pink pen)
- 1 mg (distinguished by a brown pen)
- 1.7 mg (marked by a blue pen)
- 2.4 mg (symbolized with a black pen)
Inactive ingredients
The effectiveness of Wegovy isn’t solely due to its active ingredient—its accompanying inactive ingredients also play crucial roles. These contribute to the potency of Wegovy and facilitate the transportation of the active ingredient. They include:
- Sodium phosphate dibasic dihydrate (serving as a buffer agent)
- Sodium chloride (to provide tonicity)
- Water (acting as the vehicle for injection)
- Either hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide to adjust acidity levels
The liquid volume in the 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg Wegovy pens is 0.5 mL, and those within the 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg pens hold about 0.75 mL of liquid.
Preservatives in Wegovy: A Common Query
Unlike many medications, Wegovy does not contain any preservatives. How does it stay effective, you might ask? The answer lies in its single-use design. As each injection pen of Wegovy is meant for one usage, there is no need for preservatives to maintain its potency over multiple usages.
Allergic Reactions: What You Should Know
It’s essential to mention that it’s possible to experience an allergic reaction, including severe reactions like anaphylaxis, to an ingredient in Wegovy. It’s also uncertain if a reaction to a different GLP-1 agonist could translate to an adverse reaction to Wegovy.
To maintain your health and safety, always ensure that your healthcare team is aware of any allergies you may have before starting a new medication, including Wegovy.
The Making of Wegovy
Wegovy’s key ingredient, semaglutide, is classified as a peptide. Peptides are chains of forty or fewer amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Some peptides are synthesized using chemicals, but in semaglutide’s case, it’s produced using recombinant DNA technology.
The process involves encoding DNA with the instructions to produce the peptide. This encoded DNA is then introduced into yeast cells where the peptide copies are generated. These peptides are then extracted, modified, and finally purified for the medicine formulation.
Semaglutide is very similar to natural GLP-1 located in your body, with a few crucial changes that make it last longer in your system.
Conclusion
At Better Your RX, we encourage informed decision-making regarding medication. Understanding your medication’s ingredients and how it’s produced can offer insight into why and how it works. We’re here to lend our expertise when needed, and empower you on your journey to better health.
