Australia approves first Wegovy tablet for weight management
Australia has approved a new daily tablet version of Wegovy for weight management after the Therapeutic Goods Administration registered the medicine.
The new pill contains semaglutide which copies a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite for adults living with obesity. It acts on the brain and digestive system to reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness for patients.
Doctors registered four strengths of Wegovy tablets ranging from 1.5mg to 25mg for specific weight management needs in the country. The medicine works by slowing how quickly food leaves the stomach so people feel satisfied with smaller meals regularly.
Trials showed the tablet produced a 14% body weight loss over sixty four to sixty eight weeks of use. This result is similar to the 15% weight reduction achieved by the weekly injection form of the drug. Overall both formats show similar rates of weight loss with comparable gastrointestinal effects.
Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion and constipation which affect around 80% of patients taking the medicine. Increased dosages intensify these adverse reactions so doubling up the dose could cause serious harm to patients.