From the Research
People with hypothyroidism can generally take Wegovy (semaglutide) with appropriate medical supervision, as long as their hypothyroidism is well-controlled with medication like levothyroxine.
Important Considerations
- It is essential to consult with a healthcare provider before starting Wegovy, as they need to evaluate the specific situation and monitor thyroid function during treatment 1.
- Some patients may need adjustments to their thyroid medication dosage while on Wegovy, as weight loss can affect thyroid hormone requirements.
- Additionally, be aware that some symptoms of hypothyroidism and Wegovy side effects can overlap, such as fatigue and constipation, so proper monitoring is important.
Mechanism of Action
- Wegovy works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 to regulate appetite and food intake, which is a different mechanism than thyroid hormone replacement, making the two treatments generally compatible when properly managed 2.
Real-World Use
- A recent study found that real-world semaglutide users generally resembled trial participants, but few follow the dose titration schemes tested in premarket clinical trials 1.
Thyroid Hormone Replacement
- The American Thyroid Association task force on thyroid hormone replacement recommends that levothyroxine should remain the standard of care for treating hypothyroidism, and there is no consistently strong evidence for the superiority of alternative preparations over monotherapy with levothyroxine 3.
Metabolomics Profile
- A study on the metabolomics profile in hypothyroid patients before and after thyroid hormone replacement found that some metabolic changes may persist after normalization of serum levels of FT3, FT4, and TSH 4.