Wegovy Constipation: How Common, How Long It Lasts
Yes. In the Wegovy trials, 24% of people on 2.4 mg had constipation, against 11% on placebo: about 2 times the placebo rate. It is the third most common side effect in that table. Smaller, slower meals help most.
- In the Wegovy label
- Yes, with a rate
- On Wegovy 2.4 mg
- 24%
- On placebo
- 11%
- Rank in the label table
- 3 of 19
A quick look at Wegovy
Its half-life is about 1 week. After 7 d, half is gone, while about 3% remains after five half-lives (35 d).
STEP 1 measured 14.9% of body weight, compared with 2.4% on placebo over 68 weeks.
Monthly prices in US dollars include the list price and self-pay offers, each taken from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Wegovy compared with placebo: how often it appears
Wegovy constipation appears in the label trials for each dose group. The placebo group serves as the comparison group in the same trial.
| Medicine and dose | Constipation | Placebo | More than placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy 2.4 mg | 24% | 11% | +13 points | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Wegovy 2.4 mg | 19% | 8% | +11 points | Adults with obesity (7.2 mg dose trials) |
| Wegovy 7.2 mg | 20% | 8% | +12 points | Adults with obesity (7.2 mg dose trials) |
| Wegovy 2.4 mg | 6% | 2% | +4 points | Children 12 and older with obesity |
Source: Wegovy label (DailyMed).
Constipation: Wegovy compared with other GLP-1s
Its own trials appear in each label, and those trials involve different groups of people. Use this as a rough guide.
The table also lists the pill forms: Rybelsus, Foundayo.
| Medicine | Highest rate in the label | Dose group | Placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Foundayo | 27% | 9 mg | 9% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Wegovy | 24% | 2.4 mg | 11% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Saxenda | 19.4% | all doses | 8.5% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Zepbound | 17% | 5 mg | 5% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Byetta | 10% | all doses | 2% | Adults with type 2 diabetes (with insulin glargine) |
 Mounjaro | 7% | 15 mg | 1% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Rybelsus | 6% | 7 mg | 2% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Ozempic | 5% | 0.5 mg | 1.5% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Victoza | 5% | 1.2 mg | 1% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Trulicity | Listed, no rate given | – | – | – |
Sources: Ozempic label (DailyMed), Wegovy label (DailyMed), Rybelsus label (DailyMed), Mounjaro label (DailyMed), Zepbound label (DailyMed), Foundayo label (DailyMed), Saxenda label (DailyMed), Victoza label (DailyMed), Byetta label (DailyMed).
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).
Why it happens on Wegovy
These medicines slow the rate at which your stomach empties. Food remains in the stomach longer, which can cause constipation, especially after large or fatty meals.
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org.
What the Wegovy label says
The label mentions constipation here, word for word:
“reactions that occurred at a higher incidence than placebo among WEGOVY injection-treated pediatric patients included abdominal pain, constipation, eructation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia, and flatulence.”
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).
What helps, step by step
- Drink water throughout the day to keep your stools soft.
- Take a short walk. Moving your body helps your gut keep moving.
- While you sit on the toilet, place a small stool under your feet.
- Ask about getting a laxative or stool softener from the drugstore.
- Eat smaller meals and stop once you feel full. These medicines slow down how quickly the stomach empties.
- Eat slowly. Your brain needs time to recognize when you are full.
- Let your prescriber know if the constipation does not ease. Your prescriber may reduce the pace of dose increases or suggest another GLP-1.
Before taking anything from the drugstore, use the GLP-1 interactions checker to check it.
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org.