Wegovy for Thyroid Conditions: Evidence, Eligibility
Wegovy is not for anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) or MEN 2. Other thyroid conditions are not on its list of reasons not to take it.
- For thyroid conditions
- Not for MTC or MEN 2 history
- Active ingredient
- semaglutide
- How it is taken
- weekly injection or daily tablet
Wegovy overview
Its half-life is about 1 week. After 7 d, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (35 d).
Body weight in STEP 1 over 68 weeks: 14.9%, compared with 2.4% on placebo.
Monthly prices in US dollars include the list price and self-pay offers, with each price taken from the maker's price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Who qualifies?
| Source | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | In adults who have heart disease and obesity or overweight, it lowers the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or heart-related death (injection and tablets). |
| FDA label | This covers losing weight and keeping it off long term, using diet and activity. It applies to people 12 and older who have obesity, and to adults who have overweight along with a weight-related condition. |
| FDA label | In adults, the injection treats MASH liver disease when scarring is moderate to advanced and there is no cirrhosis. |
| FDA label | For adults, the tablets are approved for weight loss and for heart risk. |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
For thyroid conditions, what is different?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Risk of Thyroid C-Cell Tumors | In rodents, it caused thyroid C-cell tumors. Whether it causes these tumors in humans is unknown. If medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) appears in your personal or family history, do not use it. It is also not for you if you have MEN 2. |
| Taken with levothyroxine | Semaglutide tablets raised levothyroxine levels in one study, so a check of thyroid levels may be needed. |
FDA labels: FDA label on DailyMed.
Label warnings: FDA label on DailyMed.
Coverage for thyroid conditions
- Wegovy Coupon and Savings Card
- Wegovy Cost
- Wegovy Cost Without Insurance
- Wegovy Cost With Insurance
- Cheapest Way to Get Wegovy
- Wegovy Patient Assistance
- Is Wegovy Covered by Insurance? Criteria, Copay, Appeal
- Does Medicare Cover Wegovy? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
- Does BCBS Cover Wegovy? Coverage by State Plan, PA Rules, Appeals
Other choices for thyroid conditions
| Medicine | For thyroid conditions | How it is taken |
|---|---|---|
| Byetta | No thyroid warning | twice-daily injection |
| Wegovy | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | weekly injection or daily tablet |
 Ozempic | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | weekly injection |
 Rybelsus | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | daily tablet |
 Mounjaro | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | weekly injection |
 Zepbound | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | weekly injection |
 Foundayo | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | daily tablet |
 Trulicity | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | weekly injection |
 Saxenda | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | daily injection |
 Victoza | Not for MTC or MEN 2 history | daily injection |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Questions to ask your prescriber
- Does my family have any medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2?
- Should my levothyroxine levels be checked?
For Wegovy on DailyMed, read the complete prescribing information.