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Wegovy Side Effects (Canada)

semaglutideNovo Nordisk

WEGOVY® is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) or overweight (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m²) with at least one weight-related comorbidity.

About this page. This page summarizes information from Health Canada's product monograph for Wegovy on adverse reactions, warnings, and special populations. It is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice from your prescriber or pharmacist. Always discuss side effects and warnings with your healthcare provider. Read our full medical disclaimer →

Common side effects

Very common (≥10%)

Nervous system disorders

  • Headache[1]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 20

General disorders and administration site conditions

  • Fatigue[1]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 20

Gastrointestinal disorders

  • Nausea[2]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19
  • Diarrhea[2]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19
  • Vomiting[2]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19
  • Constipation[2]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19
  • Abdominal pain[2]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19

Common (1–10%)

Metabolism and nutrition disorders

  • Decreased appetite[1]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 20

Hepatobiliary disorders

  • Cholelithiasis[1]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 20

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

  • Hair loss (alopecia)[1]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 20

Vascular disorders

  • Hypotension[1]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 20

Nervous system disorders

  • Dizziness[1]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 20
  • Dysgeusia[1]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 20
  • Dysesthesia[1]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 20

General disorders and administration site conditions

  • Injection site reactions[1]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 20

Gastrointestinal disorders

  • Dyspepsia[2]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19
  • Abdominal distension[2]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19
  • Eructation[2]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease[2]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19
  • Gastritis[2]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19
  • Hemorrhoids[2]Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19

Uncommon (0.1–1%)

Cardiac disorders

  • Increased heart rate[3]Section 8.3, page 22

Renal and urinary disorders

  • Acute kidney injury[3]Section 8.3, page 22

Immune system disorders

  • Anaphylactic reaction[3]Section 8.3, page 22

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

  • Angioedema[3]Section 8.3, page 22

Nervous system disorders

  • Syncope[3]Section 8.3, page 22

Gastrointestinal disorders

  • Acute pancreatitis[3]Section 8.3, page 22
  • Appendicitis[3]Section 8.3, page 22
  • Delayed gastric emptying[3]Section 8.3, page 22

Special populations

Pregnancy

WEGOVY® is contraindicated during pregnancy. Weight loss offers no benefit to a pregnant woman and may result in fetal harm. There have been no studies conducted in pregnant women with WEGOVY®. If a patient wishes to become pregnant, or pregnancy occurs, discontinue semaglutide treatment. Discontinue semaglutide at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy due to its long half-life. Use of WEGOVY® during pregnancy may cause fetal harm based on animal studies, which showed adverse developmental effects including fetal malformations and pre- and post-natal losses.[10]Section 7.1.1, page 16

Breastfeeding

It is unknown if WEGOVY® is excreted in human milk. Animal studies have shown that semaglutide was excreted in the milk of lactating rats. A risk to a breast-fed child cannot be excluded. Semaglutide is contraindicated during breast-feeding.[11]Section 7.1.2, page 17

Pediatrics

The efficacy and safety of WEGOVY® in children and adolescents below 12 years have not been studied. WEGOVY® is not indicated for use in pediatric patients below 12 years of age. For adolescents aged 12 to less than 18 years, the same dose escalation schedule as for adults applies. Safety and efficacy data in pediatric patients aged 12 to less than 18 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus are limited.[12]Section 7.1.3, page 17

Geriatrics

In the WEGOVY® phase 3a weight management clinical trials, 233 (9.0%) WEGOVY®-treated patients were between 65 and 74 years of age and 23 (1%) were 75 years of age. In SELECT, the cardiovascular outcomes trial, 2656 (30%) WEGOVY®-treated patients were 65–74 years of age. Therapeutic experience of WEGOVY® is limited in patients 85 years of age and above.[13]Section 7.1.4, page 17

Hepatic Insufficiency

The efficacy and safety of WEGOVY® in patients with hepatic insufficiency has not been studied. Therefore, WEGOVY® should be used with caution in this patient population. In the WEGOVY® clinical trial in patients with MASH and compensated liver cirrhosis (F4c), while experience is limited, there were no apparent differences in safety profile compared to the overall MASH population.[14]Section 7.1.5, page 17

Renal Insufficiency

Experience with the use of WEGOVY® in patients with severe renal impairment is limited. WEGOVY® is not recommended for use in patients with end-stage renal disease.[15]Section 7.1.6, page 17

Other warnings and precautions

Cardiovascular: Heart Rate Increase and PR Interval Prolongation

Semaglutide causes an increase in heart rate. Caution should be observed in patients who have cardiac conditions that might be worsened by an increase in heart rate, such as tachyarrhythmias. Monitor heart rate at regular intervals consistent with usual clinical practice. If patients experience a sustained increase in resting heart rate, discontinue WEGOVY®. Semaglutide also causes a prolongation of the PR interval of the electrocardiogram. Caution should be observed in patients with pre-existing conduction system abnormalities or a history of rhythm disturbances. WEGOVY® is not recommended in patients with NYHA Class IV heart failure.[5]Section 7, page 13

Gastrointestinal

Use of WEGOVY® is associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions that can cause dehydration, which can lead to a deterioration of renal function. There is limited experience in patients with a history of severe gastroparesis; therefore, use of WEGOVY® in these patients is not recommended. Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists may be associated with severe gastrointestinal disease (intestinal obstruction and ileus). Events of intestinal obstruction and ileus have been reported in the post-marketing database with an unknown frequency.[6]Section 7, page 14

Hepatic/Biliary/Pancreatic: Acute Pancreatitis and Acute Gallbladder Disease

Cases of acute pancreatitis, including fatal and non-fatal haemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, have been observed in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide. In the phase 3a weight management WEGOVY® clinical trials, acute pancreatitis was confirmed by adjudication in 4 WEGOVY®-treated patients (0.2 cases per 100 patient years) versus 1 in placebo-treated patients. If acute pancreatitis is suspected, WEGOVY® should promptly be discontinued and appropriate management initiated; if confirmed, WEGOVY® should not be restarted. WEGOVY® has not been studied in patients with a history of chronic pancreatitis or a recent (past 6 months) history of acute pancreatitis. Cholelithiasis was reported by 1.6% of WEGOVY®-treated adult patients and cholecystitis by 0.6%; rates were higher in adolescent patients. If cholelithiasis is suspected, gallbladder studies and appropriate clinical follow-up are indicated.[7]Section 7, page 15

Hypersensitivity

Severe, life-threatening, generalised allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred with semaglutide. If a hypersensitivity reaction occurs, the patient should discontinue WEGOVY® and promptly seek medical advice. Do not use in patients with a previous hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or to any ingredient in the formulation.[7]Section 7, page 15

Suicidal Behaviour and Ideation

Patients with a history of suicidal behaviour or major depressive disorder, or a recent history of suicidal ideation were excluded from the clinical trials for WEGOVY®. Do not use WEGOVY® in patients with a history of suicidal attempts or active suicidal ideation. Patients treated with WEGOVY® should be monitored for the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behaviour and/or any unusual changes in mood or behaviour. Discontinue WEGOVY® in patients who experience suicidal thoughts or behaviours.[8]Section 7, page 16

Perioperative Considerations: Aspiration Risk

WEGOVY® delays gastric emptying. Pulmonary aspiration has been reported in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists undergoing general anaesthesia or sedation. This should be considered prior to such procedures.[8]Section 7, page 16

Renal: Acute Kidney Injury

In patients treated with semaglutide, there have been post-marketing reports of acute renal failure and worsening of chronic renal failure, which may sometimes require hemodialysis. Patients with renal impairment may be at greater risk of acute renal injury, but some events were reported in patients without known underlying renal disease. A majority of reported events occurred in patients who had experienced gastrointestinal events leading to volume depletion. Monitor renal function in patients with renal insufficiency reporting severe adverse gastrointestinal reactions.[8]Section 7, page 16

Post-market reactions

Gastrointestinal disorders

The following gastrointestinal reactions have been reported during post-approval use of WEGOVY®: delayed gastric emptying; intestinal obstruction (grouped term covering intestinal obstruction, ileus, small intestinal obstruction). Because these events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is generally not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.[4]Section 8.5, page 24

Nervous system disorders

The following nervous system reaction has been reported during post-approval use of WEGOVY®: dysesthesia (includes hyperesthesia, paraesthesia, dysesthesia, skin burning sensation, pain of skin, burning sensation, sensitive skin, skin discomfort, skin sensitisation, and allodynia).[4]Section 8.5, page 24

Talk to your pharmacist or prescriber

Side effects and warnings must be assessed in the context of your personal health history. Discuss any concerns about adverse reactions with your prescriber or pharmacist. Use our pharmacy comparison tool to find and connect with a Canadian pharmacy that carries Wegovy.

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Sources

  1. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 8.2, Table 4, page 20
  2. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 8.2, Table 4, page 19
  3. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 8.3, page 22
  4. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 8.5, page 24
  5. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 7, page 13
  6. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 7, page 14
  7. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 7, page 15
  8. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 7, page 16
  9. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 3, page 8
  10. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 7.1.1, page 16
  11. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 7.1.2, page 17
  12. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 7.1.3, page 17
  13. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 7.1.4, page 17
  14. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 7.1.5, page 17
  15. Health Canada Product Monograph — Section 7.1.6, page 17

Last reviewed May 14, 2026 against the Health Canada Product Monograph dated December 10, 2025. View monograph →

Related information

Wegovy — Dosing Guide

/reference/dosing/wegovy

Wegovy — Injection & Storage

/reference/injection-storage/wegovy

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