What the safety tables contain
Searching the three product documents for muscle pain, joint pain, back pain or musculoskeletal reactions turns up nothing. [1][2][3] The rows that do relate to aches and discomfort are listed below. The adolescent trial also recorded ligament sprains a little more often on Wegovy® (4% vs 2%), which reflects injuries rather than aches. [1]
| Reaction | Source and population | Wegovy® | Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle or joint pain | US, EU and Canadian tables [1][2][3] | Not listed | — |
| Dysesthesia (skin pain, burning, sensitive skin, tingling) | US, adults, 2.4 mg pool [1] | 2% | 1% |
| Dysesthesia | US, 7.2 mg trials [1] | 22% (7.2 mg); 6% (2.4 mg) | 0% |
| Fatigue (includes weakness) | US, adults, 2.4 mg pool [1] | 11% | 5% |
| Ligament sprain | US, adolescents 12 and older [1] | 4% | 2% |
Dysesthesia: the skin pain the label does describe
The label groups several altered skin sensations under dysesthesia: tingling or pins and needles, increased sensitivity, burning, pain of the skin, sensitive skin and pain from a touch that would not normally hurt. It says the rate rose with higher doses and higher drug levels in the blood. [1] With the 25 mg tablets it was 5% versus none on placebo. [1]
Among 288 people who had dysesthesia on 7.2 mg, 2% stopped treatment, 8% paused it and 23% had their dose lowered; most of those recovered. Of 38 people who later returned to 7.2 mg, 17 had it again. Overall, 18% did not report recovery by the end of the trial, mostly people whose dose was left unchanged. [1] The EU summary describes the events as mild to moderate, with most people recovering while still on treatment. [2]
A published series of four patients on semaglutide 2.4 mg for weight management described skin that hurt to the touch after dose increases. Two stopped treatment and improved; one of the two who continued improved after four months. [5] A case series shows what can happen, not how often.
A trial that looked at pain directly
STEP 9 randomly assigned 407 adults with obesity and moderate knee osteoarthritis to weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg or placebo for 68 weeks. The WOMAC knee pain score, on a 0 to 100 scale, fell by 41.7 points with semaglutide and 27.5 with placebo, and physical function improved more. [4] The EU product information adds that 59% versus 35% reached a clinically meaningful improvement, without an increase in pain medicine use. [2]
STEP 9 was funded by Novo Nordisk and included only people with knee osteoarthritis. Adverse events led 6.7% on semaglutide and 3.0% on placebo to stop, mostly for gastrointestinal reasons. [4] It tells us Wegovy® did not worsen this kind of pain; it does not rule out aches in other people.
Where aches could come from on Wegovy®
- Supported by the label: dysesthesia is dose-related; fatigue and weakness are more frequent; and vomiting or diarrhea can cause fluid loss. [1] MedlinePlus lists electrolyte imbalances, such as low potassium, among causes of muscle pain. [6]
- Pain that seems to be in the back may start elsewhere: the Medication Guide says pancreatitis pain can spread from the abdomen to the back, and lists upper abdominal pain among gallbladder warning signs. [1]
- General: Wegovy® is prescribed together with more physical activity, [1] and MedlinePlus names overuse, starting too much too soon and muscle tension as the most common causes of aches. [6]
Other causes worth considering
MedlinePlus lists flu and other infections, certain medicines such as statins and some blood pressure medicines, fibromyalgia, lupus, polymyalgia rheumatica and, rarely, muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) as causes of muscle pain. [6] A new cholesterol medicine, a viral illness or a sudden jump in exercise could therefore explain aches that started alongside Wegovy®.
What general guidance suggests
For aches from overuse, MedlinePlus suggests resting the area, using ice at first and heat later, gentle stretching and massage. It recommends starting exercise slowly and building up gradually, staying well hydrated during activity, and avoiding high-impact exercise and weight lifting while injured or in pain. [6] Sleep and stress reduction also help. [6]
If you want a pain reliever, ask your pharmacist which is suitable with your other medicines; the Wegovy® Medication Guide asks you to report every medicine you take because Wegovy® slows stomach emptying. [1] For skin pain or burning, tell your prescriber: in the 7.2 mg trials, changes to treatment were one of the ways it was managed, and that decision is theirs. [1]
Wegovy® is a registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S. PepLabo is not affiliated with or endorsed by Novo Nordisk.
When to get help
The signs and contact information below come from this article’s sourced guidance.
Emergency
- New weakness, a limb you cannot move, or aches with swelling, sudden weight gain or much less urine
Contact: Emergency services (911 or local number)
MedlinePlus [6]