Wegovy Pill or Shot? Both Work. The Choice Is Yours

Dr. Manish Sahni at Centra Internal Medicine views Wegovy not just as a cosmetic fix, but as a critical tool for improving long-term metabolic health. His approach is rooted in the understanding that obesity is a chronic disease, often linked to insulin resistance, cardiovascular risks, and hormonal imbalances.

Dr. Sahni’s strategy involves:

• Comprehensive Assessment: Evaluating your blood sugar, heart health, and hormonal profile before starting treatment.
• Biological Precision: Using Wegovy to mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which targets the brain’s hunger centers to increase satiety and slow gastric emptying.
• Long-term Wellness: Moving beyond the scale to focus on reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

The primary difference between the two forms of semaglutide lies in how they are administered and how often you need to take them.

• Wegovy shots (Injectable): These are typically administered once a week using a pre-filled, single-use pen. Many patients at Centra Internal Medicine appreciate the “set it and forget it” nature of the weekly shot.
• Wegovy pills (Oral): The oral version requires daily administration. To ensure it works correctly, it must be taken on an empty stomach with no more than 4 ounces of plain water, at least 30 minutes before any food, coffee, or other medications.

Choosing the right format is a collaborative decision made between the patient and Dr. Manish Sahni. Here are the distinct advantages of each:

Benefits of the shot:

• Lower maintenance: You only have to think about your medication once every seven days.
• Direct absorption: The medication enters the bloodstream directly, meaning you don’t have to worry about how your digestion or morning coffee might affect it.
• Proven track record: The injectable form has been the primary standard for significant weight loss results in clinical settings.

Benefits of the pill:

• No needles required: This is the best option for patients who have a phobia of injections or find self-administering a shot stressful.
• Consistent daily routine: Some patients find it easier to stay disciplined when the medication is part of their daily morning ritual.
• Non-invasive: There is no risk of bruising or skin irritation at an injection site.

At Centra Internal Medicine, we believe Wegovy is a “tool, not a crutch.” It is highly effective at helping you reach a healthy weight, but sustainability depends on lifestyle integration. Dr. Manish Sahni emphasizes that the medication provides the biological “quiet” in your brain to help you make better choices.

To ensure weight loss is permanent, Dr. Sahni integrates Wegovy with:

• Nutritional Guidance: Prioritizing protein intake to maintain muscle mass while losing fat.
• Physical Activity: Encouraging resistance training to boost metabolic rate.
• Behavioral Shifts: Helping patients recognize “head hunger” versus physiological hunger.

A major concern for many patients is whether they are sacrificing efficacy by choosing the pill. Clinical data suggests that both forms are highly effective at inducing significant weight loss when used correctly.

While the injectable form is often associated with slightly faster initial weight loss due to how the body absorbs the higher doses, the oral version yields comparable long-term outcomes for many patients. Dr. Manish Sahni monitors your progress closely. If your weight loss plateaus on the pill, he can help you transition to the shot to see if a different delivery method restarts your progress.

Patients at Centra Internal Medicine sometimes ask if using both will lead to faster results. Currently, Dr. Manish Sahni does not recommend using Wegovy pills and shots simultaneously.

Using both at once can:

• Increase side effects: Overloading your receptors can lead to severe nausea and gastrointestinal distress.
• Safety risks: It becomes difficult to manage precise dosing, which can lead to complications like severe dehydration.
• No added benefit: There is a “ceiling effect” where more medication does not necessarily mean more weight loss, but it does mean more strain on your body.

Both forms of semaglutide share a similar side-effect profile because they utilize the same active compound. Most side effects are gastrointestinal and occur as your body adjusts to the medication.

• Nausea is common for both: Most patients experience some nausea when they first start or when the dose is increased.
• The shot can cause skin irritation: Some patients experience redness, itching, or slight bruising at the site of the injection.
• The pill may cause more heartburn: Because the pill is processed in the stomach, some patients report higher instances of indigestion or reflux.
• Both can affect digestion: You may experience changes in bowel movements, such as constipation or diarrhea, as your digestion slows down.

Dr. Manish Sahni works with patients to minimize these effects by starting with the lowest possible dose and slowly increasing it over several months.

What sets the care at Centra Internal Medicine apart is the personalized, internal medicine-based perspective provided by Dr. Manish Sahni. His strategy is unique because:

• Focus on “Good” Weight Loss: He tracks body composition to ensure you are losing fat, not valuable muscle mass.
• Hormonal Integration: He addresses underlying issues like thyroid dysfunction or insulin resistance that might otherwise hinder your progress.
• Personalized Titration: Dr. Sahni adjusts your dosage based on your specific tolerance and results, rather than following a generic timeline.

Whether you prefer the convenience of a weekly injection or the simplicity of a daily pill, Centra Internal Medicine is here to guide you toward a healthier future. For more information, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Sun City AZ, Phoenix AZ, Prescott AZ, Buckeye AZ, Westpark AZ, Liberty AZ, Peoria AZ, Glendale AZ, Diamond Valley AZ, Iron Springs AZ, Bumstead AZ, El Mirage AZ, and surrounding areas.