In my own clinic, I’ve been seeing more people ask about Wegovy, or semaglutide (Most of them would ask what the Wegovy side effects are). I tend to bring it up when someone’s extra weight is starting to take a toll — maybe their blood pressure is creeping higher, their blood sugar is harder to control, or they’re simply exhausted from carrying it around. What the drug does is copy a hormone your body already makes (GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1).
That hormone helps control appetite and blood sugar, and Wegovy gives it a boost. This hormone plays a role in appetite and blood sugar regulation, and when enhanced by Wegovy, it can help patients feel fuller sooner and, over time, lose a meaningful amount of weight.
But as with any treatment, the benefits come with possible downsides. In my practice, patients often raise the same questions before or shortly after starting: can Wegovy make you tired, can Wegovy cause depression, can Wegovy cause hair loss, or can Wegovy cause diarrhea? These are not just casual curiosities—they are real concerns that affect daily life. When patients understand what’s behind these side effects, they’re usually less worried and more prepared to manage them.
Instead of simply listing side effects, let’s take a closer look at each one, why it occurs, and what you can realistically expect if you encounter it.
Fatigue: Can Wegovy Make You Tired?
One of the first things people tell me after starting Wegovy is that they just feel more drained than usual, especially in the first few weeks. So, can Wegovy make you tired? Yes, it can — though not everyone experiences it.
Why does this happen? For many, it comes down to eating less. Wegovy takes the edge off appetite, and when you suddenly cut back on calories, your body notices. Feeling sluggish is often part of that adjustment period. On top of that, if you’re not drinking enough water or keeping your meals balanced, the tiredness can feel even worse.
- Dehydration. Reduced appetite sometimes also means reduced thirst or lower fluid intake. Since dehydration can cause fatigue, ensuring hydration is key.
- When you first start the medication, your body needs time to get used to it. Because it slows down digestion, some people notice they just don’t have their usual energy in those first weeks.
Fortunately, in most cases, fatigue improves within a few weeks. To manage it, I often advise patients to prioritize hydration, maintain a nutrient-rich diet (even with smaller portions), and get adequate sleep. If fatigue persists or worsens, a healthcare provider should evaluate for other causes such as low blood sugar, anemia, thyroid dysfunction, or other underlying conditions.
Depression: Can Wegovy Cause Depression?
Patients also ask me whether Wegovy can cause depression. The science here isn’t straightforward. In large clinical trials, we didn’t see a strong pattern linking semaglutide to depression, but I have had patients who reported feeling more down, anxious, or just not themselves after starting it.
I’ve seen that when people lose weight quickly, their bodies go through a lot of changes. Hormones and brain chemistry can shift, and sometimes that leaves a person feeling lower in mood or less motivated than usual.
Whenever I talk with patients about Wegovy, I remind them that weight loss affects both the body and the mind. The excitement of change can also come with stress, and that stress sometimes stirs up old patterns of low mood. People with a personal or family history of depression tend to be more sensitive to these shifts, so I watch them a little more closely.
We still don’t have a clear answer to whether Wegovy itself causes depression. What matters most is noticing how you feel while on it and talking about any changes right away. If a patient notices persistent sadness, changes in sleep, loss of interest in activities, or thoughts of self-harm, it is critical to seek help right away. Sometimes the solution involves adjusting the dose, addressing lifestyle stressors, or incorporating counseling and support. Mental health and physical health go hand in hand. You need to look after both, since leaving one out can affect your overall wellness.
Hair Loss: Can Wegovy Cause Hair Loss?
Hair loss is something patients often ask me about. Wegovy is not officially linked to it, but it is a common concern, particularly among people who start seeing more shedding after being on the medication for a few months.
The explanation is usually not the medication itself, but rather the rapid weight loss that often comes with it. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium. It shows up when the body is stressed by sudden changes (like a sharp drop in calories, a recent illness, or even surgery). During that time, more hairs than normal shift into the resting and shedding stage, which is why thinning becomes more obvious.
The good news is that this type of hair loss is usually temporary. Hair usually starts growing back once your weight stabilizes and your body adjusts. Hair usually bounces back once your system adjusts, but in the meantime, you can take steps to support it:
- Include plenty of protein in your diet, since that is what gives hair its strength.
- Hair health can benefit from nutrients like iron, zinc, and biotin, so pay a little extra attention to getting those in your diet.
- If you cut calories too much, the body sometimes reacts with increased shedding. Giving yourself steady nutrition can make a difference.
If hair loss continues or worsens, it is worth checking for nutritional deficiencies or thyroid problems, which can also contribute. So, while the question can Wegovy cause hair loss is valid, in most cases, it is an indirect effect of weight changes rather than the drug itself.
Diarrhea: Can Wegovy Cause Diarrhea?
Perhaps the most common side effect of Wegovy is gastrointestinal disturbance. Patients frequently ask: can Wegovy cause diarrhea? The answer is yes, and diarrhea is among the most widely reported side effects, especially in the early weeks of treatment.
This medication changes the pace of digestion by keeping food in the stomach longer. That adjustment can cause nausea or changes in bowel habits at first, but these symptoms often ease as your body adjusts.
Strategies to manage diarrhea include:
- Eating smaller, more frequent meals rather than large ones.
- It helps to stay away from foods that are very greasy, heavy in fat, or overly processed, since these can make stomach discomfort worse.
- Staying hydrated to replace fluid losses.
- Using electrolyte solutions if diarrhea is prolonged.
If diarrhea doesn’t ease up, don’t ignore it. Talk with your doctor, since ongoing symptoms can cause dehydration or other issues, and a change in medication dose may help.
Putting It All Together
Beyond weight loss, Wegovy has made a difference for patients dealing with conditions like type 2 diabetes, elevated blood pressure, and sleep apnea. Yet, as with any medication, the potential for side effects must be understood and managed.
To summarize:
Can Wegovy make you tired? Yes, especially at the start, but it often improves as the body adjusts.
Can Wegovy cause depression? Although the evidence is not conclusive, it’s wise to stay alert to shifts in mood and bring them up with your doctor if they occur.
Can Wegovy cause hair loss? The medication itself is not thought to directly cause hair loss, but the rapid weight loss it produces can sometimes trigger temporary shedding.
Can Wegovy cause diarrhea? Yes, diarrhea does occur fairly often with Wegovy, but for most patients, it tends to improve as the body adjusts.
No two patients respond to Wegovy in the same way. While some notice very few side effects, others may find the adjustment harder. Keeping in touch with your doctor really helps when side effects come up, and for most people, the positives of Wegovy far outweigh the bumps along the way.
Thoughts from a Physician’s Perspective on Wegovy Side Effects
I always let patients know that with Wegovy, things like tiredness, mood shifts, stomach issues, or even some hair loss might show up. The good news is that with the right support, most people get through those bumps. What usually stands out is how much better people feel once their weight and related health problems improve.
If you’re thinking about Wegovy or are already on it, it’s completely appropriate to ask questions such as can Wegovy make you tired, can Wegovy cause depression, can Wegovy cause hair loss, or can Wegovy cause diarrhea. These concerns matter, and your doctor should walk through them with you. With guidance and monitoring, many people find that the benefits outweigh the challenges.
