Wegovy (semaglutide) is a prescription drug used for weight loss and to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular issues. Wegovy can interact with some supplements and other medications, such as certain antidepressants and antibiotics.
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Before you start using Wegovy, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Wegovy interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Wegovy?” section.)
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The table below lists drugs that may interact with Wegovy. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Wegovy. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
|---|---|---|
| certain antibiotics | • ciprofloxacin (Cipro) • clarithromycin | can increase the risk of low blood sugar |
| certain antidepressants | • fluoxetine (Prozac) • tranylcypromine (Parnate) | can increase the risk of low blood sugar |
| angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors | • lisinopril (Zestril, Qbrelis) • ramipril (Altace) | can increase the risk of low blood sugar |
| angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) | • losartan (Cozaar) • valsartan (Diovan) | can increase the risk of low blood sugar |
| fibrates | • fenofibrate (Tricor, others) • gemfibrozil (Lopid) | can increase the risk for low blood sugar |
| insulin | • insulin glargine (Lantus, others) • insulin lispro (Humalog, others) | can increase the risk of low blood sugar |
| meglitinides | • nateglinide • repaglinide | can increase the risk of low blood sugar |
| sulfonylureas | • glipizide (Glucotrol XL) • glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase) | can increase the risk of low blood sugar |
| other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications | • dulaglutide (Trulicity) • other forms of semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus) | can increase the risk of side effects from either drug |
Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Wegovy. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Wegovy for you. These are known as contraindications. The list below includes contraindications of Wegovy.
If you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma: To learn more, see the “Boxed warning” section.
If you have multiple endocrineneoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2): For details, see the “Boxed warning” section.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Wegovy or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Wegovy for you. This is because using the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
Before you start taking Wegovy, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Your doctor can determine whether Wegovy is safe for you to take.
Wegovy is not known to interact with alcohol. But Wegovy is prescribed for weight loss and weight management, and reducing alcohol consumption can help support weight loss. So if you drink alcohol, your doctor may recommend that you avoid alcohol or limit the amount you drink while you’re using Wegovy.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol during your Wegovy treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Wegovy.
Interaction with certain antibiotics
Wegovy can interact with certain antibiotics, which are used to treat infections caused by bacteria.
Examples of antibiotics that can interact with Wegovy include:
- ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- clarithromycin
- delafloxacin (Baxdela)
- levofloxacin
- moxifloxacin
What could happen
Combining Wegovy with an antibiotic it interacts with can raise your risk of having low blood sugar. Wegovy and these antibiotics can both lower blood sugar levels, so combining these drugs can increase the risk of this side effect.
What you can do
If you use Wegovy and develop an infection, your doctor will prescribe the antibiotic that can best treat your infection. This may include an antibiotic that can interact with Wegovy. Although this interaction can raise the risk of low blood sugar, it’s not considered severe enough that doctors avoid prescribing Wegovy with these antibiotics.
If you use Wegovy and an antibiotic mentioned above, tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of low blood sugar. These may include sweating, mood changes such as irritability, and dizziness.
If you have questions about taking Wegovy with certain antibiotics, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with certain antidepressants
Wegovy can interact with certain antidepressants, which are used to treat depression and other mental health conditions.
Examples of antidepressant medications that can interact with Wegovy include:
- fluoxetine (Prozac)
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as:
- isocarboxazid (Marplan)
- phenelzine (Nardil)
- tranylcypromine (Parnate)
What could happen
If you use Wegovy with an antidepressant it interacts with, this can increase your risk of low blood sugar. Both Wegovy and these antidepressants can lower your blood sugar levels. So combining these drugs can raise your risk of experiencing low blood sugar.
What you can do
If you’re taking an antidepressant mentioned above, let your doctor know before you begin Wegovy treatment. Your doctor may prescribe a lower Wegovy dosage. Or they may want to monitor your blood sugar levels closely during treatment.
If you combine Wegovy with an antidepressant it interacts with, tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of low blood sugar. These may include sweating, irritability or other mood changes, and fatigue.
Wegovy may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or lab tests. Keep reading for details. Note that this information does not include all other possible interactions with Wegovy.
Does Wegovy interact with supplements?
Before you start using Wegovy, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins and supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
Wegovy may interact with the following supplements:
- garlic
- green tea
These supplements can lower your blood sugar. Wegovy can also cause low blood sugar, so combining it with these supplements could raise your risk of this side effect.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Wegovy interactions with herbs
There are currently no reports of Wegovy interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while using Wegovy.
Wegovy interactions with vitamins or minerals
There are currently no reports of Wegovy interacting with vitamins. But Wegovy may interact with chromium supplements. Chromium is a mineral that some people use as a supplement for managing blood sugar, improving physical or athletic performance, and other uses.
Both chromium and Wegovy can lower blood sugar levels, so combining the two can increase the risk of this side effect. Due to this interaction, your doctor may suggest avoiding chromium supplements while you’re using Wegovy.
Does Wegovy interact with food?
Wegovy can interact with green tea. Both green tea and Wegovy can lower blood sugar levels. Consuming large amounts of green tea while using Wegovy could raise your risk of experiencing low blood sugar.
Although garlic supplements may interact with Wegovy, garlic in food isn’t expected to cause an interaction. The quantity of garlic found in food is typically much smaller than in a garlic supplement.
If you have other questions about Wegovy and interactions with food, such as foods to avoid when taking Wegovy, talk with your doctor. They may have more specific instructions for the diet you could follow while using Wegovy.
Does Wegovy interact with vaccines?
There are currently no reports of Wegovy interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines during your Wegovy treatment, talk with your doctor.
Does Wegovy interact with lab tests?
There are currently no reports of Wegovy interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests done during your Wegovy treatment, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.
Does Wegovy interact with cannabis or CBD?There are currently no reports of Wegovy interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Wegovy.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Wegovy. Before using Wegovy, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Wegovy is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Wegovy include:
If you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma: To learn more, see the “Boxed warning” section.
If you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2): To learn more, see the “Boxed warning” section.
Past or current pancreatitis: In rare cases, Wegovy and similar drugs can cause pancreatitis. In some cases, this side effect can be life threatening or fatal. It’s not known whether people who’ve had pancreatitis before should use Wegovy. Your doctor can help determine whether Wegovy is safe for you.
Gallbladder problems: Wegovy can rarely cause gallbladder-related side effects, including gallstones. If you have an existing gallbladder problem, you may have a higher risk for this side effect if you use Wegovy.
Kidney condition: In rare cases, kidney-related side effects, including sudden kidney injury, have been reported in people taking semaglutide (the active drug in Wegovy). If you have an existing kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease, you may have a higher risk for this side effect with Wegovy.
Diabetic retinopathy: Treatment with Wegovy can cause a worsening of diabetic retinopathy. If you have this eye disease, your doctor may want to closely monitor your eye health during your Wegovy treatment, especially when you first start using it.
Pregnancy: It’s not known whether Wegovy is safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before using Wegovy. They’ll likely recommend that you don’t use Wegovy during pregnancy and for at least 2 months before you plan to become pregnant. Weight loss during pregnancy may increase the risk of pregnancy complications.
If you do use Wegovy while pregnant, consider enrolling in the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry collects details about pregnancy issues reported with Wegovy. To learn more, call 1-877-390-2760 or talk with your doctor.
Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Wegovy while breastfeeding. It isn’t known whether the drug passes into breast milk and, if so, whether it may cause side effects in a child who’s breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor about your options.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Wegovy or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Wegovy. This is because using the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
Mental health condition: Medications for weight management and weight loss, including Wegovy, can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. If you have a mental health condition, such as depression, you may have a higher risk of this side effect. And if you have a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, your doctor may recommend a different drug instead of Wegovy.
Help is out there
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
Find answers to some frequently asked questions about Wegovy and possible interactions.
Can I take Wegovy and phentermine together?
It’s possible. There’s no known interaction between Wegovy and phentermine. Both Wegovy and phentermine are prescribed for weight management and weight loss. But it’s not known whether it’s safe to combine these medications for weight loss.
Phentermine is approved for short-term use, while Wegovy is meant to be used long term. To learn more about how semaglutide (the active drug in Wegovy) and phentermine compare, see this article.
Your doctor or pharmacist can answer additional questions you have about taking Wegovy and phentermine together. Although these medications don’t interact, this doesn’t mean there aren’t possible risks to taking them together. In addition, phentermine may interact with other medications you take or health conditions you may have.
Your doctor or pharmacist can help determine the best medications for your weight loss plan.
Can you take Wegovy and Wellbutrin together?
Yes, if your doctor prescribes both medications for you. There’s no known interaction between Wegovy and Wellbutrin.
Wellbutrin is prescribed to treat depression. The active drug in Wellbutrin is bupropion, which is also an ingredient in the weight loss medication Contrave (bupropion/naltrexone). There’s no known interaction between Contrave or Wellbutrin and Wegovy.
However, Wellbutrin may have other interactions that could affect you. Be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist about all medications you take and your complete medical history before starting treatment with any prescription drug, including Wellbutrin.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Wegovy. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
- other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs (they can also help you fill out a
medication list ) - what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Wegovy treatment
It’s also important to understand Wegovy’s
If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Taking Wegovy exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.