Healthday: diabetic drug Wegovy approved for stroke prevention

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug Wegovy for the prevention of heart attack, stroke and heart disease-related death. This is reported by Healthday.

The new study involved nearly 18,000 patients who received either Wegovy or a placebo injection. They also took medication to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and received counselling on exercise and healthy eating.

Taking Vegovi significantly reduced the risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events. These occurred in 6.5 per cent of participants who received the drug and 8 per cent of participants who received placebo.

Vegovi has previously been approved for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. It can cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia (upset stomach), dizziness, belching, flatulence and heartburn. Patients may also experience acute kidney damage, eye damage, inflammation of the pancreas, or gallstones.

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