Does Ozempic cause hair loss?

Not directly. Hair shedding (telogen effluvium) is reported by some patients ~3 months into rapid weight loss — typical of any rapid-weight-loss state, not unique to GLP-1.

Can you drink alcohol on Wegovy?

No hard contraindication, but alcohol tolerance often drops sharply on GLP-1. Many patients also report reduced desire for alcohol — likely a secondary effect of GLP-1 on the brain reward system.

Do I need to exercise on Wegovy?

Yes — resistance training specifically. Without it, 25-40% of weight lost on GLP-1 comes from lean muscle. Cardio is a bonus; resistance is the non-negotiable.

Can vegetarians or vegans take GLP-1?

Yes. Modern GLP-1 medications are produced via yeast fermentation, not animal sources. The pen device and packaging contain no animal-derived materials in current FDA-approved products.

Wegovy Diary: a 6-month chronicle

Wegovy Diary Month 4: 1.7 mg dose, plateau scare, the social trip

Month 4 introduces 1.7 mg, my first scale plateau, and a 5-day work trip with restaurant meals every night. Here's how each tested the routine.

By Marina S. · Composite patient persona, reviewed by MDReviewed by Jane Novak, MD, MPHPublished 2026-06-01

Week 13. Dose step-up to 1.7 mg. Brief return of nausea for two days. The 1.7 mg dose is where prescribers often pause to assess — I'm noticing the appetite floor lower another notch.

Week 14. Scale shows the same number three days in a row. First plateau. I check protein log (130 g, fine), step count (7,500 average, fine), sleep (good), and water (within range). The scale moves down 0.8 lb on day 4. Plateaus are usually water-retention artifacts.

Week 15. Work trip. Five days, hotel breakfast and three restaurant dinners. I default to ordering a protein + a vegetable + skipping the bread. Trip ends without any of the historical 'trip weight' rebound I used to expect.

Week 16. Dose step-up to the maintenance 2.4 mg. The recommended pause at 1.7 mg with my prescriber was brief — we agreed acceleration was still strong enough to go to the top dose. Side effects mild and brief.

Quantified diary data. Week 13: 206 lb (1.7 mg). Week 16 end: 200 lb (2.4 mg). Month 4 total: −6 lb. Cumulative: −24 lb. BMI dropped from 36.2 to 32.3 over four months.

See the full Wegovy drug profile

Common questions readers ask

Does Ozempic cause hair loss?: Not directly. Hair shedding (telogen effluvium) is reported by some patients ~3 months into rapid weight loss — typical of any rapid-weight-loss state, not unique to GLP-1.
Can you drink alcohol on Wegovy?: No hard contraindication, but alcohol tolerance often drops sharply on GLP-1. Many patients also report reduced desire for alcohol — likely a secondary effect of GLP-1 on the brain reward system.
Do I need to exercise on Wegovy?: Yes — resistance training specifically. Without it, 25-40% of weight lost on GLP-1 comes from lean muscle. Cardio is a bonus; resistance is the non-negotiable.
Can vegetarians or vegans take GLP-1?: Yes. Modern GLP-1 medications are produced via yeast fermentation, not animal sources. The pen device and packaging contain no animal-derived materials in current FDA-approved products.