Semaglutide Tablets

Semaglutide tablets are an oral medication that are primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and support weight loss. They belong to a group of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which work by suppressing your appetite, slowing down the movement of food through your stomach, and regulating your blood sugar levels.

Although Rybelsus has been approved for type 2 diabetes since 2022, the Wegovy pill has only recently been licensed in the UK for weight loss. Here, we explore what semaglutide tablets are, how they work, and how effective they are for weight loss.

Semaglutide tablets are an oral form of semaglutide, a medication that is used to treat type 2 diabetes and weight loss. They offer a convenient alternative to injections, especially for people who have a fear of needles or are uncomfortable injecting themselves.

Semaglutide tablets have been available for type 2 diabetes under the brand name Rybelsus since 2022. Semaglutide tablets for weight loss have only recently been approved in the UK, with the Wegovy pill becoming available in June 2026.

Semaglutide tablets work by mimicking the effects of a naturally produced hormone called GLP-1 to suppress your appetite, keep you feeling fuller for longer, and regulate your blood sugar levels.

Semaglutide is the same active ingredient that is found in Wegovy and Ozempic. However, these deliver semaglutide by a subcutaneous (just under the skin) injection. Tablets, such as the Wegovy pill, on the other hand, have a special coating called salcaprozate sodium (SNAC), which protects the medication from the harsh stomach environment, so that it can pass through the stomach wall and into the bloodstream, effectively enhancing its absorption.

Like other weight loss medications, the Wegovy pill, and other semaglutide tablets, are prescribed alongside a calorie-controlled diet and an exercise plan to help maximise your weight loss.

Yes, semaglutide tablets are available in the UK for both type 2 diabetes (Rybelsus) and for weight loss (the Wegovy pill). Both are prescription-only medications, so you will need approval from a doctor before you can obtain either of them.

Wegovy pill

The Wegovy pill has been approved as the first GLP-1 pill for weight loss in the UK, and is manufactured by Novo Nordisk.

If you are prescribed the Wegovy pill, you will start on a low dose and slowly increase it until you reach the maximum dose after 4 months. The Wegovy pill dosage schedule is:

Because the active ingredient in the Wegovy pill, semaglutide, is a peptide, it has taken longer to develop than the injection. That’s because peptides are usually destroyed by stomach acid and digestive enzymes before they are absorbed into the bloodstream. So, researchers had to develop a way for the semaglutide pill to enter the stomach intact.

That’s why the Wegovy pill has a special coating called salcaprozate sodium (SNAC), which protects the active ingredient and enhances its absorption. It’s also why you have to follow some strict instructions when you take semaglutide pills.

Rybelsus

Rybelsus is an oral semaglutide tablet that is available for type 2 diabetes. It is not licensed for weight loss. Rybelsus is manufactured by Novo Nordisk, the same pharmaceutical company that manufactures the Wegovy pill.

The Rybelsus dosage schedule for diabetes starts on a low daily dose to allow your body time to get used to the treatment to minimise the chance of side effects. Recently, the Rybelsus dosage schedule has changed and is as follows:

If you are currently following the previous dosage schedule, contact your doctor for a medication review.

Research has shown that the Wegovy pill is effective for weight loss and has produced significant results. The OASIS 4 trial has shown that over 64 weeks, the average weight loss was 16.6% in people taking the maximum maintenance dose of 25mg per day.

In the same trial, after 64 weeks on 25mg once daily:

• 79.2% of people lost 5% or more of their starting body weight
• 63% lost at least 10% of their starting body weight
• 50% lost at least 15% of their starting body weight
• 29.7% lost 20% or more of their initial body weight

In comparison, people given 14mg of Rybelsus daily, which is bioequivalent to 9mg, lost an average of 3.7 kg over 24 weeks. However, Rybelsus is not licensed for weight loss in the UK.

The clinical trial data show that Wegovy injections are more effective for weight loss than semaglutide tablets. The reason is that the Wegovy pill is taken by mouth, so it must pass through the digestive system before being absorbed into the bloodstream, whereas injections bypass the stomach.

When you inject Wegovy, 89% of the semaglutide it contains is absorbed into the bloodstream and can be used by the body, also known as bioavailability. In comparison, oral semaglutide has an absolute bioavailability of 1 to 2%. This is why oral semaglutide pills have a special coating called SNAC to improve the absorption of semaglutide and stop it from being broken down by your stomach acid and digestive enzymes.

Because of its increased bioavailability, the Wegovy pen is more effective than the pill, but the Wegovy pill can result in significant weight loss if it is taken correctly.

Weight loss overview based on available data:

*Please note that Rybelsus has fewer data points as it is a treatment for diabetes, it is not licensed for weight loss. This data is based on weight loss as a side effect.

The Wegovy pill has been shown to be effective at suppressing appetite and promoting significant weight loss. The average loss from starting body weight is just over 4% lower on the highest dose of the Wegovy pill than on the highest 7.2mg injection. It should be noted that the Wegovy injection was studied for 8 weeks longer and currently has more clinical data available.

Yet, the Wegovy pill has shown promising results and offers an alternative to Wegovy injections for people who:

✓ have a fear of needles

✓ are not comfortable injecting themselves with medication

✓ are getting injection site reactions from the Wegovy pen

✓ would prefer to take a daily pill rather than a weekly injection

✓ travel frequently as Wegovy pills have no special storage requirements

There are no dietary restrictions when taking the Wegovy injection, but when you take the Wegovy pill, you have to follow certain instructions.

Semaglutide tablets have strict steps you must follow to ensure they are absorbed and effective. They are taken once daily, and most people find that first thing in the morning is the most convenient time.

To take semaglutide tablets, you must:

• take them on an empty stomach, ideally after at least 8 hours of fasting (no food or drink)
• swallow them whole with no more than 120ml of plain water
• wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking any other oral medications

Taking oral semaglutide, like the Wegovy pill, this way helps increase the amount of semaglutide your body absorbs.

Semaglutide tablets can cause side effects. Most people who experience them report that they are most common at the start of their treatment and at each dosage increase. However, they are usually temporary and mild and improve as your body gets used to the active ingredient.

Wegovy pill for weight loss

Very common side effects

• headache
• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• stomach pain
• feeling weak or tired
• upset stomach or indigestion

Common side effects

• feeling dizzy
• burping
• gas (flatulence)
• bloating
• inflamed stomach (gastritis)
• reflux or heartburn
• gallstones
• hair loss
• change in the way food or drink tastes
• changes in skin sensation (dysaesthesia)
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in people with type 2 diabetes

Uncommon side effects

• low blood pressure
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• fast heartbeat
• blood test changes which might signal an inflamed or irritated pancreas
• food takes longer to travel through the stomach (delayed stomach emptying)
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in people without diabetes
• blood test results that suggest your liver is not functioning normally

Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes

Very common side effects

• low blood sugar
• feeling sick
• Diarrhoea

Common side effects

• low blood sugar when used with oral diabetes medicine other than sulfonylurea or insulin
• reduced appetite
• feeling dizzy
• being sick)
• stomach pain
• bloating of the stomach
• constipation
• upset stomach or indigestion
• inflamed stomach (gastritis)
• reflux or heartburn
• gas (flatulence)
• tiredness
• increased pancreatic enzymes
• abnormal skin sensations
• headache

Uncommon side effects

• allergic reactions like rash, itching or hives
• taste changes
• fast pulse
• burping
• delay in the emptying of the stomach
• gallstones
• weight loss

Semaglutide tablets can also cause serious side effects in some cases. These include:

• allergic reactions
• inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• kidney or bladder stones
• dehydration
• vision changes
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
• bowel obstruction

If you get any symptoms of these side effects, you should contact your doctor straight away or call 999 in an emergency.

Semaglutide tablets are suitable for people who have type 2 diabetes (Rybelsus) or adults living with obesity or are overweight with weight-related health conditions, such as prediabetes, high blood pressure, or obstructive sleep apnoea.

To get the Wegovy pill you must have a body mass index of:

• 30 or above, or
• 27 to 30 with at least 1 weight-related condition
• 27.5 or above in people who have an ethnic background that increases the risk of obesity related complications

You must not take oral semaglutide, Rybelsus or the Wegovy pill, if you are allergic to semaglutide or any other ingredients listed in the medication.

Before taking semaglutide tablets, you should let the doctor know if you:

• are over 85
• have type 1 or 2 diabetes
• have ever had pancreatitis
• have severe heart failure
• have a condition where food moves through the stomach more slowly than it should, called gastroparesis
• have diabetic eye problems
• have sudden changes in your eyesight
• are going to have surgery that requires a general anaesthetic or deep sedation
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• are planning to get pregnant, as you need to stop taking the Wegovy pill 2 months before you want to get pregnant
• have severe kidney or liver problems

Before taking semaglutide pills, you should tell the doctor about any medications you are taking, including prescribed and over-the-counter types, as well as herbal remedies. This is because some medications can make semaglutide less effective or potentially dangerous and vice versa.

Tell the doctor if you are taking:

• levothyroxine for thyroid issues
• warfarin or similar oral medications to reduce blood clotting
• medications for diabetes, kidney or heart failure

It is not known if semaglutide is safe to use during pregnancy, so you must use contraception while taking a semaglutide pill. If you use the oral contraceptive pill and you get oral semaglutide side effects, such as being sick or diarrhoea, you must use condoms or discuss an alternative contraception method with your doctor.

Yes, you can buy semaglutide tablets online for both type 2 diabetes and weight loss. Rybelsus is the only semaglutide medication available for diabetes and is only available from regulated services. While the Wegovy pill has been approved for weight loss.

At Superdrug Online Doctor, we do not offer Rybelsus, but we will be offering the Wegovy pill for weight management as soon as it becomes available.

Join our waitlist for Wegovy pill updates and we’ll let you know as soon as it becomes available.

Are semaglutide tablets the same as Ozempic?

No, semaglutide tablets are not the same as Ozempic but they contain the same active ingredient. Ozempic is an injectable form of semaglutide that is only licensed in the UK for type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide tablets are available as Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes and the Wegovy pill for weight loss and are an oral form of semaglutide.

Semaglutide tablets are taken daily, while Ozempic is injected weekly, and they have different dosage strengths and absorption rates.

Are semaglutide tablets the same as Wegovy?

Semaglutide tablets contain the same active ingredient as the Wegovy injection and Wegovy pill. The main differences between the Wegovy injection and pill is the pill is taken daily, while the injection is administered weekly, and there are different dosages available and the absorption rates are not the same.

Can I buy semaglutide tablets over the counter?

No, you cannot buy semaglutide tablets over the counter because they are a prescription only medication. That means you must have a doctor’s approval before you can obtain them, so they can check that they are safe and suitable for you.

Will semaglutide tablets work for weight loss if I'm not diabetic?

Yes, Wegovy pill is a type of semaglutide tablet which has been approved for weight loss. In clinical trials involving people who were obese or overweight but did not have diabetes, the average weight loss after 64 weeks was 16.6% on the maximum dose of the Wegovy pill.