The Wegovy pill is an oral form of the weight loss injection that contains semaglutide. It works by mimicking the actions of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a natural hormone that suppresses your appetite, slows digestion, and keeps you feeling satisfied for longer.

Wegovy pills are taken daily, preferably first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. You’ll start on a low dose that gradually increases until you reach the 25mg maintenance dose. After 64 weeks, the maximum Wegovy pill dose has been shown to help people lose, on average, 16.6% of their starting body weight. If you have a phobia of needles or find the thought of injecting yourself weekly an inconvenience, the Wegovy pill may be more suitable and appealing.

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The Wegovy pill is a prescription-only weight loss medication that contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist that suppresses appetite, increases feelings of fullness, and slows stomach emptying. This reduces your food intake and helps you achieve a calorie deficit, a key factor for weight loss. Wegovy pills are prescribed alongside a calorie-controlled diet, regular exercise, and other positive lifestyle changes.

The Wegovy pill is a convenient alternative to the Wegovy injection because it involves swallowing a daily tablet rather than injecting yourself with the medication once a week.

The Wegovy pill contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which mimics the effects of GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone. In doing so, the Wegovy pill helps you lose weight by:

• suppressing your appetite and reducing food cravings
• slowing gastric emptying, the time it takes for food to leave the stomach, to keep you feeling fuller for longer
• regulating blood sugar levels by increasing insulin secretion when they are raised to stop blood sugar spikes and prevent food cravings

How long does the Wegovy pill take to work?

The Wegovy pill can start to reduce your appetite within the first few days to weeks of starting treatment, but it can take several months for you to see significant weight loss results. Some people may notice positive changes in their appetite, such as reduced cravings or feeling more satisfied between meals, within a few weeks, but the most significant results are likely to happen when you reach the maintenance dose from around week 13 of treatment.

How effective are Wegovy pills?

Clinical trials have shown that a daily 25mg Wegovy pill can result in an average 16.6% body weight reduction after 64 weeks compared to 2.7% with a placebo. The same study found that people taking Wegovy were more likely than those in the placebo group to lose 5, 10, 15, or 20% of their starting weight.

Is the Wegovy pill safe?

Yes, the Wegovy pill has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK, meaning it has been deemed safe for use.

How long do I need to take the Wegovy pill?

You will only need to take the Wegovy pill for as long as it takes you to reach your target weight, but you can choose to continue taking it to maintain your weight loss until you’re ready to stop. The Wegovy pill has been approved for long-term weight loss. Because the most significant weight loss occurs with the maintenance dose, which will take at least 13 weeks to reach, you will need to take the Wegovy pill for at least several months.

After 6 months of treatment, your doctor will assess your progress to see if you have lost at least 5% of your starting body weight. If you have, you can continue taking the Wegovy pill for as long as it remains beneficial for you and is not causing any severe side effects. If you have not, then the doctor may discuss alternative weight loss treatments with you.

What happens when I stop taking Wegovy?

The Wegovy pill does not cause withdrawal symptoms like addictive substances do because it does not create physical or psychological dependency. That means you can safely stop taking the medication without needing to gradually reduce your dose, although some people prefer to.

Although you won’t get withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the Wegovy pill, your appetite will slowly return to what it was before you started your treatment. If you have had any side effects while taking Wegovy, these will also stop. You may regain some or all of the weight you lost while taking the Wegovy pill, especially if you have not made any changes to your lifestyle or find them difficult to continue.

How do I take Wegovy pills?

It is important that you take Wegovy pills exactly as prescribed by your doctor, as there are specific instructions you must follow to ensure it is effective.

To take the Wegovy pill, you need to:

• swallow 1 pill whole, do not crush, chew, or dissolve it, in the morning (or when you usually wake up) before you eat or drink – the Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach following a recommended fasting period of at least 8 hours
• take it with no more than 120ml of plain water – do not take it with tea, coffee, or any other drink
• wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking any other medication

The Wegovy pill’s active ingredient, semaglutide, is a large substance called a peptide which is difficult for your body to absorb. So, taking it this way helps protect the medication from digestion and ensures it reaches your bloodstream, where it can then travel to the GLP-1 receptors in the brain and perform its actions.

How often do I take the Wegovy pill?

The Wegovy pill is designed to be taken once per day, in the morning on an empty stomach. This is different to the Wegovy injection, which is taken once weekly.

What if I miss a pill?

If you miss a Wegovy pill, you should skip the missed dose and take the next dose the following morning at the usual time.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose. Frequently missing Wegovy doses can reduce the pill's effectiveness. Some people find it helpful to set a reminder on their phone to remember to take their Wegovy pill.

What if I take too much?

If you take more than one Wegovy pill, you should contact your doctor for advice, telling them how many you have taken. Taking too much can make side effects, like feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, or headaches, worse and increase the chance of dehydration.

If you are unsure about what you should do if you have taken more than one Wegovy pill, you can check the patient information leaflet that is provided with your medication.

Just like the Wegovy injection, when you start weight loss treatment with the Wegovy pill, you will usually start on the lowest dose and gradually increase it until you reach the maximum dose.

The Wegovy pill dosing schedule is as follows:

• Month 1 (starting dose) – 1.5mg tablet once daily
• Month 2 – 4mg tablet once daily
• Month 3 – 9mg tablet once daily
• Month 4 and onward (highest dose) – 25mg tablet once daily

If you get Wegovy pill side effects, your doctor may advise you to stay on a lower dose for longer to allow your body to get used to the medication.

Wegovy pills and Wegovy injections deliver semaglutide to help you achieve significant and meaningful weight loss over time. The biggest differences are how they are administered, how often you need to take them, and how effective they are.

Can I switch from Wegovy injections to Wegovy tablets?

Yes, it is possible to switch from Wegovy injections to Wegovy pills.

Your doctor will advise you on which Wegovy pill dose you can switch to. You will need to start the Wegovy pill 1 week after your last Wegovy injection, but your doctor will confirm this.

Use the table below as a guide to which Wegovy pill dose you may be able to switch to from your current injection:

The Wegovy pill is now licensed for weight loss in the UK and has been approved by the MHRA. It will be the first GLP-1 tablet for weight loss when it becomes available.

How much does the Wegovy pill cost?

The cost of the Wegovy pill has not yet been confirmed in the UK. The exact cost will vary depending on where you obtain the medication from.

Can I buy the Wegovy pill online?

Yes, you will be able to get the Wegovy pill through trusted online services like Superdrug Online Doctor when it becomes available. You can join our waitlist for updates on the Wegovy pill, and we’ll let you know as soon as it becomes available.

Can I buy the Wegovy pill over the counter?

No, Wegovy pill is a prescription-only medication, so you will need approval from a registered health professional to get it.

Can I get the Wegovy pill on the NHS?

No. It is not yet known if the Wegovy pill will be available on the NHS, and there are no confirmed NHS prescribing guidelines for it yet. If it is, it is likely to become available first to those who need it most and will be subject to strict eligibility criteria.

Like all medications, the Wegovy pill can cause side effects, although not everyone will get them.

Very common Wegovy pill side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people) are:

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

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) are:

• dizziness
• burping
• gas (flatulence)
• bloating
• inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
• reflux or heartburn (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD))
• taste changes
• gallstones
• hair loss
• taste changes
• abnormal skin sensations, like burning, stinging, or pins and needles (dysaesthesia)
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in people with type 2 diabetes

Uncommon side effects (affecting up to 1 in 100 people) are:

• low blood pressure
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded when standing after sitting or lying down because of a sudden drop in blood pressure
• fast heartbeat
• increased pancreatic enzyme levels in blood test results
• delayed stomach emptying
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in people who do not have type 2 diabetes
• increased levels of bilirubin in your blood, signs include yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people) are:

• allergic reactions
• sudden swelling
• hip fracture

Always read the leaflet and side effect information for a full list of potential side effects before starting any new medication.

How long do Wegovy pill side effects last?

Wegovy pill side effects can last a few days to a few weeks and usually improve as your body gets used to the medication. They are most common when you first start the Wegovy pill and after a dose increase.

What to do if you get Wegovy pill side effects

Most Wegovy pill side effects can be managed at home by:

• eating smaller, more frequent meals
• getting some rest
• taking over-the-counter painkillers for headaches or mild stomach discomfort
• eating plain, bland foods, like rice and crackers
• drinking plenty of water

If you take the Wegovy pill, you should:

• take it on an empty stomach, after not eating or drinking for at least 8 hours, in the morning, with water only
• wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other medications after taking the Wegovy pill
• swallow the pill whole with no more than 120ml of water

If you get any side effects that get worse, do not improve after a few weeks, or are stopping you from completing your daily activities, speak to your doctor for more advice, urgently if you feel very unwell, have severe stomach pain or vomiting.

If you get any of the following serious Wegovy pill side effects, you should get immediate medical help:

• signs of an allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, and/ throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, wheezing, fast heartbeat, pale and cold skin, feeling dizzy or weak
• severe stomach and back pain that does not go away as this could be a sign of an inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis)
• sudden or gradually worsening eyesight, as this could be a sign of a condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
• back or lower stomach pain, difficulty going for a pee, or a change in the colour of your pee (signs of kidney or bladder stones)

Who can use Wegovy Pills?

The Wegovy pill is suitable for adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more or between 27 and 30 with weight-related health problems. However, the Wegovy pill may not be suitable for everyone. Some medical conditions or medications can make it less effective or potentially unsafe. It is important to tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have or any other medications you are taking before starting the Wegovy pill.

Do not take the Wegovy pill if you are allergic to semaglutide or any other ingredients listed in the medication.

Before taking Wegovy pills, tell your doctor if you:

• are over 85
• have type 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

Wegovy pill and other medications

Some medications may interact with the Wegovy pill and make it unsuitable for you. Tell your doctor if you take any other medications, including prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal types, particularly:

• levothyroxine for thyroid conditions
• warfarin or similar oral medications that reduce blood clotting

You must use contraception while taking the Wegovy pill because it is not known whether semaglutide is safe during pregnancy. If you are using the oral contraceptive pill and get Wegovy pill side effects, such as vomiting or diarrhoea, you must also use condoms or speak to your doctor about a different birth control method.

There are other weight loss tablets available, but they are not GLP-1 medications. The Wegovy pill is the first GLP-1 tablet for weight loss and others like Rybelsus are for type 2 diabetes only. Alternative weight-loss tablets available in the UK contain active ingredients that block the absorption of dietary fat, reduce appetite, or target the brain's reward centres.

Use the table to scroll and compare alternative weight loss pills already available in the UK and from Superdrug Online Doctor to the Wegovy pill: