Wegovy Tablets
- Contains semaglutide, the same ingredient in Wegovy
- Once-daily tablet, not a weekly injection.
- Adults lost an average of around 14% of their bodyweight in US trials.
- Expected in the UK in late 2026.
- Available in 5mg, 4mg, 9mg, and 25mg doses.
- Made by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy injections.
- UK price TBC.
What are Wegovy tablets?
Wegovy tablets are a once-daily weight loss pill containing semaglutide, the same active ingredient in the Wegovy injection. They're already available in the US and are expected to arrive in the UK later in 2026.
They're made by Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company behind Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus.
How do Wegovy tablets work?
Wegovy tablets are a GLP-1 receptor agonist and work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone your body naturally produces. It activates receptors in the brain to increase feelings of fullness, reduces hunger, and slows gastric emptying (how quickly food leaves your stomach), helping you feel satisfied for longer.
Put simply, that means you'll:
- feel fuller faster during meals
- have fewer cravings and less of an urge to snack
- find it easier to eat less without feeling deprived
However, they're not a quick fix. Wegovy tablets work best when you're also eating well and moving more. They just make it a lot easier for you to reach a healthy weight.
Are Wegovy tablets the same as Rybelsus?
Wegovy and Rybelsus are both tablets, contain semaglutide, and are made by Novo Nordisk. But they're designed and licensed for different things.
Rybelsus:
- licensed for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss
- available in doses of 1.5mg, 4mg, and 9mg (new doses)
Wegovy tablets:
- licensed specifically for weight management
- available in doses of 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg, and 25mg
The higher dose of 25mg is what sets Wegovy tablets apart from Rybelsus.
The lower doses are still important, though, as they’re part of your titration journey. This is done to ensure your body gradually adapts and tolerates the medicine, reducing the chance of side effects.
Because they're different products with different licences, using Rybelsus for weight loss would be off-label use. Although this is common, safe, and legal, it's only done if your prescriber thinks it’s appropriate for you.
When are Wegovy tablets available in the UK?
Wegovy tablets are not currently available in the UK, although they have recently been approved and launched in the US. They’re expected to arrive in the UK in 2026, but no official launch date has been confirmed.
Before any new medication can be prescribed in the UK, it must go through a regulatory process:
- The MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) reviews the clinical evidence and grants a marketing authorisation.
- For NHS use in England, NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) then assesses whether the treatment is cost-effective enough to recommend.
Wegovy tablets have already been tested in large clinical trials, including the 64-week OASIS 4 Study Group trial used to support their US approval. This data is likely to form the basis of any UK application.
In the meantime, the Wegovy injection is available in the UK both privately and on the NHS. While both have eligibility criteria, it’s much stricter on the NHS, and waiting lists are long.
To see if you’re eligible for Wegovy injections with Chemist4U, simply complete an online consultation with us.
Is the Wegovy pill safe?
Wegovy tablets were approved in December 2025 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), one of the strictest medicine regulators in the world, based on clinical trial data from hundreds of adults who are overweight or living with obesity.
Like any medication, they carry potential side effects and aren't right for everyone. But for people who meet the eligibility criteria, they're considered safe and effective when used as directed and under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Benefits of Wegovy tablets
- No needles and easier to take. Ideal for anyone who's put off by injections, with it also opening weight loss treatments to a wider group.
- Meaningful weight loss. In clinical trials, people lost an average of 14% of their bodyweight over 64 weeks. Around one in four people lost 20% or more.
- Strong results vs People taking Wegovy tablets were far more likely to lose significant amounts of weight than those on placebo, even when following the same diet and exercise advice.
- Heart health benefit. Wegovy is the only weight loss medication licenced to
Wegovy tablets eligibility
Whether you’re eligible for Wegovy tablets depends on where you get your treatment from.
Private eligibility
If the eligibility criteria for Wegovy tablets follows the same guidelines as Wegovy injections, you'll likely need:
- a BMI of 30 or above, or
- a BMI of 27 or above alongside a weight-related health condition like type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol
Before starting treatment, you'll need to complete a consultation, which one of our expert clinicians will review to make sure Wegovy tablets are safe and suitable for you.
Since Wegovy tablets aren't available in the UK yet, we can't confirm the exact eligibility criteria, but we'll update this as soon as we know more.
NHS eligibility
Wegovy injections are available on the NHS through specialist weight management services, following NICE guidance. This means treatment isn’t usually prescribed by a GP but via a specialist clinic.
To be eligible on the NHS, adults generally need:
- A BMI of 35 or above with at least one weight-related health condition, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnoea.
- In some cases, adults with a BMI between 30 and 34.9 may also be considered, but only if referred to a specialist service and meeting additional clinical criteria (for some ethnic backgrounds where health risks are higher at lower weights).
Once Wegovy tablets are approved in the UK and assessed by NICE, eligibility criteria are likely to be similar, but this hasn't been confirmed yet.
How effective are Wegovy weight loss pills?
Wegovy tablets are a very effective weight loss treatment.
The OASIS study followed overweight or obese adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with at least one weight-related condition taking the highest 25mg dose over 64 weeks.
Adults with type 2 diabetes were excluded. It's important to note that individual results can vary, too. Here's what researchers found:
- Average weight loss of around 14% with Wegovy tablets, vs around 2% with placebo.
- That's a loss of around 33lbs (roughly 15kg or 2 stone) from an average starting weight of 235lbs (approx. 106kg or 16 stone).
- 76% of people (8 in 10) lost at least 5% of their body weight.
- 60% of people (6 in 10) lost at least 10%.
- 47% of people (5 in 10) lost at least 15%.
- 28% of people (1 in 4) lost 20% or more.
Wegovy tablets vs weight loss injections
If you want to start your weight loss journey sooner before Wegovy tablets arrive in the UK, you still have some effective options to choose from, like Wegovy and Mounjaro injections.
We’ve compiled this table to give you everything you need to know about your treatment options at a glance.
|
Wegovy tablets |
Wegovy injections |
Mounjaro injections |
|
|
Doses |
1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg, 25mg |
0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg, 2.4mg, 7.2mg |
2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg, 15mg |
|
Price |
TBC |
Starting from £99+ |
Starting from £148+ |
|
Effectiveness |
Avg. 14% weight loss |
||
|
How to use |
Once-daily tablet |
Weekly injection |
Weekly injection |
|
Availability |
Prescription-only, expected in the UK in late 2026 |
Prescription-only, available after a consultation |
Prescription-only, available after a consultation |
|
Manufacturer |
Novo Nordisk |
Novo Nordisk |
Eli Lilly |
|
Active ingredient |
Semaglutide |
Semaglutide |
Tirzepatide |
|
Common side effects |
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain, headaches, fatigue |
Headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, injection site reactions |
Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea, constipation |
Wegovy tablets vs other weight loss pills
If injections aren’t right for you and you’d prefer to go down the oral route, there are still treatments available while you wait, like orlistat and Mysimba, which we’ve detailed below.
|
Wegovy tablets |
Orlistat (Alli, Orlos, Xenical) |
Mysimba tablets |
|
|
Doses |
1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg, 25mg |
Alli, Orlos: 60mg (over-the-counter), Generic orlistat, Xenical: 120mg (prescription-only) |
8mg naltrexone, 90mg bupropion (per tablet) |
|
Price |
TBC |
Starting from £27.49+ |
Starting from £99.99+ |
|
Effectiveness |
Avg. 14% weight loss |
Approx. 5-10% weight loss |
Approx. 5-10% weight loss |
|
How to use |
Once-daily tablet |
One tablet, taken three times per day |
One to four tablets per day, depending on week of treatment |
|
Availability |
Prescription-only, expected in the UK in late 2026 |
Over-the-counter and prescription-only |
Prescription-only, available after a consultation |
|
Manufacturer |
Novo Nordisk |
Haleon, Crescent Pharma, Roche |
Orexigen Therapeutics |
|
Active ingredient |
Semaglutide |
Orlistat |
Naltrexone and bupropion |
|
Common side effects |
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain, headaches, fatigue |
Fatty or oily stools, needing the toilet urgently, more frequent bowel movements, diarrhoea, wind, stomach pain, headaches |
Nausea, headaches, constipation, dry mouth, insomnia, dizziness |
Wegovy tablets dosing schedule
Just like Wegovy injections, Wegovy tablets use a titration process. This means you’ll gradually increase your dose each month (if suitable) to give your body time to adjust and reduce any potential side effects.
Your prescriber will advise you when it’s best to increase your dose based on how well you’re tolerating the medicine and your progress.
Below is an example dosing schedule. Not everyone will need the highest dose to achieve meaningful weight loss, and you can stay at each dose as long as you need to.
|
Dose |
Duration |
|
1.5mg once a day |
Days 1-30 (month one) |
|
4mg once a day |
Days 31-60 (month two) |
|
9mg once a day |
Days 61-90 (month three) |
|
25mg once a day |
Day 91 onwards (maintenance dose) |
How to take Wegovy tablets
- Take your Wegovy tablet first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking, or taking any other oral medication.
- Swallow whole with no more than 120ml of plain water. Not sparkling water, coffee, juice, or anything else.
- Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything other than water, or taking other medications.
- Don't crush, chew, or split the tablet.
- Try to take it at the same time every morning so it becomes part of your routine.
What to do if you miss a dose
If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next tablet the following morning as normal. Don't double up, as it won't help and could increase side effects.
If you miss several doses in a row, speak to your prescriber before continuing, as they may want to review your dose.
Wegovy tablets price
UK pricing hasn't been confirmed yet. Once Wegovy tablets launch, the price will be set by Novo Nordisk. For private prescriptions, pricing will vary by provider. We'll update this page as soon as our official pricing is available.
Will GLP-1 tablets be cheaper than injections?
Possibly, but it's not guaranteed. Oral medications are generally cheaper to manufacture as there are no needles, devices, or sharps disposal costs involved.
But prescription pricing is shaped by many factors, including licensing and demand. It's possible tablets could be priced similarly to injections, at least when they first launch.
Wegovy tablet side effects
Like all medications, Wegovy tablets may cause side effects in some people, but not everybody gets them. Wegovy side effects are more common when you first start treatment or when your dose increases.
Thankfully, they tend to be mild and there are plenty of things you can do to manage them.
Common side effects of Wegovy tablets may include:
- nausea
- diarrhoea
- vomiting
- constipation
- stomach pain
- changes in skin sensations
- headaches
- tiredness
- upset stomach
- dizziness
- bloating or belching
- wind
- heartburn
- hair loss
When to seek medical help
Contact your GP or prescriber or seek urgent medical help if you experience any of the following:
- Pancreatitis: Severe stomach pain that won't go away, with or without nausea or vomiting. The pain may also spread to your back.
- Gallbladder problems (like gallstones): Pain in your upper stomach, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or clay-coloured stools.
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia): Particularly if you also take insulin or sulfonylureas. Signs include dizziness, blurred vision, anxiety, sweating, slurred speech, shakiness, confusion, a fast heartbeat or feeling jittery.
- Dehydration and kidney problems: Persistent nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, which can affect your kidneys. Make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids.
- Severe stomach problems: Stomach issues that are severe or won't go away.
- Serious allergic reaction: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting, or a very rapid heartbeat.
- Changes in vision: If you have type 2 diabetes and notice any changes in your vision, speak to your doctor.
- Increased heart rate: Your heart feels like it's racing or pounding at rest, and it lasts for several minutes.
Who shouldn’t take Wegovy tablets
Don't take Wegovy tablets if:
- you're allergic to semaglutide or any of the other listed ingredients
- you've previously had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in Wegovy
- you or a close family member has ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), a type of thyroid cancer
- you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
Tell your prescriber before starting if you:
- have or have had problems with your pancreas or kidneys
- have type 2 diabetes with a history of diabetic retinopathy
- are due to have surgery or a procedure involving anaesthesia
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Wegovy may harm your unborn baby, so you should stop taking it at least two months before trying to conceive
- are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. Breastfeeding isn't recommended while taking Wegovy tablets
Tell your prescriber about all medications you take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter treatments, vitamins and supplements. Wegovy can affect how some medicines work, and some medicines can affect how Wegovy works.
This is especially important if you take diabetes medications like insulin or sulfonylureas, as using Wegovy alongside these treatments increases your risk of hypoglycaemia.
How to store Wegovy tablets
- Keep your Wegovy tablets at room temperature, between 20°C and 25°C.
- Store in a dry place away from moisture. Avoid keeping them in the bathroom if it gets hot and steamy.
- Keep them in the original bottle with the cap tightly closed.
- The bottle is child-resistant, but always keep it out of reach of children.
Alternatives to Wegovy tablets
If Wegovy tablets aren't the right fit for you, there are plenty of alternatives to explore. Some are already available in the UK, while others are just around the corner:
- Wegovy injections: The injectable version of the same drug (semaglutide), taken as a once-weekly jab.
- Mounjaro injections: Another once-weekly injection containing tirzepatide, which targets two appetite-related hormones, GLP-1 and GIP.
- Rybelsus: A daily semaglutide tablet licensed for type 2 diabetes but sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss.
- Foundayo (orforglipron): A brand new once-daily GLP-1 pill just approved in the US that can be taken any time of day with or without food. It's not yet approved in the UK, but private availability could follow later in 2026.
- Orlistat (Alli, Orlos, Xenical): Works in the gut to block around a third of the fat you eat from being absorbed. The 60mg version is available over-the-counter, while the stronger 120mg version is prescription-only.
- Mysimba: A prescription-only daily tablet containing naltrexone and bupropion, which work on the areas of the brain that control hunger and food cravings. Only available privately in the UK.
Frequently asked questions about Wegovy tablets
Will Wegovy tablets be available on the NHS?
It isn’t confirmed yet whether Wegovy tablets will be available on the NHS. Once the MHRA grants licensing, NICE will assess whether they're cost-effective for NHS use. If approved, eligibility will likely follow a similar structure to Wegovy injections.
However, NHS availability may be limited initially, so going private could be the more accessible option when they first launch.
Can I take Rybelsus for weight loss?
Although Rybelsus also contains semaglutide, it's only licensed in the UK for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. However, your prescriber may recommend Rybelsus off-label if they believe it will treat your condition effectively, that the benefits outweigh the risks, and that it's in your best interest.
It's important to note that the doses for Rybelsus only go up to 9mg, which is lower than the 25mg in Wegovy tablets, so the results may not be the same. If you're looking for an oral weight loss option, Wegovy tablets could be the better choice once they're available in the UK.
Sources
- Our Medicines. Novo Nordisk. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
- Wegovy Pill Results. (2026). Wegovy. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
- Starting Wegovy Pill. (2026). Wegovy. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. GOV.UK. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
- NICE Homepage. NICE. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
- Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. (2025). New England Journal of Medicine. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
- Wegovy Tablets Prescribing Information. (2025). FDA. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
- Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes. (2023). New England Journal of Medicine. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
- Semaglutide for Managing Overweight and Obesity. (2023). NICE. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
- Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. (2022). New England Journal of Medicine. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
- Once-Weekly Semaglutide 7.2mg in Adults with Obesity (STEP UP). (2025). PubMed. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
- FDA Approves Orforglipron, First GLP-1 Pill Without Time, Food, or Water Restrictions. (2026). Pharmacy Times. [Accessed 2nd April 2026].
