The Wegovy Pill is an oral alternative to the traditional semaglutide injection. It works by mimicking GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a natural hormone that plays a key role in managing your appetite. By replicating this hormone's natural effects, the daily tablet suppresses hunger signals, slows down your digestion, and extends the feeling of fullness after meals.
(3) OASIS 4: A 64-week clinical trial evaluating the Wegovy Pill (oral semaglutide 25 mg) alongside structured lifestyle adjustments in adults living with obesity. Individual results vary.
The Wegovy Pill is a prescription-only daily tablet designed to aid long-term medical weight management. It contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which belongs to a class of medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. The medication works by mimicking a natural gut hormone called GLP-1 that controls appetite. It interacts with hunger signals in the brain to quiet down persistent "food noise," reduces overall cravings, and slows down gastric emptying (the speed at which food leaves your stomach). This keeps you feeling significantly fuller and satisfied for longer after smaller meals, making it much easier to sustain a necessary calorie deficit.
Wegovy tablets are licensed for adults in the UK who are committed to a structured weight management plan alongside a lower-calorie diet and increased physical activity. To qualify, you must have:
The prescribers will also review your medical history and decide the suitability of the treatment for you. The final decision lies solely with the prescriber. Terms & conditions and eligibility criteria apply.
To allow your digestive system to safely adapt to the medication and minimise potential stomach upsets, the Wegovy Pill uses a progressive step-up (titration) schedule over a 4-month period.
In the landmark OASIS 4 clinical trial, the Wegovy Pill demonstrated exceptional weight-loss outcomes. Over the course of 64 weeks, adults taking the maximum 25mg daily maintenance dose alongside structured lifestyle adjustments lost an average of 16.6% of their starting weight. To put that into perspective, an individual starting at 100kg lost an average of 16.6kg.
Further breakdown from the clinical trial data illustrates just how many patients reached significant weight loss milestones:
While both treatments contain the same active medicine (semaglutide) and work identically inside your body to suppress appetite and reduce food cravings, they differ significantly in how you take, store, and dose them.
The Wegovy Pill is an oral, once-daily tablet that must be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, whereas the Wegovy injection is self-administered just once a week and does not have any strict fasting or timing requirements.
The Wegovy Pill can be stored conveniently in its original packaging at room temperature, whereas the Wegovy injection must be kept in the refrigerator to maintain a stable temperature between 2°C and 8°C.
The available doses of the Wegovy Pill differ from the injection due to the route of administration. The percentage of the active ingredient that is absorbed through each route differs.
Complete an online consultation which will enable our medical team to assess the suitability of the weight loss medication for you and place your order.
Your consultation will be reviewed by our doctors and once approved if appropriate, you will be able to book your pharmacy check-in and medication collection.
You will have a quick check-in with the pharmacy to have your height, body weight and various other vitals measured and have your medication dispensed.
The Wegovy Pill should be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with water, up to 120ml. Wait at least 30 minutes after taking the Wegovy tablet before eating food, drinking or taking other medicines to allow time for the Wegovy Pill to be absorbed. Do not crush, split, chew or dissolve the tablet. You can find more information in the patient information leaflet.
If you forget to take a Wegovy Pill, simply skip the dose for that day and continue taking Wegovy Pill the next morning as usual. You shouldn’t double up to make up for the missed dose.
Like any medicine, you might experience side effects with the Wegovy Pill.
Very common side effects: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
• Headache
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Being sick (vomiting)
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Stomach pain
• Feeling weak or tired
• Upset stomach or indigestion
Common side effects: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
• Feeling dizzy
• Burping
• Gas (flatulence)
• Bloating of the stomach
• Inflamed stomach (‘gastritis’) – the signs include stomach ache, feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• Reflux or heartburn – also called ‘gastroesophageal reflux disease’
• Gallstones
• Hair loss
• Change in the way food or drink tastes
• Change in skin sensation
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in patients with diabetes
You can find the full list of side effects by referring to the Patient Information Leaflet.
Yes, the Wegovy Pill is now licensed in the UK for weight loss.
You can find further information about the Wegovy Pill by referring to the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL).
You can also find more information in the Wegovy Pill Guide for individuals who are currently taking the tablet.
You can store the Wegovy pills in their original pack at room temperature, below 30°C. Always keep the tablets away from heat, sunlight and moisture.
Through this programme, you will have regular face-to-face check-ins at the pharmacy when you collect your medication each month. This will include measuring your height, weight and optional blood pressure, pulse, and waist circumference measurements. These measurements will be recorded on the system and will be available to you on your dedicated dashboard for review and track your progress.
You can find information about weight loss and making healthy choices on the NHS website by following the link below.