Wegovy Pill (Oral Semaglutide)

After launching as a weekly injection, Wegovy is now also being developed as a once-daily tablet. Like the injection, Wegovy tablets contain semaglutide, the same active ingredient used to help reduce appetite and support weight loss.

The tablet form is now available in the United States, but it is not currently licensed in the UK.

Oral Wegovy summary

What are Wegovy weight loss pills?

Wegovy oral pills are prescription-only tablets taken daily to support people living with obesity. Like the injectable forms of Semaglutide, Wegovy is designed to make you feel fuller for longer and reduce ‘food noise’.

Wegovy supports your weight loss journey towards achieving a healthier weight. Clinical trials have shown an average weight loss of around ~17% for patients using this treatment.

To get the best results from GLP-1 treatments, it is important to combine the medication with positive lifestyle changes such as balanced nutrition and regular movement.

Wegovy tablets are not yet licensed for use in the UK.

How does the Wegovy oral pill work?

Wegovy tablets contain semaglutide, the same active ingredient used in the injection. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it mimics the natural GLP-1 hormone in the body to help regulate appetite and food intake. How oral Wegovy work:

• Slowing how quickly food leaves the stomach, which can help you feel fuller for longer
• Reducing appetite and food cravings
• Helping you eat less by increasing feelings of fullness
• Helps control blood sugar levels

When used alongside a healthy diet and regular physical activity, this can support weight loss.

The Wegovy pill has a special coating called SNAC. When semaglutide is taken orally, it is normally difficult for the body to absorb because the digestive system can break it down before it has the chance to take effect.

The SNAC coating helps protect the medication and allows semaglutide to be absorbed through the digestive system before it is broken down. This enables the medicine to enter the bloodstream and work in the body as intended.

Who can use Wegovy Tablets?

Wegovy tablets are designed for adults living with obesity, and may also be suitable for some adults who are overweight and have a weight-related health condition.

This may include adults who:

• have a BMI of 30 or above
• have a BMI of 27 or above and also have a weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol

Wegovy is designed to be used alongside diet, physical activity, and ongoing clinical support. This treatment may not be suitable for everyone, and a prescriber would need to check whether it is safe and appropriate for you.

How do Wegovy tablets compare to Wegovy injections?

Clinical studies suggest that both forms can be effective for weight loss when used alongside a healthy diet and exercise.

Wegovy tablets and weight loss injections both contain semaglutide, so they work in a similar way to help reduce appetite, reduce cravings, and help you feel fuller for longer. The main difference is how they are taken. Wegovy injections are taken once weekly, while Wegovy tablets are taken once daily.

On average, Wegovy injections have shown slightly greater weight loss overall, but Wegovy tablets have also delivered strong results in trials. Injections may be preferred by some people for convenience, while others may prefer a daily tablet over a weekly injection.

How oral Wegovy compares to other GLP-1 treatments

Oral Wegovy tablets are one of several GLP-1 treatments. Currently licensed in the US and soon to be in the UK, you may be curious how they compare to other GLP-1 treatments.

Wegovy pills vs Wegovy injection: both contain semaglutide, the way you take them is different. The pill requires a daily fasting routine; the injection is taken once a week with no fasting required.

Wegovy pills vs Mounjaro: Mounjaro mimics two hormones rather than one, and clinical trial data shows it produces greater average weight loss.

Wegovy pills vs Saxenda: Saxenda is a daily injection containing liraglutide, an older GLP-1. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy pills, produces significantly greater weight loss in clinical trials.

Oral Wegovy alternatives

Several weight loss treatments are available in the UK as alternatives to oral Wegovy pills.

Injectable alternatives

Wegovy injection is currently available in the UK and contains the same active ingredient as the Wegovy pill. It is taken once weekly and has been shown to help patients achieve significant weight loss.

Saxenda is the closest alternative to Wegovy. It contains liraglutide, works in the same way, and is made by the same manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. Saxenda is injected once daily into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, a dual agonist that targets both GLP-1 and GIP receptors. It is taken once weekly and has been shown to help patients achieve significant weight loss.

Ozempic contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Wegovy. However, Ozempic is licensed for diabetes treatment. While it is legal to prescribe it for weight loss, we currently choose not to do so due to the possible impact on diabetic patients who require this medication.

Oral weight loss treatments

Orlistat and its branded equivalent Xenical work differently to Wegovy. They prevent your body from absorbing around a third of the fat from food.

Generic alternatives

There is not currently a generic form of Wegovy or Mounjaro as these treatments are too new to be replicated. However, generic drugs equivalent to other weight loss medications are available through our online store, such as Nevolat (generic liraglutide).

Wegovy pill clinical trial results

The last set of clinical trials for the Wegovy pill have been the OASIS 4 trials . In this study, over 300 patients participated. All had a BMI over 30, or over 27 with one health issue.

Patients received either 25mg of Wegovy, which is the maintenance dose, or a placebo (a pill that has no effects).

Over 64 weeks, researchers tracked how much weight participants lost and how their overall health improved.

Wegovy pill side effects

The most common side effects of Wegovy pills may include;

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pain
• Heartburn
• Burping
• Bloating
• Feeling dizzy
• Feeling tired
• Headache

These effects may be more severe when you move up your dosage. They should reduce as your body gets used to the medication.

If your stomach problems continue or get worse with time, speak to your prescriber, or reach out to our clinical team for advice, before you stop using Wegovy.

Rarer but more serious side effects can include thyroid tumors. This is especially true if you have a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).

This list is not exhaustive. For more information on potential side effects, please visit the official Wegovy pill site.

How to take Wegovy tablets

Wegovy tablets are taken once daily with water.Oral Wegovy should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach, and you should wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything other than water (no more than half a glass), or taking other oral medicines.

Do not take more than 1 tablet each day and make sure to swallow the tablet whole.

Do not split, chew or crush the tablet.

Starting treatment at a lower dose and then increasing the dose gradually over time in line with manufactures guidance.

The Wegovy pill dosing schedule begins at 1.5mg once daily, then increases every 30 days as tolerated to 4mg, then 9mg, and finally 25mg once daily as the maintenance dose. This gradual step up helps your body adjust to the medication and may reduce side effects such as nausea and other digestive symptoms.

Wegovy tablets are not currently licensed in the UK.

Can I buy Wegovy pills online in the UK?

Wegovy tablets are not currently available to buy online in the UK. At the moment, the oral pill form has not been licensed for use in the UK, so regulated UK pharmacies cannot supply it.

For now, Wegovy is only available in the UK as an injectable treatment. If the tablet form is approved in future, it would still require a clinical assessment and prescription before it could be supplied safely.

Be careful with any website claiming to offer Wegovy pills in the UK before approval has been confirmed.

Wegovy oral pills pricing

The cost of Wegovy pills will depend on licensing, supply and guidance in the UK. We’ll update this section when confirmed information is released.

Storage guidance

Store Wegovy tablets at room temperature in a cool dry place. Keep in the original bottle the mediation came in with the cap tightly closed and kept out of reach of children.

Contraindications and interactions

Do not use Wegovy pills if:

• you plan to become pregnant
• are currently pregnant
• you are breastfeeding
• you or anyone in your family have a history of thyroid cancer. This is especially important if there is a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
• you have a condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• you have a history of vision problems related to your diabetes
• you have pancreatitis

This medication is not suitable for anyone with an allergy to any of the listed ingredients.

Written by Qualified Experts

All of our medication and condition content is written by UK qualified pharmacists and doctors.

Authored: 15/03/2026

Zahra Qureshi

GPhC Reg: 2216331

Senior Pharmacist

MPharm | Strathclyde University

Medically reviewed: 29/04/2026

Sabeela Yasin

GPhC Reg: 2085618

Senior Pharmacist

MPharm | Strathclyde University

 

References

Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity

Your complete guide to Wegovy pill

We'll keep this page updated as robust data emerges from Wegovy pill clinical trials and UK regulators release guidance. If you have questions about current weight‑loss treatments, our clinical team is here to help.

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