Wegovy

Wegovy UK Weight Loss Injection

You can request to buy Wegovy online from Simple Online Pharmacy later in 2022. Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is prescribed for adults with obesity. It has recently been approved for use in the UK and will be available later this year. It was approved in the USA in 2021.

Our UK clinical team and pharmacy are working closely with Novo Nordisk to ensure we are ready to prescribe Wegovy UK safely as soon as it becomes available. Other weight loss treatments like Saxenda and Orlistat are currently available from our online doctor weight loss clinic.

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is a weight loss injection that can be an effective weight-loss aid when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise. The weight loss drug contains the active ingredient semaglutide. The medicine is injected once a week and can be used by adults with a body mass index (BMI) over 30. It can also be used by people with a BMI over 27 with weight-related conditions (such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes).

The active ingredient, semaglutide, is currently licensed in the UK as a type 2 diabetes treatment under the brand name Ozempic. Ozempic isn’t licensed as a weight loss medication in the UK, but Wegovy is licensed for weight loss with a specific weight loss dosing and formulation.

How does Wegovy work?

The active ingredient, semaglutide, is a type of medicine called a GLP-1 receptor agonist. This means it mimics a hormone produced by the body called glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1). This hormone plays an important role in regulating appetite (the feeling of fullness). 

By mimicking this hormone, Wegovy acts on receptors in the brain that control your appetite. It causes you to feel fuller and less hungry, leading to less craving for food. This can help you eat less and cause you to lose weight.

Is Wegovy effective for weight loss?

Clinical trials have shown that Wegovy treatment resulted in a statistically significant reduction in body weight compared to placebo after 68 weeks. One trial showed that people taking Wegovy had a mean change in body weight of 14.9% compared to 2.4% in the placebo group.

The results also showed that, after 68 weeks, 83.5% of patients lost 5% or more of their body weight. In the placebo group, 31.1% of patients lost 5% or more of their body weight. Another clinical trial also showed a statistically significant reduction in body weight vs placebo.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Wegovy for those living with obesity due to the highly positive trial results.

Wegovy vs Placebo Trial Results

% of Patients Achieving Different Percentages of Weight Loss.

How to take Wegovy

The Wegovy dose is increased every 4 weeks for 16 weeks. This means that patients take a 0.25mg once weekly dose for the first 4 weeks and gradually increase it until they reach the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once weekly from week 17 onwards. This gradual increase is important because it minimises the risk of side effects. If side effects do occur, most will be experienced during the dose-escalation phase before improving.

Wegovy (semaglutide) should be injected once a week on the same day each week. It can be taken at any time of day and can be taken with or without meals. It should be injected subcutaneously into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.

Wegovy Summary

Wegovy Alternatives

Although Wegovy is not currently available in the UK, other weight loss treatment options are. This includes Orlistat and its branded equivalent Xenical.

Saxenda is the closest medicine to Wegovy working in the same way and being is manufactured by the same company, Novo Nordisk. Saxenda is injected once daily into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.

You can visit our online doctor weight loss clinic to see what weight loss options are available to you.

Wegovy Side Effects

Like with all medicines, some people may experience side effects from the treatment. Not everyone will get them and a majority will be mild. Only 5.3% of patients in one clinical trial stopped Wegovy due to side effects.

The most common Wegovy side effects are headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, and fatigue. These side effects usually improve over time as your body gets used to the medicine. Gradually increasing the dose every 4 weeks helps to reduce the risk of experiencing these side effects. If you find your side effects are severe or aren’t improving, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

See section 4 of the patient information leaflet for a complete list of possible side effects.

Author

	Name	Hywel McGlinchy
	Role	Clinical Pharmacist
	Qual.	Masters of Pharmacy
	About	Hywel started with Simple Online Pharmacy in 2020. He's responsible for helping author and review accurate site content. He also works with our GPs to make sure all aspects of patient safety are covered.

Further Reading

Can you buy Wegovy in the UK?

Wegovy has recently gained a UK license and will soon be available in the UK. However, it is a prescription-only medicine. This means you need a prescription to buy Wegovy. When it becomes available, you can order Wegovy online from Simple Online Pharmacy. We are a UK registered online doctor and pharmacy service.

How much does Wegovy cost?

The price of Wegovy is not currently known in the UK. However, Simple Online Pharmacy guarantees it will have among the best price online when available.

Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?

Wegovy contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic but Ozempic is used to treat type 2 diabetes, whereas Wegovy is used as weight-loss medicine. Wegovy is available in different strengths to Ozempic.

What is Wegovy used for?

Wegovy is used as a weight-loss treatment in people with a BMI over 30 or a BMI over 27 with weight-related conditions like high blood pressure. It’s used to lose weight alongside a calorie-restricted diet and increased physical exercise.

Is Wegovy available over the counter?

No, Wegovy is a prescription medication for weight loss for those with a BMI over 30. Consult a doctor online or in person to discuss eligibility for weight loss treatments.

Warnings & Precautions

This medicine is not suitable for anyone who has had an allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the other ingredients in the injection.  

Wegovy can cause digestive system side effects like vomiting and diarrhoea. These side effects can increase the risk of dehydration, so you should make sure that you drink enough fluids. This is even more important for people with kidney problems.

An uncommon side effect that may be experienced is pancreatitis. If you notice any symptoms of pancreatitis, such as severe stomach pain, stop using Wegovy and see a doctor straight away. You can read more about pancreatitis symptoms on the NHS website.

People with diabetes should not use Wegovy as a substitute for insulin. It can also increase the risk of getting low blood sugar levels when taken with other diabetic medicines. See section 2 of the patient information leaflet for a full list of warnings.

Wegovy and pregnancy

It should not be used in pregnancy because it may harm the foetus. Wegovy should be stopped at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy. You should not use this medicine if you are breastfeeding.