Wegovy is a once weekly weight loss injection used to help suppress appetite. It helps patients achieve an average of 15% body weight loss, and contains Semaglutide.
Wegovy is a new weight-loss treatment, designed to make you feel less hungry. It is a once weekly injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection).
You can buy Wegovy injection pens in the UK, online, from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. This is a prescription weight loss medication. After completing a short online consultation, your order will pass to our doctors for review.
If approved, a prescription will be passed to our pharmacy team, who can dispense and dispatch your medication.
Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide, and is prescribed for adults with obesity. It was approved in the USA in 2021, and was made available in the UK in September 2023.
If you find that Wegovy is not suitable for you, other weight loss treatments like such as Orlistat are currently available from our online doctor weight loss clinic.
Summary
Dose
Inject ONCE weekly, following the dose-escalation schedule
Type of medicine
Appetite-suppressant - GLP-1 receptor agonist
Mechanism
Suppresses appetite and promotes feeling full for longer, decreasing food intake.
Active Ingredient
Semaglutide
Price
From £34.75 per week
Side Effects
Can include nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, vomiting
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is a weight loss injection that can be an effective aid to weight-loss when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise. The weight loss drug contains the active ingredient semaglutide. Unlike other weight loss shots, Wegovy 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).
Wegovy vs Saxenda
Saxenda
Wegovy
Dose
One dose DAILY
One dose WEEKLY
Pens used per month
5
1
Price per week
From £50-69 / Week
From £34.75 / Week
Effectiveness
~10% body weight loss
~15% body weight loss
Wegovy Price
Prices for Wegovy can be as low as £34.75 a week when you buy a bundle. 1 Month packs can vary in price depending on the strength.
There are also multi-month bundles available for higher strengths, to lower your weekly cost. Some patients choose to maintain at 1mg from an affordability perspective, however maximum weight loss is achieved at the 2.4mg dose.
Wegovy 0.25mg
This is the starter dose
Wegovy 0.5mg
This is the dose which follows on from 0.25mg and continue to allow safe titration
Wegovy 1mg
You should start to notice significant weight loss from the 1mg dose
Wegovy 1.7mg
This dose should only be used after titration. Weight loss effects are more noticeable.
Wegovy 2.4mg
This is the highest strength of Wegovy, and the one that can help achieve most 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. Many patients ask where it should be injected. The advice is it should be injected subcutaneously into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. The wegovy injection site should ideally be rotated, to avoid a single area being used.
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 weight management for those living with obesity due to the highly positive trial results.
To read more about real UK patients experience with this treatment, you can read some of our patients Wegovy reviews.
Wegovy vs Placebo Trial Results
% of Patients Achieving Different Percentages of Weight Loss.
Can Wegovy Help with Other Conditions?
Recent studies have shown that Wegovy has been proven to reduce the relative risk (RR) of cardiovascular events (such as cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) in patients with established cardiovascular disease by 20% (SELECT trial - See section 5.1 - here). Wegovy is therefore now also licensed for the use in the reduction of cardiovascular risk in adults with established cardiovascular disease.
Contraindications & Drug Interactions
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 has not been shown to affect the oral hormonal contraceptive pill. Other weight loss drugs reduce the effectiveness of oral hormonal contraceptives, so additional barrier methods should be used at each titration/new dose for 4 weeks. This is not required for Wegovy.
This medication is not suitable for anyone experiencing diabetic retinopathy. Speak to your doctor before using Wegovy if this applies to you.
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.
Side Effects
As 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.
There are many alternative weight loss treatments available in the UK, including Orlistat and its branded equivalent Xenical. Saxenda is the closest medicine to Wegovy currently licensed for weight loss in the UK. It works in the same way and is manufactured by the same company, Novo Nordisk. Saxenda is injected once daily into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.
Ozempic is also available to buy from some UK weight loss clinics. Ozempic also contains Semaglutide, the same active ingredient that's in Wegovy. However, the treatment is licensed for use in diabetes. 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.
There is not currently a generic form of Wegovy - this treatment is too new to be replicated. Unlike Wegovy, generic drugs that are equivalent to many medications are available through our online store.
Yes, you can buy Wegovy online in the UK. Wegovy has recently gained a UK license and is now available. However, it is a prescription-only medicine. This means you need a prescription to buy Wegovy. Simple Online Pharmacy can deliver Wegovy all across England, Scotland, and Wales, from London to Glasgow.
How much does Wegovy cost?
The price of Wegovy starts at £139 for a month's supply, going up to £269 for the highest strength of pen (2.4mg).
Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?
Yes, Wegovy contains exactly the same active ingredient as Ozempic, and is made by the same manufacturer. The main difference is Ozempic is licensed for diabetes, while Wegovy is licensed for weight loss.
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.
Is Wegovy available on the NHS?
In certain circumstance, Wegovy can be prescribed on the NHS. You can read more about Wegovy availability on the NHS in our guide.
How many doses are in a Wegovy Pen?
There are 4 doses in a Wegovy pen. As the dose is weekly, each pen should last you 4 weeks if used correctly.
Can I take alcohol with Wegovy?
Yes, you can drink alcohol when taking Wegovy, however excessive consumption can lead to a worsening of some of the side effects you may notice when taking Wegovy.
At what dose does Wegovy start working?
You may start to notice effects similar to that of Saxenda from 1mg. Maximum weight loss effects are noticed on the highest dose of 2.4mg.
Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.
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