Wegovy pill

Wegovy pills have now been approved in the UK, and we’re getting ready to offer them at ZAVA. The launch date and price are still being confirmed. Join the waitlist, and we’ll let you know as soon as our doctors start prescribing Wegovy pills online.

The Wegovy pill is the first oral GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) weight loss treatment approved in the UK. It is a tablet version of the once-weekly injection of Wegovy (semaglutide). It was approved by the MHRA on 11 June 2026 for adults with obesity, or adults who are overweight and have at least one weight related health condition.

The tablet contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as the Wegovy injection. It is taken once a day in the morning rather than as a weekly injection. It works by reducing your appetite and slowing down how quickly your stomach empties, helping you feel fuller for longer and lose weight alongside diet and exercise.

How does the Wegovy pill work?

The active ingredient in the Wegovy pill, semaglutide, belongs to a group of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. It works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, reducing your appetite and slowing down your digestive system. This makes following a diet and exercise plan easier, allowing you to reduce your calories without feeling as hungry.

The most recent study for the Wegovy pill is called the OASIS 4 trial, which followed people taking the Wegovy pill at a dose of 25mg for 71 weeks. The study found that people lost an average of 17% of their starting body weight by week 64. People in the same trial using a placebo (no medication) pill lost just 3% of their starting body weight by week 64.

How quickly will you see results from Wegovy?

People taking part in the OASIS 4 trial achieved significant weight loss results in 64 weeks. You’re likely to see results sooner, but the best results come with long-term treatment.

Like with other GLP-1 medications, following an adjusted diet and lifestyle routine alongside taking the Wegovy pill will determine how quickly you see results.

There are 4 doses of the Wegovy pill, which are taken following a dosage schedule to reduce the chances of semaglutide side effects. You start on the lowest dose and then have the option to increase your dose after a month of being on your dose. You should only change dosage as advised by a doctor.

You can follow the schedule until you reach the maintenance dose of 25mg. You may also end up staying on a lower dose if you get side effects on a higher dosage which are difficult to manage.

The Wegovy pill needs time to absorb in your stomach to work properly. You must follow the instructions carefully so that it’s effective. To take the Wegovy pill, follow these steps:

1. Take the tablet when you first wake up, as it must be taken on an empty stomach after at least 8 hours of fasting.
2. Swallow 1 Wegovy tablet whole with a full sip of water (up to 120ml). Do not have more than 120ml of water, as this could affect the pill's absorption. The pill must not be chewed, split or crushed.
3. Wait 30 minutes after taking it before having anything else to eat or drink, or taking any other oral medications.

Important: If you take other pills when you wake up, they should not be taken alongside the Wegovy tablet. Please ask your doctor for advice if you are unsure.

Let’s look at the key differences between the Wegovy pill and injection:

Scroll to see the differences.

Yes, you can switch from Wegovy injections to pills. Guidelines from the manufacturer recommend that you take your first dose of the tablet 1 week after your last injection to avoid the risk of having too much semaglutide in your system.

If you are already taking the Wegovy injection, you can switch from the 2.4mg to the 25mg tablet dose, but if you’re taking a lower dose of the injection, you may be switched to a lower dose of the tablet.

Always speak to your doctor first if you are thinking about switching GLP-1 medications.

Who might prefer Wegovy in a pill form?

You may benefit from tablet compared to an injection if you:

• are worried about injecting weekly
• have a preference for taking medication daily or find it easier to keep track of this way
• travel often – injections must meet special storage requirements (in the fridge until opened) and require you to bring spare needles* and somewhere to safely dispose of them, such as a small sharps bin
• have anxiety or phobias about needles
• get strong reactions or side effects around the site of injection

*This is the case for doses up to 2.4mg, but the Wegovy 7.2mg pen is a single-use pen that comes with its own needle attached.

Very common side effects of Wegovy pills (semaglutide) include:

• headache
• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• stomach pain
• feeling weak or tired
• upset stomach or indigestion (dyspepsia)

Common side effects of Wegovy pills (semaglutide) include:

• dizziness
• burping
• gas (flatulence)
• bloating
• inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
• reflux or heartburn (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD))
• taste changes
• gallstones
• hair loss
• taste changes
• abnormal skin sensations, like burning, stinging, or pins and needles (dysaesthesia)
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in people with type 2 diabetes

Uncommon side effects of Wegovy pills (affecting up to 1 in 100 people) are:

• low blood pressure
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded when standing after sitting or lying down because of a sudden drop in blood pressure
• fast heartbeat
• increased pancreatic enzyme levels in blood test results
• delayed stomach emptying
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in people who do not have type 2 diabetes
• increased levels of bilirubin in your blood, signs include yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

You can find more information on the side effects of the Wegovy tablet in the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication.

Who cannot take Wegovy pills?

Wegovy pills are not suitable if you:

• have an allergy to semaglutide or the other ingredients in the tablets
• are planning a pregnancy (semaglutide should be stopped 2 months before trying for a baby)
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

You should also speak to your doctor before starting the Wegovy tablet if you:

• have kidney or liver problems
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• are diabetic and have diabetic eye problems
• have had pancreatitis or acute pancreatitis
• have severe heart failure
• are planning to get pregnant as you need to stop taking Wegovy pill 2 months before you want to get pregnant
• have severe gastrointestinal disease, including gastroparesis
• have been diagnosed with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
• have had allergic reactions to other GLP-1 receptor agonists
• are using oral contraception – side effects like vomiting and diarrhoea can reduce the absorption of the oral contraceptive pill and make it less effective

If you have a chance of getting pregnant and are sexually active, you must use contraception while taking Wegovy tablets, as the effect of semaglutide on an unborn baby has not been tested. If you get side effects that stop your oral contraceptive pill from being effective, or you miss a tablet, use condoms or speak to your doctor or a sexual health clinic about the coil or implant.

There are lots of alternative weight loss treatments available if the Wegovy pill is not suitable for you, or you just want to explore your options. At ZAVA, you can get weight loss pills or weight loss injections.

Weight loss tablets available at ZAVA

Wegovy is the only GLP-1 pill currently available. Other weight loss pills work by stopping your body from absorbing some fat from your food (orlistat) or by reducing your appetite by acting on the part of your brain responsible for hunger (Mysimba).

Scroll to see the differences:

Weight loss injection pens are also a popular weight loss treatment. They all work in a similar way as they contain GLP-1 medications, like the Wegovy pill. The main difference is that most weight loss injections only need to be taken once a week, except liraglutide.

alli 60 mg hard capsules, emc [accessed 21 May 2026]

FDA approves Lilly's Foundayo™ (orforglipron), the only GLP-1 pill for weight loss that can be taken any time of day without food or water restrictions, Eli Lilly [accessed 21 May 2026]

Mounjaro KwikPen 10mg solution for injection in pre-filled pen, emc [accessed 21 May 2026]

Mysimba 8 mg/90 mg prolonged-release tablets, emc [accessed 21 May 2026]

Nevolat 6 mg/ml solution for injection in pre-filled pen, emc [accessed 21 May 2026]

Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity, The New England Journal of Medicine [accessed 21 May 2026]

Oral semaglutide 50 mg taken once per day in adults with overweight or obesity (OASIS 1): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial, The Lancet [accessed 21 May 2026]

Wegovy 0.25 mg, FlexTouch solution for injection in pre-filled pen, emc [accessed 21 May 2026]

Xenical 120 mg hard capsules, emc [accessed 21 May 2026]

YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO WEGOVY® PILL, Wegovy [accessed 21 May 2026]