Short answer: Wegovy is semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Novo Nordisk and licensed in the UK for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related condition, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity (UK product information, SmPC section 4.1). It comes as a once-weekly injection, in FlexTouch pens of four doses each, starting at 0.25mg and rising every 4 weeks to 2.4mg, with a single-dose 7.2mg pen for adults with a BMI of 30 or above if needed, and since June 2026 as once-daily Wegovy tablets of 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg and 25mg. It works mainly on the appetite areas of the brain, so you feel less hungry and fuller, and it lowers blood sugar when it is high, which involves a minor delay in stomach emptying just after meals (SmPC section 5.1). Ozempic contains the same medicine but is licensed for type 2 diabetes, at different doses.
This guide sets out what the UK product information, the MHRA and the NHS say, as of October 2026: what semaglutide is and which medicines contain it, how Wegovy works, what it is licensed for and who it may suit, the pen and tablet doses, what is in each, how it differs from Ozempic, how long it takes to work and its main side effects. A GPhC-registered pharmacist reviews every Solira consultation before anything is supplied.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine for weight management, and its active ingredient is semaglutide. It is made by Novo Nordisk and is used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, both to lose weight and to keep it off: the UK licence calls this "weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance".
Semaglutide is a man-made version of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a hormone your body releases after you eat. Its amino acid sequence is 94% the same as human GLP-1, and it is made in yeast cells using recombinant DNA technology (SmPC sections 2 and 5.1). Compared with the body's own GLP-1, semaglutide lasts much longer: it binds to albumin, a protein in the blood, and is protected from being broken down by an enzyme called DPP-4, giving it a half-life of about a week, which makes a once-weekly injection possible (SmPC section 5.2). Our guide to GLP-1 medicines explains the whole class, and how long Wegovy stays in your system what that week-long half-life means after a last dose.
What is semaglutide, and which medicines contain it?
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a medicine that binds to and switches on the same receptor as the GLP-1 hormone. The NHS website lists its three common brands in the UK: Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus. Each has its own UK licence, for different conditions and at different doses:
| Brand | How it is taken | What its UK licence covers |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy injection | A pen, once a week | Weight management in adults, and in young people aged 12 and over; reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or above; a liver condition called MASH |
| Wegovy tablets | A tablet, once a day | Weight management in adults |
| Ozempic | A pen, once a week | Type 2 diabetes in adults, when it is not well controlled |
| Rybelsus | A tablet, once a day | Type 2 diabetes in adults, when it is not well controlled |
So semaglutide is the medicine, and Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus are brand names. Wegovy tablets and Rybelsus are both semaglutide tablets, licensed for different conditions: the differences are in our guide Wegovy pill vs Rybelsus. Mounjaro is a different medicine: it contains tirzepatide, which acts on two hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1 (Mounjaro SmPC section 5.1). How it works is in how does Mounjaro work, and the two are compared in Mounjaro vs Wegovy.
How does Wegovy work for weight loss?
Wegovy works mainly through the brain: semaglutide acts on the areas that regulate appetite and food intake, so you feel less hungry, feel full sooner and tend to eat less. The UK product information explains that GLP-1 is a natural regulator of appetite and calorie intake, and that semaglutide acts directly on the hypothalamus and brainstem, which control hunger and fullness, and directly and indirectly on areas linked to the reward side of eating (SmPC section 5.1).
- Semaglutide copies the GLP-1 hormoneThe hormone your body releases after you eat
- It acts on the appetite areas of the brainIncluding the hypothalamus and brainstem
- You feel less hungry and fullerAlongside a reduced-calorie diet and more activity
In a 20-week study described in the product information, people taking semaglutide 2.4mg reported better control of their eating, more fullness, less hunger and fewer food cravings.
Semaglutide also lowers blood sugar when it is high: it helps the pancreas release insulin and lowers glucagon, the hormone that raises blood sugar, and this involves a minor delay in stomach emptying just after meals. When blood sugar is low, it turns insulin release down and leaves glucagon working (SmPC section 5.1). Low blood sugar is uncommon in people without type 2 diabetes (up to 1 in 100) and common in people with it (up to 1 in 10), and more likely alongside insulin or a sulfonylurea (SmPC sections 4.2, 4.4 and 4.8).
What is Wegovy used for in the UK?
Wegovy is used for weight management: in the UK it is licensed, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with at least one weight-related condition (SmPC section 4.1, revised September 2026). The injection's licence covers three other uses as well:
- reducing the risk of a heart attack, a stroke or death from cardiovascular disease in adults with established cardiovascular disease and a BMI of 27 or above (the product information says the exact way it does this has not been established);
- a liver condition called MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) in adults with moderate to advanced scarring of the liver, before cirrhosis;
- weight management in young people aged 12 and over with obesity and a body weight above 60kg.
Wegovy tablets are licensed for weight management in adults (Wegovy tablets SmPC section 4.1, June 2026). Through Solira, Wegovy pens and tablets are supplied for weight management in adults aged 18 to 85.
Who can take Wegovy?
Wegovy may suit adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related condition, once a pharmacist or doctor has checked their health and medicines. The BMI rule is explained in what BMI do you need for Mounjaro or Wegovy? These are the rules our pharmacist works to:
Who Wegovy may suit through Solira
Wegovy pens: Treatment may be suitable if you're aged 18–85 and have a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27–29.9 alongside one of the following: high blood pressure, raised cholesterol or blood fats, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy tablets: Treatment may be suitable if you're aged 18–85 and have a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27–29.9 alongside one of the following: type 2 diabetes, prediabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol or blood fats, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, an obstructive lung condition such as COPD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or fertility difficulties linked to weight.
The 7.2mg dose is for adults with a BMI of 30 or above. Not sure of your BMI? Use our BMI calculator.
The product information gives one reason never to use Wegovy: an allergy to semaglutide or to any of its other ingredients (SmPC section 4.3). It should not be used in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and it is stopped at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy (SmPC section 4.6). Our consultation also asks about conditions where we do not supply Wegovy, such as a history of pancreatitis or type 1 diabetes, and about every medicine you take. The full list is in our guide Is Wegovy safe?
Wondering whether Wegovy pens or tablets could suit you? Our consultation asks about your health, your weight and your medicines, and a GPhC-registered pharmacist reviews every answer before anything is supplied.
Check your eligibilityWhat forms and doses does Wegovy come in?
Wegovy comes as a once-weekly injection and as a once-daily tablet. The injection is a FlexTouch pen at 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg or 2.4mg, each pen holding four weekly doses of one strength, or a single-dose 7.2mg pen. The tablets come in 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg and 25mg.
Side by side, as the UK product information describes them (sections 4.2, 6.4 and 6.5 of each):
| Question | Wegovy pen | Wegovy tablets |
|---|---|---|
| How often? | Once a week, at any time of day, with or without food | One tablet once a day, on an empty stomach after at least 8 hours without food (for most people, first thing in the morning) |
| How is it taken? | Injected under the skin of your tummy, thigh or upper arm | Swallowed whole with a sip of water (up to 120ml), then at least 30 minutes before any food, drink or other medicines by mouth |
| Which strengths? | 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and 2.4mg FlexTouch pens, and a single-dose 7.2mg pen | 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg and 25mg |
| How does the dose build up? | 0.25mg for weeks 1 to 4, then 0.5mg, 1mg and 1.7mg for 4 weeks each, and 2.4mg from week 17. 7.2mg if needed, for a BMI of 30 or above, after at least 4 weeks on 2.4mg | 1.5mg for at least a month, then 4mg, 9mg and 25mg for at least a month each. 25mg is the maintenance dose |
| What is in a pack? | One FlexTouch pen holding four weekly doses, with four needles. The 7.2mg dose comes as a pack of four single-dose pens | Through Solira, 30 tablets of one strength, a 30-day supply |
| How is it stored? | Storage: keep unopened pens in the fridge (2–8 °C) and never use a pen that has been frozen. Once in use: Wegovy pens from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg keep for 6 weeks below 30 °C with the cap on. The Wegovy 7.2 mg single-dose pen can be kept out of the fridge for up to 28 days, not above 30 °C; throw it away after that. | Storage: keep the tablets in the original blister pack to protect them from light and moisture. No special temperature storage is needed. |
The pen dose starts low and rises every 4 weeks to make stomach side effects less likely (SmPC section 4.2). Wegovy 7.2 mg comes as a pack of four single-dose pens, so your whole weekly dose is one injection. You may still see it described elsewhere as three 2.4 mg injections, which was the earlier presentation. Use one 7.2 mg pen for each weekly dose. Each step, week by week, is in our Wegovy dose schedule, the higher dose in Wegovy 7.2mg, and the technique in how to inject Wegovy.
The tablets build up in monthly steps. This is the counselling every Wegovy tablets patient receives from us:
Your dose builds gradually: 1.5 mg daily for 4 weeks → 4 mg for 4 weeks → 9 mg for 4 weeks → 25 mg ongoing. Each step lasts at least a month, and you'll only ever have one strength at a time. Never take more than one tablet a day, never combine strengths, and don't repeat a dose if you vomit after taking it.
You can move between the two forms. Someone on 25mg tablets can start the 2.4mg injection the day after their last tablet, and someone on the 2.4mg injection can start 25mg tablets one week after their last injection. The product information adds that the effect of switching cannot easily be predicted, because how much of a tablet is absorbed varies more from person to person (SmPC section 4.2 of each). Our guide Wegovy pill vs injection compares the two in full.
What is in Wegovy?
The active ingredient in every form of Wegovy is semaglutide; the other ingredients are inactive ones (excipients) that differ between the pens and the tablets. This is the list our consultation shows, taken from section 6.1 of each product's UK product information:
- Wegovy pens from 0.25mg to 2.4mg: semaglutide, disodium phosphate, propylene glycol, phenol, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide and water.
- Wegovy 7.2mg pen: semaglutide, disodium phosphate, sodium chloride, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide and water.
- Wegovy tablets: semaglutide, salcaprozate sodium and magnesium stearate.
In the pens, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide are there to adjust the pH (SmPC section 6.1). In the tablets, salcaprozate sodium helps semaglutide to be absorbed, mostly in the stomach, which is why each tablet is taken on an empty stomach with a sip of water and then a 30-minute wait (Wegovy tablets SmPC sections 4.2 and 5.2). If you have ever reacted to any of these ingredients, tell us in your consultation, because an allergy to any of them rules Wegovy out (SmPC section 4.3).
Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?
Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same medicine, semaglutide, made by the same company, Novo Nordisk, but they are different products with different UK licences and doses. Ozempic is licensed for adults with type 2 diabetes that is not well controlled, at weekly doses from 0.25mg up to 2mg, and its product information says weekly doses above 2mg are not recommended (Ozempic SmPC sections 4.1 and 4.2, July 2026). Wegovy is licensed for weight management, with a maintenance dose of 2.4mg a week, or 7.2mg for adults with a BMI of 30 or above if needed. Because the medicine is the same, the two should not be used together: Wegovy's product information says taking it with another semaglutide or GLP-1 medicine is not recommended (SmPC section 4.5). The full comparison is in Wegovy vs Ozempic.
How long does Wegovy take to work?
Wegovy works gradually: the injection dose builds over 16 weeks, so on the usual schedule the 2.4mg maintenance dose starts at week 17, and the UK product information asks for progress to be judged at 6 months: if you have not lost at least 5% of your starting weight by then, a decision is needed on whether to carry on (SmPC section 4.2). The tablets reach their 25mg dose after at least three months of monthly steps.
In the STEP 1 trial (Wilding and colleagues, New England Journal of Medicine, 2021), 1,961 adults with overweight or obesity and without diabetes took semaglutide 2.4mg, the Wegovy maintenance dose, or a placebo once a week for 68 weeks, alongside advice on diet and activity. Counting everyone who started treatment, people on semaglutide lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight, compared with 2.4% on placebo. Individual results vary. How the weeks usually go is in how long Wegovy takes to work.
The counselling we give every patient:
Treatment works alongside a reduced-calorie diet and regular activity. Aim for at least 150 minutes a week. Weight loss naturally slows over time, and stopping treatment without keeping lifestyle changes commonly leads to weight regain, so we review you regularly and plan any stop together.
What are the main side effects of Wegovy?
The main side effects of Wegovy are stomach and bowel symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation, and they are reported most often while the dose is going up (SmPC section 4.8). For the injection, the product information lists these as very common, affecting more than 1 in 10 people: headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain and tiredness. Most stomach side effects in the trials were mild to moderate and short-lived, though constipation tended to last longer.
For Wegovy tablets, this is the counselling every patient receives from us:
Very common (more than 1 in 10): headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion, stomach pain, feeling weak or tired. These are most noticeable while your dose is increasing and usually settle. Eat smaller meals, avoid very fatty food, and keep well hydrated.
Serious side effects are less common. Pancreatitis is uncommon (up to 1 in 100 people) and gallstones are common (up to 1 in 10), and the signs that mean you should stop and get help are in the box below. The rates and how to manage each side effect are in Wegovy side effects, and the tablets' in oral semaglutide side effects.
Wegovy is under additional monitoring, marked by the black triangle (▼) in its product information, so that new safety information can be picked up quickly. You can report any suspected side effect on the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, and tell your pharmacist about any side effect that worries you.