A Comprehensive Guide to Wegovy

Since 2023, Wegovy has been one of the leading weight loss treatments in the UK. Starting as a weekly injection and now also available as a daily tablet, it has been widely tested clinically and is a safe, effective way to support your weight loss journey.

The treatment is to be taken long-term at steadily increasing doses, typically over a 68-72-week period. Like all medicines, this can lead to side effects, and it is important to be aware of them.

So, is Wegovy the right treatment for you, and what are its benefits? This guide to Wegovy injections and tablets provides a comprehensive overview of the treatment - the science behind it, the dosage amounts to take it in, and the ways it can aid your weight loss journey.

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Wegovy: What Is It?

Wegovy is a prescription-only treatment for obesity and a weight loss aid, manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It can be taken either as a weekly injection or a daily tablet, with both forms containing semaglutide as the active ingredient. Semaglutide is the same active ingredient as Ozempic, though that product isn’t licensed for weight loss in the UK, only to treat type 2 diabetes. Although effective, Wegovy is to be used in conjunction with regular exercise and a healthy diet to get the most from it.

Wegovy treatments tend to last 1-2 years, but can continue indefinitely, with injections reducing total body weight by an average of 15-21% and tablets by 13-17%. Its versatility in administration makes it a big name in the UK weight loss treatment market and a viable option for those who wish to reduce their BMI (Body Mass Index).

Wegovy was approved as a weight loss treatment by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) in 2023 and again in 2026 for its tablet formulation, making it the first oral GLP-1 approved in the UK.

Wegovy Tablet vs Injections 

Wegovy is available as both an injection and an oral tablet, though the ingredients and function remain the same: a semaglutide-based single-agent agonist. The differences lie in administration and frequency.

The tablet may be preferable for those who dislike needles, but it must be taken daily and on an empty stomach in the morning. The injection, meanwhile, can be taken at any time of day, once a week, regardless of when you last ate or drank.

Some may prefer the once-per-week schedule, injecting on a Monday morning, for example, going the rest of the week without having to keep it in mind. For others, the routine of a daily tablet may keep their diet and exercise routine strict and effective.

At the end of the day, only you know what will work best for you. Careful consideration and research of both options is important to determine which is best for you. However, our clinicians will always be there to offer advice and support.

What Does Wegovy Do?

Wegovy reduces appetite, stabilises blood sugar levels, and slows digestion to make you feel fuller for longer. This supports other healthy practices to ensure the overall weight loss process is more effective and efficient. Ideally, a calorie deficit should be achieved, where your body burns more calories than it takes in. This will greatly help Wegovy reduce your BMI.

Both Wegovy tablets and Wegovy injections do the same thing, and they are the first and only GLP-1 available in both forms. Weight loss tablets have existed before, but in the past, they worked differently from injections, usually by blocking fat absorption. These tablets did not yield the same results as injections and led to less weight loss.

However, Novo Nordisk were able to replicate the effectiveness of injections to a similar degree in tablet form, solidifying their position in the market.

How Does Wegovy Work?

When taken, Wegovy targets the natural hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and mimics it, essentially tricking your brain into craving less food. The semaglutide contained within the treatment has a few effects on the body, these being:

• Interacting with the brain directly, suppressing hunger cravings
• Slowing down the rate at which the stomach digests food, keeping you feeling fuller for longer
• Preventing the liver from producing and releasing excess sugar

Both the injections and the tablets work the same way; they just reach their destination through different means. The injection goes directly into the bloodstream, while the tablet travels through the digestive system first.

The tablet is coated with a protective layer of Salcaprozate Sodium and Magnesium Stearate, which ensures the medicine passes through the digestive system safely before entering the stomach. This is why you must swallow the tablet whole rather than crush or chew it, as doing so will minimise the treatment's effectiveness.

Benefits of Wegovy Besides Weight Loss

Aside from being used as a weight loss treatment, Wegovy can have other beneficial effects on your health:

Cardiovascular Disease 

Adults who are obese, overweight or have a history of cardiovascular disease will benefit additionally from Wegovy injections. It can be effective in reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as stroke, heart attack, and non-fatal myocardial infarction.

Studies have found the risk of these events falls by 20% through the use of Wegovy, and it may one day be offered on the NHS as a cardiovascular treatment.

Relationship With Contraception

As it currently stands, there is no evidence that Wegovy should impact your contraceptive practices. While at first this doesn’t seem like a positive, other weight loss treatments will interact with contraceptives. Oral pills become significantly less effective when taken with medicines such as Mounjaro, giving Wegovy an additional benefit over its competition.

Liver Disease 

Studies have shown that Wegovy injections are an effective treatment for adults with metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), who also have at least a moderate form of liver fibrosis. The dosage timeline will be the same as if using it for weight loss.

The MHRA approved injectable Wegovy for this purpose in 2026, on the condition that further testing continues. If it is safe and successful, a full marketing authorisation will be granted, and clinicians will be able to prescribe it for MASH. The Wegovy tablet has not yet been approved and may not be in the future. The progression of this treatment is yet to be seen, but the trials so far have shown very promising results.
 

How Quickly Does Wegovy Work? 

Wegovy will begin to have positive effects as soon as you take the first dose. Visible weight loss will not happen immediately, but by the end of the second month, you should see a noticeable drop of around 6%. The weight loss by the end of treatment should be clear, and examples can be found in our before-and-after weight loss guide, along with real customer reviews.

Your first week should give you an indication of how your body responds to the medicine, so be on the lookout for any side effects you may want to monitor over time.

Who Can Use Wegovy?

Wegovy is designed to aid those who need support on their weight loss journey. Eligibility comes down to BMI (Body Mass Index). If yours is ≥ 30, or ≥ 27 if you have at least one weight-related health issue, such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease, then you may be eligible to start the treatment.

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Who Cannot Use Wegovy?

You should not take Wegovy if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to conceive or breastfeed. Individuals with digestive issues (including gastroparesis), MEN 2, pancreatitis or a history of thyroid cancer should avoid it too.

You may have an allergy to a Wegovy ingredient, or it may be incompatible with another medicine you’re taking. Wegovy only acts as a weight loss aid, so an improved diet and physical exercise are needed and require dedication and commitment.

Wegovy may interact with other medicines in undesirable ways. Treatments for diabetes can reduce your blood sugar levels too much when taken at the same time as Wegovy, and blood thinners and thyroid medications may also cause harmful side effects.

Always consult a clinician before starting Wegovy treatment.

How to Use Wegovy

Wegovy can be taken in two ways, each at different frequencies.

For the injections, Wegovy must be taken on the same day each week, but the time of day is up to you. It is to be safely injected into the fatty tissue under the skin, such as around your stomach, upper arms or upper thighs:

The arms are not recommended if you're doing the injection yourself, as it can be difficult to achieve the correct angle without assistance. It is also advised to rotate the injection site weekly. The same body part may be chosen, but alternating between the left and right sides will reduce the risk of infection. The Wegovy will have the same effect regardless of where it is injected.

For the tablet, the method is much simpler, though it still has rules to follow. It is to be swallowed on an empty stomach, defined as at least 8 hours without food or drink. For most, this will be in the morning after sleeping, though if you stayed up late, had a midnight snack, and then woke up early the next morning, it may not have been the full eight hours yet.

Wegovy pills should not be chewed or crushed, as this will damage the protective coating that allows them to safely pass through the digestive system. After taking it, you will need to wait a further 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking any other oral medication, to ensure the medicine is fully absorbed. Take the tablet only with water.

All this will ensure that Wegovy is working to its maximum effect and that you stay safe while using it.

Wegovy Dose Schedule 

The starting dose of the Wegovy injection is prescribed at 0.25mg once weekly for 4 weeks. At this point, your dosage may be increased to 0.5mg, but this can vary. Your clinician will monitor your progress and increase your dosage as needed, potentially up to 7.2mg.

It will take around five months to reach 7.2mg, but not everyone will need a dosage that high. Some may terminate their treatment due to side effects, while others will have attained their weight goal before that point. See the visual guide to the dosage schedule below: 

 The starting dose of the tablet is 1.5mg, and it increases monthly rather than weekly. From month four onwards, the strength is 25mg, but as with the injections, not everyone will choose to reach that point. Furthermore, the duration of the maintenance dose is not set in stone; it lasts as long as you need it.

How Much Weight Do You Lose on Wegovy?

An OASIS-4 clinical trial found that patients taking Wegovy tablets lost 16.6% of their total body weight after 64 weeks. A clinical trial of the injections found an average weight loss of 20.7% over 68 weeks, with patients on the highest dosage.

There is no guaranteed amount of weight you will lose on Wegovy; your weight loss may fall below or above the average. However, should you fall drastically below the average, your clinician may recommend another treatment, as in that instance, it would seem that Wegovy may not be for you.

There may be other reasons you aren’t losing weight on the treatment, such as administering the dosage incorrectly, not supporting Wegovy with proper exercise or diet, or having an underlying medical issue that is preventing it from being effective. Should you be concerned about any of these, your clinician can advise you further.

How to Lose the Most Weight on Wegovy 

There are several factors that will increase the amount of weight you lose while on Wegovy. The treatment is a weight loss aid, not a cure, and therefore needs to be supported by a healthy lifestyle to function effectively.

The first step to note would be a dietary change. Foods to prioritise include chicken, fish, eggs and tofu, as they are all good sources of protein. Have them with vegetables and bread for a full plate of vitamins and carbohydrates.

Not all fruits and vegetables are recommended. Those with a high GI (Glycaemic index) will raise blood sugar levels and counteract Wegovy's efforts to lower them. Oranges, pears, carrots and sweetcorn are all classed as having a high GI, so take this into your dietary considerations. Other high-sugar foods, as well as fried or processed foods, are also ill-advised. Alcohol is acceptable but in strict moderation, as it may worsen side effects like nausea and headaches.

A consistent sleep schedule, reduced stress levels, and a well-maintained dosing schedule will all benefit the treatment as well. When it comes to exercise, cardiovascular activities such as jogging, swimming, walking, or cycling will all help Wegovy work and increase calorie expenditure.

Roughly 2.5 hours per week of varied activity will greatly help reduce BMI. The more effort you put in, the more effective Wegovy will be. 

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Common Side Effects of Wegovy

Like all medications, Wegovy can cause side effects, and you should be aware of them before committing to a treatment plan.

The most common are gastrointestinal symptoms, which occur within or originate from the digestive system, and these tend to emerge at the start of treatment and when the dosage is increased. A clinical trial found that 74.2% of participants experienced at least one of these symptoms:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Constipation

These Wegovy side effects are typically mild to moderate and perfectly normal, though if you are struggling to cope with them, there are ways to manage them.

Eating more bland foods like crackers, toast or rice, eating slowly, and eating water-based foods like soup will all help lessen any nausea Wegovy could cause. Avoid lying down after meals; instead, sit upright or take a light, slow walk to help your stomach digest the food properly.

If you find that your side effects worsen over time, seek advice from your clinician. These are the most common Wegovy side effects, but a complete list is available in the Patient Information Leaflet.

How Do Wegovy Injections Compare to Mounjaro?

Wegovy and Mounjaro injections work very similarly. They’re both administered weekly and mimic hormones to regulate BMI. Where they differ is in their active ingredients: Wegovy has semaglutide, while Mounjaro has tirzepatide, and this leads to the core differences.

Mounjaro’s active ingredient makes it a dual agonist, targeting two hormones at once, whereas Wegovy targets one. At the highest dose of each, Wegovy reduces total body weight by an average of 20.7%, whereas Mounjaro reduces it by an average of 22.5%. Mounjaro is considered the more effective treatment for weight loss, but it may not be the best option for you personally.

One treatment may contain an ingredient you are allergic to, or one treatment's side effects may be less severe than the other's. There is also cost and availability to consider. 

We offer a comprehensive breakdown of the differences in the two treatments so you can easily find which one would work best for you. If approved by your clinician, you can switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy injections, but you cannot alternate between them week to week.

Research is fundamental before starting either treatment, as it is not something to be rushed into.

How Do Wegovy Tablets Compare With Mounjaro?

The ingredients in Wegovy tablets and injections are the same, so the tablets and Mounjaro injections have the same effect. However, the injections are slightly closer to Mounjaro’s effectiveness than the tablets are, making the tablets the least effective of the three listed options.

Unlike Wegovy, there is currently no Mounjaro tablet on the market, so for individuals who dislike injections, this already works to Wegovy’s advantage. However, Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, is developing a GLP-1 tablet with the active ingredient Orforglipron, so this may change in the future. Until then, Wegovy is the only tablet of its kind available. When this changes, we’ll let you know.

Prescription Doctor and Your Wegovy Weight Loss Journey

Applying for Wegovy treatment is quick and simple through our online questionnaire; no appointment or phone call is required. Once your form has been submitted, one of our clinicians will review it before passing it along to our General Pharmaceutical Council-registered dispensing pharmacy.

If we believe the treatment is right for you, your first dosage will come in the mail in plain packaging, even the very next day if your form is approved before 3pm on a weekday.

Wherever you are in your weight loss journey, Prescription Doctor is here for you. We’ve been assisting individuals reach their goals since 2013, and we’re ready to help you, too. Our clinicians are available to answer any questions or concerns you may have about your treatment - we only want what’s best for you.

Our team will support your weight-loss journey every step of the way, but only you can take the first step. Start your consultation with Prescription Doctor today, and we’ll be happy to help.

Authored & Reviewed By

Mohamed Imran Lakhi

MPharm - Lead Pharmacist

Imran Lakhi is the superintendent pharmacist and founder at Prescription Doctor. He has been at the core of our team.

Published on: 14/07/2026 Reviewed on: 14/07/2026