The once-a-day Wegovy weight loss pill is now available to buy privately from High Street and online pharmacies in the UK, offering a needle-free alternative to the popular injection – but it remains unavailable on the NHS.
The tablet contains the same active ingredient, semaglutide, as the Wegovy jab, a hormone mimic that makes people feel fuller, less hungry and crave food less by acting on receptors in the brain that control appetite. Trials show the two forms are similarly effective, though the pill comes with a demanding set of rules to ensure proper absorption.
“Wegovy weight loss pill available privately in UK, same ingredient as jab, not on NHS.”
Patients must take the tablet on an empty stomach after not eating for at least eight hours. It should be swallowed whole with a sip of up to 120ml of plain water – not fizzy water, coffee or tea – and then wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else or taking other tablets. Ideally, it is taken at the same time every day. If a dose is missed, advice says to skip that day and resume with the scheduled dose the following day.
Eligibility mirrors that of the injection: people with a BMI of 30 or above (generally considered obese) or a BMI of 27 to 30 (overweight) who also have weight-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. A consultation – online or face-to-face – is required to confirm the pill is suitable.
A number of online and high street pharmacies say they will have stocks soon. Some suggest signing up to a waiting or mailing list to be kept up-to-date. People are being advised to go to credible websites to avoid buying fake medicine.
Both the pill and the injection share common side effects, including stomach problems like feeling sick, vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea. Some people may experience stomach pain, headaches and tiredness. More rarely, serious complications such as low blood sugar, pancreatitis or severe reactions can occur. With the injection, skin redness, itching or mild swelling at the injection site is also possible.
For those who dislike needles, the tablet may be a better option. But the injection, taken once a week at any time of day, may suit those who do not want to fast for eight hours before each daily dose. The jab must be stored in the fridge.
The pill's arrival expands access to semaglutide in the UK but leaves a key question unanswered: when, if ever, will the tablet version be made available on the NHS?