More than 7,000 people rushed to order the new Wegovy weight loss pill on its first day of sale at Asda pharmacies, the chain’s healthcare director, Faye Breckons, said. The once-a-day tablet, containing the same semaglutide ingredient as the Wegovy injection, became available privately on High Street and online pharmacies across the UK on Monday July 6, after being approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the medicines regulator.
Asda Online Doctor sells 1.5mg packs for £98.97 and 4mg packs for £118.97. Breckons revealed the company had received more than 13,000 enquiries about the pills in the two weeks leading up to launch. She said the majority of patients ordering were new to weight-loss medications, adding: “Maybe they weren’t keen on needles.”
“Over 7,000 ordered the Wegovy pill on its first UK sale day; experts warn of dangerous fakes.”
To be eligible, patients must have a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27-30 with at least one weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. The pill must be taken on an empty stomach after at least eight hours without food, with a sip of up to 120ml of plain water, and swallowed whole at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else. The MHRA explained that semaglutide works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, helping people feel fuller for longer and reducing hunger.
Boots Online Doctor will launch the pill on Sunday July 12. Jamie Kerruish, Boots’ chief healthcare officer, said: “The introduction of the new oral Wegovy pill is an important addition to our weight loss service.”
Common side effects include stomach problems such as nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhoea. More rarely, people can experience low blood sugar, pancreatitis or severe reactions. Experts have warned that the pill could be faked and sold on the black market, urging people to buy only from credible sources to avoid dangerous fakes.