A weight loss pill can now be bought privately
The once-a-day Wegovy weight loss pill is now available to purchase privately from High Street and online pharmacies in the UK, though it is not yet accessible through the NHS.
This pill contains the same active ingredient, semaglutide, as the Wegovy weight loss injections but is recommended to be used alongside a healthy diet and increased physical activity.
Here is what you need to know about the pill version of the popular weight loss treatment.
How do you take the pill?
There are strict guidelines to ensure optimal absorption of the pill by the body:
- Take it on an empty stomach after fasting for at least eight hours.
- Take it at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else, or taking other tablets.
- Swallow the tablet whole with a sip of up to 120ml of plain water (no fizzy water, coffee, or tea).
- Ideally, take it at the same time every day to establish a routine.
If a dose is missed, skip that day’s dose and resume the regular schedule the following day.
Tablets vs injection
Aside from the form—pill versus injection—both treatments have shown similar effectiveness in clinical trials.
If you dislike needles, the tablet may be preferable. However, if fasting for eight hours before taking a daily pill is inconvenient, the once-weekly injection might be more suitable.
The injection can be administered at any time of day but requires refrigeration.
Who can get the pill and where can you buy it?
The pill is available to individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above (classified as obese), or those with a BMI between 27 and 30 (overweight) who also have certain weight-related health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.
This eligibility mirrors that for the injection.
Obtaining the pill requires a consultation—either online or face-to-face—to determine if it is appropriate for the individual.
Several online and High Street pharmacies have announced they will soon have stock available for delivery. Some recommend joining waiting or mailing lists to receive updates.
Consumers are advised to use credible websites to avoid counterfeit medications.
What are the side effects?
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in both the pill and injection, mimics the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), which is released from the intestine after eating.
It acts on brain receptors that regulate appetite, promoting feelings of fullness, reducing hunger, and decreasing food cravings.
Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhoea.
Injection users may experience mild skin redness, itching, or swelling at the injection site.
Some individuals on either form may also report stomach pain, headaches, and tiredness.
Rare but serious complications can include low blood sugar, pancreatitis, or severe allergic reactions.
Patients should consult the patient information leaflet for comprehensive details.
The medication is not recommended for individuals under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those should discuss any other medical conditions or medications with their doctor before use.
What dose do you start on?
The initial dose is 1.5mg once daily for one month. Following consultation, the dose is typically increased monthly up to the recommended maximum of 25mg once daily.
Similar to the injection, it may take several months to achieve full benefits, and weight regain is possible after discontinuation.
Patients currently on a 2.4mg semaglutide injection privately may switch to daily 25mg semaglutide tablets under medical supervision.
A healthcare professional should always be consulted before switching treatments, as the appropriate dose and regimen vary by individual.
How do weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy work?
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How much does it cost and will it be cheaper than the injection?
Prices vary depending on the pharmacy and dosage.
Some pharmacies offer limited-time introductory pricing, with initial doses sold at lower prices.
Costs depend on the dose, with higher doses priced higher.
Currently, the 1.5mg dose is priced around £99 for a 30-day supply, while the 25mg dose costs approximately £199 for 30 days.
In the US, the manufacturer launched the 1.5mg dose at $149 (about £110) per month.
There is hope that the pill will be less expensive than the injection over time, but this is not yet confirmed.
Some pharmacies currently charge similar prices for both forms.
When will it be available on the NHS?
Earlier this month, Wegovy became the first tablet of its kind to receive clearance from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
However, it is not yet known if or when it will be available on the NHS.
The next step involves evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which will review trial data and other information to assess cost-effectiveness.
Adam Burt, head of obesity for pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, told the BBC's Today Programme that "we need to make sure the medicines are cost effective for the NHS [and] the taxpayer".
He added that the review process typically takes 9 to 12 months.
Are the pills a short-term fix?
GLP-1 drugs are not intended for short-term or cosmetic weight loss in any form.
Health experts strongly advise against using them as a quick fix for aesthetic goals, although misuse has been reported.
How well does it work?
In a recent trial, participants took Wegovy or a placebo alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for 64 weeks.
Those taking Wegovy tablets lost an average of 13.61% of their body weight, compared with 2.18% in the placebo group.
Professor Susan Jebb, professor of diet and population health at the University of Oxford, stated that these drugs have potential for long-term use, similar to medications for blood pressure or cholesterol, but expressed caution about relying on them as a solution to obesity.
"Pretty much everybody has a good intention to eat healthily today, but somehow that gets eroded when you walk down the high street and there are coffee shops and cafes and muffins... and chocolates on a three-for-two deal."
What is being done about counterfeit pills?
Counterfeit pills are a significant concern.
Burt said, "Fake pills being sold is a 'massive concern', but added that Novo Nordisk had a number of measures to prevent such medication being distributed."
"[This includes] monitoring of online spaces, particularly online where people can be exposed to fake drugs websites selling counterfeit medicines, fortified medicines.
We have an operation where we take down sites directly, we had a successful High Court judgement a couple of weeks ago, that enables us to work directly with service providers to take down these sites."
Burt noted that the company collaborates with regulators including MHRA and law enforcement, with police conducting multiple sting operations.
He also advised people to obtain information from the NHS website or Novo Nordisk's official site.
Get in touch
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