Get the Wegovy Pill

The first oral GLP-1 weight-loss pill, clinically proven to help you lose an average of 16.6% of your body weight. Now approved in the UK and available to order through Voy.

The Wegovy pill is a once-daily tablet from Novo Nordisk, now approved in the UK by the MHRA. It contains the same active ingredient as the Wegovy injection (semaglutide), in a needle-free daily tablet, and produces an average of 16.6% weight loss over 64 weeks when taken as prescribed.

Since launching in the US in January 2026, it has passed three million prescriptions, roughly one filled every five seconds, and according to Novo Nordisk more than 80% of US patients starting it were new to GLP-1 medication altogether.

Below, we explain how it works, what the trials show, how the tablets are dosed, potential side effects, pricing, and how to get it in the UK.

Key Takeaways

• Mechanism of action: GLP-1 receptor agonist, the same active ingredient (semaglutide) as the Wegovy injection
• Efficacy: An average of 16.6% weight loss over 64 weeks at the 25mg dose, when taken as prescribed
• UK availability: Available to order through Voy
• Cost: from £64 a month for the lowest dose on a 12-month plan
• Common side effects: Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation; usually mild and improve over time

What is the Wegovy pill and how does it work?

The Wegovy pill is a once-daily tablet containing semaglutide, the same active ingredient as the Wegovy injection.

It's a type of medicine called a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it mimics the effects of GLP-1, a natural hormone your gut releases when you eat. The tablet works in the same way as the injection, just delivered orally instead of through a weekly jab.

Semaglutide supports weight loss by:

• Suppressing your appetite and reducing cravings
• Slowing digestion so you feel fuller for longer
• Helping manage blood sugar levels

Other weight loss medications work through the same GLP-1 pathway, including Mounjaro and Saxenda. Mounjaro also activates a second hormone called GIP alongside GLP-1. Mounjaro and Saxenda, by contrast, are only available as injections.

Dr Earim Chaudry

"The approval of the Wegovy pill is significant. For many people a daily tablet feels more manageable than a weekly injection, and crucially it removes a barrier that has kept people from starting treatment at all. What we have seen in the US is exactly that: the pill is bringing people into treatment who weren't ready before. The priority now is that wider access is matched by the same standard of care: the right patients, proper clinical assessment, and ongoing support," said Dr Earim Chaudry, Chief Medical Officer at Voy.

Wegovy pill dosage guide

The Wegovy pill comes in four strengths: 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg, and 25mg. Patients gradually move up to the maintenance dose to help the body adjust and reduce side effects.

Your prescriber may keep you on one dose for longer than 30 days to give your body more time to adjust to the medicine. The full treatment effect is usually seen once you reach the 25mg dose.

Side effects tend to be more noticeable when starting a new dose, so the stepped approach helps your body adjust gradually and tolerate the medication better.

How to take the Wegovy pill

The Wegovy pill is taken once a day on an empty stomach in the morning, with up to 120ml of water. It needs to be swallowed whole, not crushed, cut, chewed, or dissolved.

After taking the tablet, you'll need to wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything other than water, or taking any other oral medications.

If you miss a dose, skip that day and take your next scheduled dose the following day.

Wegovy pill clinical trials: how effective is it for weight loss?

The Wegovy pill produces an average of 16.6% weight loss over 64 weeks at the 25mg dose. It has been studied in the OASIS clinical trial programme, a series of large studies investigating oral semaglutide for weight loss, which show it can support significant weight loss.

OASIS 4 trial: People taking the Wegovy pill 25mg once daily (alongside a reduced-calorie diet and exercise) lost an average of 16.6% of their body weight over 64 weeks when taken as prescribed. Around one in three (34%) lost 20% or more.

OASIS 1 trial: An earlier trial looked at a higher 50mg dose, with patients losing 15.1% of their starting weight on average over 68 weeks. The 50mg dose isn't currently approved.

Beyond weight loss: At the European Congress on Obesity 2026, researchers presented further analysis from OASIS 4 showing around 77% of participants who started with poor physical function reported real improvements in everyday tasks like standing and bending while taking the Wegovy pill, compared to 43% on placebo.

Is the Wegovy pill available in the UK?

The Wegovy pill is now approved by the MHRA and available to order with Voy. It is a prescription-only medicine, so you’ll complete a short eligibility assessment and a Voy clinician will approve treatment only if it’s suitable for you.

Is the Wegovy pill available on the NHS?

The Wegovy pill is not currently available on the NHS, and NHS access usually takes longer than private routes. The NHS has higher eligibility thresholds and tends to move more slowly, as it weighs benefits against cost. Since Wegovy injections are already available, it will need to assess whether the tablet offers enough additional benefit.

Is the Wegovy pill approved outside the UK?

Yes. It was approved by the US FDA in December 2025 and launched across the US in January 2026, where it has since passed three million prescriptions. It's now also approved in the UK by the MHRA.

Where to buy the Wegovy pill in the UK

You can buy the Wegovy pill in the UK by ordering through Voy. It's a prescription-only medicine, which means you can't buy it over the counter and will need a prescription following a clinical assessment. With Voy, you complete a short eligibility assessment online and a clinician confirms it's suitable before prescribing.

You can also access it through registered UK pharmacies on a private prescription. Always check a provider is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) before buying any prescription medication.

How much does the Wegovy pill cost?

With Voy, Wegovy pill pricing starts from £79 a month for the lowest dose on a 6-month plan. Longer plans work out cheaper per month, and prices rise as your dose increases unless you choose to stay on a lower one. All new customers receive a discount on their first order.

The Wegovy pill isn't currently available on the NHS. If it's approved for NHS use in future, it would be available for the standard prescription fee of £9.90 (or free for those exempt from charges), though NHS access typically takes longer than private routes and isn't guaranteed.

Wegovy pill vs weight loss injections

Here's how the Wegovy pill compares to the main weight loss injections already available in the UK.

Weight loss figures reflect the highest approved dose of each medication in clinical trials.

Wegovy pill vs Wegovy injection

There hasn't been a direct head-to-head trial comparing the Wegovy pill and the injection, but we can look at results from separate studies.

In OASIS 4, the Wegovy pill (25mg daily) produced 16.6% weight loss over 64 weeks. In separate studies over 72 weeks, Wegovy injections produced 17.5% weight loss at the 2.4mg weekly dose and 20.7% at the 7.2mg weekly dose.

So the injection appears slightly more effective overall, but the difference is modest. The choice often comes down to personal preference and how you'd rather take it.

Wegovy pill vs Mounjaro

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide and acts on two hormones (GLP-1 and GIP), while the Wegovy pill contains semaglutide and acts on one (GLP-1). At their highest doses, Mounjaro produces slightly more weight loss (around 22.5%) compared to the Wegovy pill (16.6%). Mounjaro is currently only available as a weekly injection.

Wegovy pill vs Ozempic

Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide injections used to treat type 2 diabetes. There's no Ozempic pill. The closest oral options are Rybelsus (approved for type 2 diabetes) and the Wegovy pill (approved for weight loss). All three contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide.

Wegovy pill vs Rybelsus

Both contain semaglutide, but they're separate products. The Wegovy pill is a high-dose tablet approved specifically for weight loss, with doses up to 25mg daily. Rybelsus is a lower-dose tablet approved for type 2 diabetes, with starting doses much lower than the Wegovy pill.

In clinical trials, the Wegovy pill at its highest dose produced around 16.6% weight loss over 64 weeks, while Rybelsus produced approximately 4-5% weight loss (4.4kg average) in people with type 2 diabetes over 26 weeks.

Wegovy pill vs orlistat

Orlistat works completely differently to the Wegovy pill. Instead of reducing appetite, orlistat blocks your body from absorbing some of the fat in your food, reducing calorie intake. Where the Wegovy pill is taken once a day, orlistat is taken as a capsule up to three times a day with meals.

While the Wegovy pill produces around 16.6% average weight loss over 64 weeks, orlistat typically produces around 10% weight loss over a year. Orlistat is licensed and available in the UK, including through Voy.

Side effects of the Wegovy pill

Side effects of the Wegovy pill are similar to Wegovy injection side effects. The most common are mild digestive symptoms that usually improve over time as your body adjusts. In the OASIS 4 trial, gastrointestinal side effects were reported by 74% of people taking the Wegovy pill, compared to 42% on placebo, with most being mild to moderate and short-lived.

The most common side effects include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Stomach pain
• Tiredness
• Feeling bloated
• Heartburn

Side effects tend to be more noticeable when starting treatment or moving up to a higher dose. Gradually increasing your dose over time helps reduce the risk.

Serious side effects of the Wegovy pill

Like other GLP-1 medications, the Wegovy pill can occasionally cause more serious side effects, including:

• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Gallbladder problems, including gallstones
• Dehydration and kidney problems, caused by ongoing diarrhoea, nausea, or vomiting
• Serious allergic reactions, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, or severe rash
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), especially in people taking other diabetes medicines
• Vision changes in people with type 2 diabetes
• Increased heart rate at rest

The FDA labelling also includes a boxed warning about the risk of thyroid C-cell tumours, based on rodent studies. The medication isn't recommended for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

If you experience severe stomach pain, severe vomiting, or any signs of an allergic reaction, seek medical attention straight away.

Who can use the Wegovy pill?

The Wegovy pill is approved in the UK for weight management in adults, in line with the criteria used for the Wegovy injection: a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition.

At Voy, we can also prescribe off-label from a BMI of 25 if the benefits outweigh the risks. Your prescriber will review your full health history and current medications before recommending whether the Wegovy pill is suitable for you.

You can use our BMI calculator to see where you stand.

Is the Wegovy pill right for you?

The Wegovy pill may particularly suit people who:

• Prefer tablets to injections, taking a daily pill instead of a weekly jab
• Have a needle phobia or anxiety around injections
• Have experienced injection site reactions on Wegovy or Mounjaro
• Have reached their goal weight on weight loss injections and are looking at maintenance options

Who shouldn't take the Wegovy pill?

The Wegovy pill isn't recommended for:

• People with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)
• Those with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• Anyone with a history of pancreatitis or kidney problems
• People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Children and adolescents (under 18)
• Anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any of the ingredients in the Wegovy pill or injection

Tell your prescriber before starting the Wegovy pill if you:

• Have type 2 diabetes, especially if you're taking insulin or sulfonylureas
• Have a history of diabetic retinopathy
• Are scheduled for surgery or any procedure involving anaesthesia
• Are taking any other GLP-1 medicines (such as Wegovy injection, Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Rybelsus)

The Wegovy pill shouldn't be used at the same time as any other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicine, since they all work in the same way.

Your weight loss journey

The Wegovy pill is now approved in the UK and available to order with Voy.

You can also start today with Mounjaro or Wegovy weight loss injections, or Orlistat capsules, all alongside support from our clinical team whenever you need us.

Take our quiz to see which option is right for you.