Up to 16.6% weight loss with clinically proven tablets*

Weight loss tablets work in different ways depending on their active ingredient.  

Wegovy contains semaglutide, which is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which means it mimics the GLP‑1 hormone that helps regulate appetite. Semaglutide supports weight loss by: 

• Reducing appetite 

• Helping you to feel fuller longer after meals 

There are other non-prescription weight loss tablets available that can support weight reduction, provided they are deemed suitable following a successful clinical assessment. Some of the most commonly recognised options include:  

• Orlistat 60mg (Orlos or Alli brands) - is a weight loss tablet that may be used in adults with a BMI ≥ 28kg/m2, in conjunction with a low-fat diet. Orlistat works by reducing the absorption of fat from your diet. 

• Formoline L112 – is a weight loss tablet that can bind to dietary fats in the gastrointestinal tract, effectively reducing the number of calories absorbed from fatty food. 

Wegovy tablets are prescription-only medicines. They are only supplied where clinically appropriate after assessment by a clinician. Treatment is not guaranteed. Do not stop, combine or switch weight management treatments unless advised by a clinician.

Wegovy tablets have been licensed for use in the UK for weight management, with the 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg dose escalation schedule.   

Pharmacy2U is offering them through its private Online Doctor weight loss service from early July 2026, subject to stock availability and clinical suitability. If a clinician prescribes treatment, it will only be dispensed once stock is available. Treatment is not guaranteed.

They are not currently available on the NHS.

At Pharmacy2U, the standard cost of Wegovy tablets is as follows (pending a full and successful clinical consultation): 

• Dose level 1 – 1.5 mg - £109.99 

• Dose level 2 – 4 mg - £119.99* 

• Dose level 3 – 9 mg - £159.99* 

• Dose level 4 – 25 mg - £199.99* 

If Wegovy tablets are eventually offered on the NHS for weight loss, they may be available for the standard prescription charge, or free of charge for people who do not pay for prescriptions.  

The cost of non-prescription weight management aids can be found on their respective pages: Orlos, Alli, and Formoline L112.

*Prices to be confirmed once stock is available

Wegovy tablets mimic GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone that regulates appetite. It activates receptors in the brain and gut that can reduce appetite and caloric intake.   

The Wegovy tablet also slows down the speed at which food empties from the stomach, known as gastric emptying, allowing you to feel fuller for longer, which reduces your appetite. This can help support weight loss weight reduction when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. 

The eligibility criteria for Wegovy tablets are as follows.  

Private prescribing (typical criteria):  

• A BMI of 27 or above with a weight‑related health condition (such as high blood pressure)  

• A BMI of 30 or above  

• Adults aged 18 or above 

For more information, please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) provided with your medication or consult your healthcare professional. 

Wegovy tablets may not be suitable, or may need additional clinical review, if you:  

• have kidney problems  

• are breastfeeding  

• have diabetic retinopathy  

• have low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia)  

• are pregnant or trying to get pregnant  

• have ever had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any ingredient in Wegovy  

• have type 1 or 2 diabetes  

• have a history of pancreatitis   

• have severe congestive heart failure  

• have gastroparesis 

• are undergoing anaesthesia or deep sedation 

You should speak to your clinician if any of the above apply to you, but also if you have any other conditions. 

For more information, please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) provided with your medication or consult your healthcare professional. 

There is no single ‘best’ tablet, or treatment of any kind, for weight loss. The most suitable weight loss treatment for you depends on your individual health profile, your BMI, and your clinician’s assessment of your consultation form. 

To find the right type of weight loss support for you, you first need to complete an online consultation at a time that suits you to let us know about you and your health profile. This will be reviewed by our expert clinicians who will consider any treatment preferences and recommend a suitable next step.

Although Wegovy tablets and Wegovy injections contain the same active ingredient, they are taken and absorbed differently. This means dosing, instructions and suitability may differ. A clinician can advise which formulation, if any, may be appropriate for you. The effects and clinical outcomes of each formulation may vary between patients.

Wegovy tablets have been shown to be effective for weight loss when compared with a placebo (a tablet with no active medicine). In OASIS 4, the EMA reported average weight loss of 13.61% with Wegovy tablets compared with 2.18% with placebo over 64 weeks. Novo Nordisk has separately reported 16.6% mean weight loss when treatment was adhered to. Individual results vary.

Whilst the Wegovy tablet is approved for use in the UK, it is not currently available via the NHS. Any decision on NHS use will follow established processes, including an evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).  

If semaglutide tablets are introduced on the NHS for weight management in the future, the criteria would be determined by NHS guidance at that time.

Very common (more than 1 in 10) side effects of weight loss tablets include:  

• headache 

• feeling sick (nausea) 

• being sick (vomiting) 

• diarrhoea 

• constipation 

• stomach pain 

• feeling weak or tired 

• upset stomach or indigestion 

These usually go away over time. If you experience vomiting or diarrhoea, you may lose more fluid than usual resulting in dehydration. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. If symptoms are severe or persistent, contact a healthcare professional for advice. 

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) side effects of weight loss tablets include: 

• feeling dizzy 

• burping 

• gas (flatulence) 

• bloating of the stomach 

• inflammation of the stomach (gastritis) – the signs include stomach ache, feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting) 

• reflux or heartburn – also called ‘gastro-oesophageal reflux disease’ 

• gallstones 

• hair loss 

• change in the way food or drink tastes 

• change in skin sensation 

• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in patients with type 2 diabetes 

• diabetic eye changes (in patients with type 2 diabetes) 

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) side effects of weight loss tablets include: 

• low blood pressure 

• feeling dizzy or lightheaded on standing or sitting up because of a drop in blood pressure 

• fast heartbeat 

• increase of pancreatic enzymes (such as lipase and amylase) shown in blood tests 

• a delay in the emptying of the stomach 

• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in patients without diabetes 

• increased levels of bilirubin in your blood. Signs include jaundice which is yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes 

More serious, uncommon, rare, and very rare side effects may include: 

• acute pancreatitis can present as severe persistent abdominal pain, with or without nausea or vomiting – stop using the medicine and seek urgent medical attention 

• allergic reactions including anaphylaxis with symptoms like swelling, difficulty breathing, or severe rash – stop using the medication and call 999 immediately  

• kidney or bladder stones 

• hip fractures – seek medical attention after a fall where there is severe hip pain or an inability to stand or bear weight  

• sudden loss or rapid worsening of vision 

• severe constipation with abdominal pain, bloating or vomiting, or inability to pass stools or wind which can be signs of bowel obstruction 

• severe upper abdominal pain with fever, vomiting or jaundice  

• significant dehydration, including inability to retain fluids, passing less urine, faintness, or confusion 

If you experience any of the serious side effects, stop using the medicine and seek urgent medical advice.  

The information provided in the side effects section is not a comprehensive list of all possible side effects associated with weight loss medication. For a complete list of side effects, please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) provided with your medication or consult your healthcare professional.  

If you experience any side effects, including those not listed, you are encouraged to report them via the Yellow Card Scheme or contact your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. Reporting a suspected side effect does not replace seeking medical advice or emergency help.  

This information is intended as a summary for general awareness and does not replace professional medical advice. 

Wegovy has different doses and a schedule to help you get used to the medication. The starting dosage is 1.5 mg and can be built up over a period of time to reach a clinically appropriate maintenance dose which will be the dose a clinician considers appropriate for you. 

The recommended starting Wegovy tablets dose is 1.5 mg, which is taken daily. You stay on the same dosage for 4 weeks then may increase to a higher dose if appropriate. This gives your body time to adjust to the medicine and may help reduce side effects. 

If side effects are lasting longer than expected, or are severe or worrying, speak to a clinician. They can advise whether your dose should stay the same for longer or whether your treatment plan should be adjusted.

If you’ve missed your Wegovy tablet, you should just skip that day’s dose and resume your agreed treatment plan as normal the next day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. 

Store Wegovy tablets in the original package to protect them from light and moisture. Keep them out of the sight and reach of children. Wegovy tablets do not require any special temperature storage conditions.

This will be completely individual to you. The clinician will consider your treatment plan, your medical history, your individual details including current and target BMI, and your own feedback on your experience so far, before making their recommendations as to what dose will be the safest and most effective dose for you. The clinician will make the final decision, but this is always in consultation and collaboration with the patient. 

When you stop taking your weight loss medication, the effect of the medication will gradually fade. Appetite and hunger may increase, and the feeling of fullness after eating may reduce. Gastric emptying returns to its previous rate, which can mean feeling less full after meals. 

This means the likelihood of putting the weight back on you have previously lost increases. One study from 2022 found that after 68 weeks of weight loss treatment, the average patient saw a drop of 15% in their body weight, but within one year from the end of their treatment, patients saw an average of two thirds of their prior weight loss returned. 

Wegovy tablets are prescription-only medicines that have been assessed by regulators for safety, quality and effectiveness. They are not suitable for everyone and should only be used under clinical supervision. 

The safety of the medication depends on several factors, including having a consultation to ensure you're a suitable candidate, following the correct dosage schedule, and regular monitoring by a clinician. This gives you professional guidance and support should you need it, such as managing side effects or issues with your medication.  

However, the popularity of GLP-1 medications has increased, which has coincided with the increase of illegal and falsified versions of the medicine. These may be falsely advertised online and on social media. Taking unauthorised GLP-1 medication can cause serious or unexpected side effects and may interact dangerously with any other medication you’re taking. GLP-1 tablets are only available on prescription and should only be taken under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Never buy them without a prescription or from unverified sources. 

Orlistat and Wegovy work in different ways. Orlistat works in the gut to reduce how much dietary fat your body absorbs. Wegovy contains semaglutide, which acts on areas of the brain involved in appetite and fullness. A clinician or pharmacist can advise which option, if any, may be suitable for you.

It is possible that you can switch between Mounjaro and Wegovy or injections and tablets, but it needs to be done under medical supervision. A clinician must assess current treatment, dose, timing, side effects, medical history and suitability. You should not stop, combine or switch treatments unless advised by a clinician. 

You can find our guide to switching weight loss treatments here.