Weight Loss Tablets - Currently Unavailable
Weight loss tablets are medicines designed to support people who are trying to lose weight, usually by reducing how much fat or calories the body absorbs or by helping you stick to a lower‑calorie diet.
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What are weight loss tablets?
Current tablets such as Wegovy tablets contain semaglutide. They may help to support weight loss as part of a broader, clinically guided plan.
How do weight loss tablets work?
Semaglutide is a GLP‑1 agonist, which means it mimics the GLP‑1 hormone that helps regulate blood sugar.
Semaglutide supports weight loss by:
Reducing appetite
Helping you to manage blood sugar levels
Helping you to feel fuller longer after meals
Reducing “food noise” – frequent or intrusive thoughts about food
What are the weight loss tablet doses?
Wegovy tablets that are available in the US come in four strengths: 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg, and 25mg. You start on a lower dose and gradually increase it, provided it’s clinically suitable, and always under clinical supervision based on how you respond. The tablet strengths differ from the injection doses because the body absorbs semaglutide differently when it’s taken by mouth, so the amounts needed to achieve the same effect aren’t the same.
How do you take weight loss tablets?
Weight loss tablets such as Wegovy are taken once a day. They are swallowed whole and cannot be split of crushed.
You should take Wegovy tablets first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach with a small sip of water (the manufacturers advise no more than 4oz, which is about 100ml). Wegovy tablets should be taken 30 minutes before you eat, drink, or take any other medicines.
Wegovy tablets are usually started at the lowest dose, with any increase considered after at least 30 days if needed. Dose changes should always be guided by a doctor, who will help decide what’s most appropriate for you. A lower dose isn’t necessarily less effective - it may simply be the right dose for your body. Some people remain on a lower dose if they experience side effects at higher levels or if they’re already achieving the results they want without increasing further.
A typical dosing schedule might look like:
| Days on treatment | Dose |
|---|---|
| 1 - 30 | 1.5mg |
| 31 - 60 | 4mg |
| 61 - 90 | 9mg |
| 91+ | 25mg |
Will weight loss tablets be available on the NHS?
It’s not yet known whether Wegovy tablets will be available on the NHS. At the moment, only Wegovy injections are offered through NHS services for those who fulfil a number of requirements.
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. For now, the only established criteria relate to Wegovy injections, which are currently the form available through the NHS.
Current NHS criteria for Wegovy injections include:
Meeting the NHS BMI requirements for treatment
Having at least one weight‑related comorbidity listed in NICE guidance
Being referred to a specialist weight‑management service
Are weight loss tablets effective for weight loss?
Wegovy tablets have been shown to be effective for weight loss when compared with a placebo (a tablet with no active medicine). A clinical study reported* that people taking Wegovy tablets achieve an average weight loss of around 14% of their starting weight.
The studies also show:
28% lose at least 20%
47% lose at least 15%
60% lose at least 10%
76% lose at least 5% of their starting weight
These results reflect how semaglutide tablets can support meaningful weight loss when used alongside lifestyle changes and under clinical supervision.
How much will weight loss tablets cost in the UK?
It’s not yet possible to know how much Wegovy tablets will cost if they become available in the UK for weight loss. In the US, prices currently range from around $150 to $300, which is roughly £110 to £220. The final UK cost will depend on the price set by the manufacturer and how widely the tablets are supplied.
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.
Who will be eligible for weight loss tablets?
Since Wegovy tablets for weight loss are not yet available, it isn’t possible to say exactly who will be eligible. Eligibility will depend on the official guidance issued once the tablets are approved.
For now, we can only refer to current criteria for Wegovy injections, which differ depending on whether treatment is accessed privately or through the NHS.
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
NHS prescribing (current criteria for Wegovy injections):
A higher BMI threshold, plus
At least one weight‑related comorbidity listed in NICE guidance
Referral to a specialist weight‑management service
Wegovy tablets would also be expected to have similar restrictions to the injection, based on existing health conditions or other medicines you may be taking. You may not be able to use semaglutide if you:
have kidney problems
are breastfeeding
have diabetic retinopathy
have low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia)
are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
have inflammation of the pancreas
have ever had a serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or any ingredient in Wegovy
have diabetes
have a history of pancreatitis
have severe congestive heart failure
If Wegovy tablets become available in the UK, full prescribing criteria will be confirmed by healthcare professionals and regulatory bodies.
Treatments
Available treatment options and costs.
Mounjaro 2.5mg-15mg
(Contains tirzepatide)
| 2.5mg | £169.99
|
| 5mg | £189.99 |
| 7.5mg | £244.99 |
| 10mg | £279.99 |
| 12.5mg | £289.99 |
| 15mg | £299.99 |
Wegovy 0.25mg-7.2mg
(Contains semaglutide)
| 0.25mg | £94.99 | |
| 0.5mg | £114.99 | |
| 1mg | £144.99 | |
| 1.75mg | £168.99 | |
| 2.4mg | £189.99 | |
| 7.2mg | NEW | £289.99 |
Frequently asked questions
Currently, there are weight loss capsules available that can support weight reduction, provided they are deemed suitable following a successful clinical assessment. Some of the most commonly recognised options include:
Orlos (Orlistat 60mg) - is a weight loss pill that blocks digestive enzymes so some of the fat you eat passes through your body instead of being absorbed.
Alli (Orlistat 60mg) - is a weight loss pill that reduces the absorption of around a quarter of the fat you eat. For every 2 kg you lose through dieting alone, orlistat 60mg (Orlos and Alli) may help you lose up to 1 kg more.**
Formoline L112 – is a weight loss device that looks like a tablet, clinical studies demonstrate that Formoline L112 can bind to dietary fats in the gastrointestinal tract, effectively reducing the number of calories absorbed from food.‡
Weight loss capsules support weight management through one of the following mechanisms:
Blocking fat absorption - Orlos and Alli prevent some dietary fat from being broken down and absorbed, so it passes through the body instead.
Binding dietary fats - Formoline L112 physically binds fats in the stomach, reducing calorie intake from fatty foods.
All options may offer improved results when paired with a balanced diet and exercise.
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a GLP‑1 receptor agonist that mimics a natural hormone regulating appetite. It reduces hunger, increases fullness, slows stomach emptying, and helps regulate blood sugar.
Wegovy works systemically, affecting the brain’s appetite centres, and leads to reduced calorie intake.
Orlistat works in the gut to reduce how much dietary fat your body absorbs. Semaglutide (Wegovy) works differently, affecting appetite and how full you feel.
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Sources cited:
*The New England Journal of Medicine - Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity
** Alli (orlistat 60 mg) Patient Information Leaflet
‡ L112.com - Guideline-based use and efficacy of the lipid binder formoline L112 in the treatment of overweight and obesity
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