Wegovy® tablets contain semaglutide and are a prescription medicine used for weight management in eligible adults alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Our Wolverhampton-based medical weight management clinic welcomes patients from across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell, West Bromwich, Solihull and surrounding areas.
What Are Wegovy® Weight Loss Tablets?
Wegovy® tablets contain semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist used for weight management.
Unlike injectable Wegovy®, the tablet formulation is taken by mouth once every day.
It is intended to be used alongside dietary changes and increased physical activity as part of an overall weight management programme.
How Do Wegovy® Tablets Help with Weight Loss?
Semaglutide acts on GLP-1 receptors involved in regulating appetite and food intake.
This can help reduce hunger and food intake and increase feelings of fullness, supporting weight loss when combined with appropriate dietary and physical activity changes.
Who May Be Suitable for Wegovy® Tablets?
Wegovy® tablets may be considered for weight management in adults with:
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A BMI of 30 kg/m² or above (obesity), or
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A BMI of at least 27 kg/m² but below 30 kg/m² (overweight) together with at least one weight-related health condition.
Suitability is not determined by BMI alone. Your medical history, current medicines, previous weight management attempts and individual health circumstances should be assessed before treatment is prescribed.
How Are Wegovy® Tablets Taken?
Wegovy® tablets are taken once daily.
The tablet should be taken on an empty stomach after fasting for at least 8 hours.
It should be swallowed whole with a small amount of water — up to approximately 120 mL.
The tablet should not be split, crushed or chewed.
After taking Wegovy®, you should wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines.
Following these instructions is important because the absorption of oral semaglutide can be affected by food, drinks and other medicines.
What Are the Wegovy® Tablet Doses?
Treatment begins with a low dose and is gradually increased.
The usual dose escalation is:
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1.5 mg once daily for the first month
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4 mg once daily for at least one month
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9 mg once daily for at least one month
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25 mg once daily as the maintenance dose
If necessary, treatment may remain at a previous dose level for longer.
The maximum recommended dose is 25 mg once daily.
Only one Wegovy® tablet should be taken each day. Multiple lower-strength tablets should not be combined to produce a higher dose.
Dose changes should only be made following advice from your prescribing clinician.
What Happens If I Miss a Wegovy® Tablet?
If you miss a dose, the missed dose should be skipped.
Take your next tablet the following day according to your normal dosing schedule.
Do not take additional tablets to compensate for the missed dose.
Wegovy® Tablets or Wegovy® Injections?
Both formulations contain semaglutide, but they are administered differently.
Wegovy® tablets are taken once daily by mouth, while Wegovy® injections are administered once weekly under the skin.
The tablet also has specific fasting and administration requirements because absorption of oral semaglutide can vary.
Switching between injectable and oral semaglutide should therefore be clinically managed rather than patients changing formulations themselves.
What Are the Common Side Effects of Wegovy® Tablets?
The most frequently reported side effects include:
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Nausea
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Vomiting
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Diarrhoea
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Constipation
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Indigestion
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Abdominal pain
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Headache
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Fatigue
Digestive side effects are particularly common while the dose is being increased and may improve with time.
Are There Serious Side Effects?
Serious adverse effects can occur.
Acute pancreatitis has been reported with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Persistent and severe abdominal pain requires urgent medical assessment.
Other important risks and precautions include dehydration, severe allergic reactions, intestinal obstruction, gallstones and certain eye complications.
Sudden loss of vision, including partial loss of vision, requires urgent medical assessment.
Who Should Take Extra Care with Wegovy® Tablets?
Your clinician should review your medical history before treatment.
Particular consideration may be required if you have:
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A previous history of pancreatitis
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Gastroparesis or significant digestive problems
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Kidney impairment
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Liver impairment
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Type 2 diabetes
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Diabetic retinopathy
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Severe heart failure
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Planned surgery requiring general anaesthesia or deep sedation
Wegovy® tablets are not recommended for people with severe kidney impairment, including end-stage renal disease, or severe liver impairment.
Do Wegovy® Tablets Interact with Other Medicines?
Semaglutide delays stomach emptying and may affect the absorption of medicines taken by mouth.
This is one reason you should wait at least 30 minutes after taking Wegovy® before taking other oral medicines.
Additional consideration may be required for medicines including:
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Levothyroxine
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Warfarin and other coumarin anticoagulants
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Insulin
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Sulfonylureas
People taking levothyroxine may require consideration of thyroid monitoring.
People taking warfarin or another coumarin anticoagulant may require more frequent INR monitoring when semaglutide treatment is started.
Your complete medication history should therefore be reviewed before treatment.
Wegovy® Tablets and Diabetes
Wegovy® is not a replacement for insulin.
People with type 2 diabetes who take insulin or sulfonylureas may have an increased risk of low blood glucose when semaglutide is introduced.
Adjustment of diabetes treatment may therefore be required.
People with diabetic retinopathy may also require closer monitoring.
Wegovy® Tablets and Pregnancy
Wegovy® should not be used during pregnancy.
Women who could become pregnant are advised to use contraception while taking semaglutide.
If you are planning a pregnancy, semaglutide should be stopped at least 2 months before attempting to become pregnant.
Wegovy® tablets should also not be used while breastfeeding.
Why Have a Clinical Assessment Before Taking Wegovy® Tablets?
Weight loss medicines are not suitable for everyone.
Before prescribing Wegovy® tablets, we assess factors including your:
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BMI and weight
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Medical history
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Current medicines
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Previous weight management attempts
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Relevant health conditions
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Diet and physical activity
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Individual weight management goals
Where clinically appropriate, additional health measurements or investigations may also be considered.
Wegovy® tablets will only be prescribed when the prescribing clinician considers treatment clinically appropriate.
Book a Wegovy® Tablets Weight Loss Assessment
If you are considering Wegovy® tablets (semaglutide) for weight loss, you can book a consultation with our prescribing clinician.
We will assess your medical history, medicines, weight and individual circumstances to determine whether Wegovy® tablets, Wegovy® injections or another weight management treatment may be appropriate.
A consultation does not guarantee that Wegovy® or any other medicine will be prescribed.
