The once-a-day Wegovy weight-loss pill, manufactured by Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk, has gone on sale at high street and online pharmacies across the UK. Thousands of patients began receiving their first deliveries on Monday, following approval by the UK's medicines regulator on 11 June.
The pill contains semaglutide, the same active GLP-1 ingredient as the Wegovy injection, and studies indicate it is similarly effective. It can be prescribed privately to overweight or obese individuals after a medical consultation, alongside a healthy diet and exercise. Unlike the injectable version, the pill is not yet available on an NHS prescription.
Availability and Pricing
The Wegovy pill is offered through various online pharmacies at different price points. According to one online pharmacy, the daily cost works out at approximately £2.30 through some multi-month treatment plans. Prices range from £69 for a month's supply as part of a three-month bundle for the 1.5mg starting dose, up to £189 for the highest dose of 25mg. In comparison, Wegovy jabs are sold for between £79 and £250 for a month's supply, while Eli Lilly's Mounjaro jab costs between £54 and £300 a month.
Popularity and Comparison to Injections
The Wegovy pill has been popular since its launch in the US at the start of the year. Eli Lilly launched its own pill, Foundayo (orforglipron), in early April. Both oral medications are cheaper than weight-loss injections, offering a more affordable option for patients.
Pharmacists note that the pill provides a more convenient alternative for people who are nervous about needles, travel frequently, or prefer a daily tablet over a weekly injection. Abdal Alvi, chief clinical officer at Simple Online Pharmacy, stated: "The Wegovy pill is a major development because it gives patients another way to access semaglutide without self-injecting. But it is not a tablet you can simply take with breakfast or your morning coffee. The way it is taken has a direct impact on how well the medication is absorbed, so patients need to understand the routine from day one."
Usage Instructions and Side Effects
The Wegovy pill must be taken with a sip of water on an empty stomach after fasting for at least eight hours. Patients must then wait at least half an hour before eating, drinking anything else, or taking other medication. Clinical trials showed that individuals taking the 25mg daily Wegovy pill lost between 14% and 17% of their body weight over 64 weeks, depending on adherence.
The most common side effects are gastrointestinal disorders, including nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, and vomiting. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advises anyone experiencing side effects to consult their doctor, pharmacist, or nurse and report it directly to the Yellow Card scheme.
Warning About Counterfeit Pills
The public has been warned about the dangers of fake pills sold online. Megan Rannard, from the intellectual property law firm Marks & Clerk, said: "There are a large number of websites that falsely claim to be legitimate online pharmacies and that advertise medication to the public without a consultation or a prescription, and at very low prices. There is a risk that these types of websites will sell consumers counterfeit pharmaceuticals which present a clear public health risk, or that these websites are simply a front for other types of fraud or phishing scams."
At the online pharmacy Juniper UK, tens of thousands of people had signed up to its waiting list for an initial consultation before the pill's launch. The MHRA continues to monitor the safety and efficacy of the medication.
