What Are Wegovy Tablets? The UK Guide to Oral Semaglutide
The first daily weight loss pill licensed in the UK — how the 25mg oral semaglutide tablet works, how to take it, what results to expect, and who it suits.
Part of the Overweight and Obesity Guide.
Key fact: On 11 June 2026 the MHRA approved Wegovy tablets (oral semaglutide 25mg) — the first weight loss pill of its kind licensed in the UK, and the UK was the first country in Europe to approve it. In its pivotal trial, people taking the tablet lost an average of 13.6% of their body weight over 64 weeks.
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Access Doctor provides Wegovy tablets following a GPhC-regulated online consultation with our pharmacist independent prescribers.
Order Wegovy Tablets →For years, the most effective weight loss medicines have all had one thing in common: a needle. Mounjaro, Wegovy and Saxenda are all injections, and for plenty of people that has been the deciding factor against treatment. Wegovy tablets change that equation — the same active ingredient as the Wegovy injection, semaglutide, in a once-daily pill.
This guide explains what the tablets are, how they compare with the medicines you may already know, and the practical rules that make the difference between the pill working well and barely working at all. For the wider treatment landscape, see our UK guide to prescription weight loss medication.
What are Wegovy tablets?
Wegovy tablets contain semaglutide 25mg, a GLP-1 receptor agonist made by Novo Nordisk, taken as one tablet each day. They are licensed for chronic weight management in adults, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity — the same licence framework as the weekly Wegovy injection.
The MHRA approved the tablets on 11 June 2026, making them the first oral GLP-1 medicine licensed for weight loss in the UK — and the UK the first country in Europe to approve one. Launch is expected in the second half of 2026, with access through private prescription services first; the tablets are not currently available on the NHS.
25mg
Full daily maintenance dose
1st
Oral GLP-1 licensed for weight loss in the UK
13.6%
Average weight loss over 64 weeks (OASIS 4)
Not the same as Rybelsus. Rybelsus is also oral semaglutide, but at lower doses (up to 14mg) and licensed only for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy tablets are a higher-strength 25mg formulation licensed specifically for weight management. The two are not interchangeable.
How oral semaglutide works
Semaglutide mimics GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a hormone your gut releases after eating. By activating GLP-1 receptors it reduces appetite, increases the feeling of fullness after meals, slows stomach emptying, and quiets the “food noise” that drives snacking and overeating. The result is that eating less feels natural rather than like a constant act of willpower.
The clever part of the tablet is getting a fragile peptide through the stomach intact. Each tablet pairs semaglutide with an absorption enhancer called SNAC (salcaprozate sodium), which locally raises the pH around the tablet and helps semaglutide cross the stomach lining before digestive enzymes break it down. This is also why the fasting rules below matter so much — food in the stomach dramatically reduces absorption.
How to take Wegovy tablets
The tablet only works properly if it is taken correctly. The routine is strict but simple once it becomes habit:
1
Take it on an empty stomach
First thing when you wake is easiest — before breakfast, coffee, or any other medicines.
2
Swallow whole with a small amount of water
Do not split, crush or chew the tablet, and keep the water to a few sips — large volumes reduce absorption.
3
Wait at least 30 minutes
No food, no drink other than that sip of water, and no other oral medicines for at least half an hour after taking it.
4
Repeat at the same time each day
A consistent daily routine keeps semaglutide levels steady and makes the fasting window easy to plan around.
The dose schedule
Like the injectable GLP-1 medicines, Wegovy tablets are started low and stepped up gradually to give your digestive system time to adjust. You spend at least a month on each step before moving up:
| Step | Daily dose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.5mg once daily | At least 4 weeks |
| 2 | 4mg once daily | At least 4 weeks |
| 3 | 9mg once daily | At least 4 weeks |
| 4 | 25mg once daily | Ongoing maintenance dose |
Your prescriber can hold any step for longer if side effects need more time to settle — the four weeks are a minimum, not a deadline. This mirrors the approach used for Mounjaro’s titration schedule.
What results to expect
The pivotal OASIS 4 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, followed adults with obesity (or overweight plus a weight-related condition) for 64 weeks on oral semaglutide 25mg alongside lifestyle support.
- 79% of participants lost at least 5% of their body weight — the threshold linked to meaningful improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar
- Around a third of those who took the tablet as prescribed lost 20% or more of their body weight
- Weight loss was accompanied by improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors and physical functioning scores
For context: that is broadly comparable to the Wegovy injection (around 15% in STEP 1) and below Mounjaro at full dose (up to 20.9% in SURMOUNT-1). See our head-to-head comparisons: Wegovy tablets vs Wegovy injection and Wegovy tablets vs Mounjaro.
Side effects and safety
Because the active ingredient is the same, the side effect profile closely mirrors the Wegovy injection. The most common effects are digestive and cluster around dose increases:
- Very common: nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting — usually mild to moderate and improving as your body adjusts
- Common: indigestion, reflux, burping, bloating, headache, tiredness, dizziness
- Uncommon but important: gallbladder problems (gallstones) and pancreatitis — seek advice for severe, persistent abdominal pain
In OASIS 4, serious adverse events were actually less frequent in the semaglutide group (3.9%) than the placebo group (8.8%), and discontinuation for side effects was uncommon. Eating smaller meals, avoiding very fatty food and staying hydrated all help during titration.
Seek urgent medical attention if you develop severe abdominal pain that does not settle (possible pancreatitis), signs of an allergic reaction (swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing), or persistent vomiting with inability to keep fluids down. Call 999 in an emergency.
GLP-1 medicines are not suitable for everyone. Wegovy tablets should not be used by people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2, in pregnancy or breastfeeding (stop before trying to conceive), or with a history of pancreatitis without specialist advice. Semaglutide can also delay the absorption of other oral medicines — your prescriber will review everything you take.
Who can take Wegovy tablets?
The UK licence covers adults with:
- A BMI of 30 or above (obesity), or
- A BMI of 27 or above with at least one weight-related condition — such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or obstructive sleep apnoea
- Commitment to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity alongside treatment
As with all prescription weight loss medicines, a clinical assessment comes first — covering your weight history, medical conditions, medicines and suitability. Our guide to healthy weight management for busy adults covers the lifestyle side that makes treatment results stick.
Tablet or injection?
Effectiveness is broadly similar, so the choice usually comes down to routine and preference. The tablet suits people who cannot face weekly injections, travel light, or prefer a daily habit; the injection suits people who would rather think about treatment once a week than manage a daily 30-minute fasting window. There is no wrong answer — the best medicine is the one you will actually take consistently.
We compare the two properly — results, side effects, practicalities and cost — in Wegovy tablets vs Wegovy injection.
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Order Wegovy Tablets →Frequently Asked Questions
Are Wegovy tablets available in the UK?
The MHRA approved Wegovy tablets (oral semaglutide 25mg) on 11 June 2026, making the UK the first country in Europe to license a daily weight loss pill. Novo Nordisk has indicated a UK launch in the second half of 2026, with private prescription access expected before any NHS availability.
How much weight can you lose on Wegovy tablets?
In the 64-week OASIS 4 trial, adults taking oral semaglutide 25mg lost an average of 13.6% of their body weight, rising to 16.6% among those who stayed on treatment, compared with around 2% on placebo. Around 4 in 5 participants lost at least 5% of their body weight.
Are Wegovy tablets the same as Rybelsus?
No. Both contain oral semaglutide, but Rybelsus is licensed only for type 2 diabetes at doses up to 14mg, while Wegovy tablets are a higher-strength 25mg formulation licensed specifically for weight management. They are not interchangeable and Rybelsus should not be used for weight loss.
How do you take Wegovy tablets?
One tablet is taken once a day on an empty stomach, ideally when you wake. Swallow it whole with a small amount of water, then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else, or taking other oral medicines. Following these rules matters — food and drink significantly reduce how much semaglutide is absorbed.
Do Wegovy tablets work as well as the injection?
Results are broadly comparable. The Wegovy injection produced around 15% average weight loss over 68 weeks in the STEP 1 trial, while the tablet produced 13.6% over 64 weeks in OASIS 4 — 16.6% in those who stayed on treatment. The main differences are the daily routine and fasting rules rather than effectiveness.
Who can be prescribed Wegovy tablets?
Wegovy tablets are licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 or above with at least one weight-related health condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnoea, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. A prescriber must assess your suitability before treatment.
Access Doctor supplies MHRA-approved weight loss treatment following an online consultation reviewed by a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber, dispensed from our UK pharmacy.
Weight Loss · Rx
Wegovy Tablets (Oral Semaglutide)
The first daily weight loss pill licensed in the UK — 25mg oral semaglutide.
View product →Weight Loss · Rx
Wegovy (Semaglutide Injection)
Once-weekly semaglutide injection with around 15% average weight loss in trials.
View product →Weight Loss · Rx
Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
Once-weekly dual-action injection with up to 20.9% average weight loss in trials.
View product →Weight Loss · Service
Weight Loss Treatment
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View treatments →References
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. MHRA approves oral semaglutide (Wegovy) tablets for weight management. 2026. gov.uk
- Aronne LJ, et al. Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (OASIS 4). N Engl J Med. 2025. nejm.org
- The Pharmaceutical Journal. MHRA approves semaglutide oral tablets for weight loss. 2026. pharmaceutical-journal.com
- Wilding JPH, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med. 2021;384:989–1002. nejm.org
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity (TA875). London: NICE. nice.org.uk
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. In a medical emergency, call 999.