What is Wegovy?

Wegovy 1.5 mg tablets contains semaglutide and is a prescription-only oral medicine used for weight loss and weight maintenance in eligible adults. Wegovy must be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Semaglutide is similar to a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is released from the intestine after eating. It acts on receptors in the brain involved in appetite control, helping you feel fuller and less hungry and experience fewer food cravings.

In the clinical study of Wegovy tablets described in the SmPC, adults receiving the 25 mg once-daily maintenance dose, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, had an estimated average reduction in body weight of 13.6% after 64 weeks, compared with 2.2% with placebo. This result relates to the 25 mg maintenance dose, not the 1.5 mg starting dose. Individual responses vary, and not everyone will lose the same amount of weight.

Who is Wegovy intended for?

Wegovy tablets are licensed for weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance, in adults with an initial body mass index of:

• 30 kg/m² or above, which is classified as obesity; or
• 27 kg/m² to below 30 kg/m², which is classified as overweight, when at least one weight-related health problem is also present.

Wegovy tablets are not recommended for children or adolescents under 18 years of age, as their safety and effectiveness have not been established in this age group.

Wegovy 1.5 mg starting dose

Wegovy 1.5 mg is the once-daily starting dose used during the first month of treatment. The dose is then usually increased gradually:

• Month 1: 1.5 mg once daily.
• Month 2: 4 mg once daily.
• Month 3: 9 mg once daily.
• Month 4 onwards: 25 mg once daily.

Each dose level is normally used for at least one month. The recommended maintenance dose is 25 mg once daily. Dose increases should only be made in accordance with the prescribed dosing schedule.

Do not take more than one tablet per day to obtain the effect of a higher dose.

How to take Wegovy tablets

Take one Wegovy tablet once daily:

• Take the tablet on an empty stomach after fasting for at least 8 hours.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a sip of water, using no more than 120 mL.
• Do not split, crush or chew the tablet.
• Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking another oral medicine.

Waiting less than 30 minutes may reduce the amount of semaglutide absorbed by the body. A pharmacist may provide advice on how to take Wegovy correctly where appropriate.

Patient Information Leaflet

Our service does not include a prescription. Instead, your treatment is supplied under a legal framework known as a Patient Group Direction (PGD). The process follows these steps:

1. Complete a health questionnaire

Provide detailed information about your health and medical history.

2. Pharmacist review

A pharmacist will review your responses and may contact you by phone or video call if further information is required to support safe supply.

3. Private consultation

All interactions are confidential. This provides an opportunity to discuss any questions and ensure appropriate use of the treatment.

4. Identity verification

You may be asked to provide identification to confirm that you are the intended user. This is typically required for your first order only.

5. Supporting evidence

You may be asked to provide relevant information, such as confirmation of weight, height, or medical history, to support safe supply.

Your GP will be notified of your request and the outcome of the supply decision, whether the treatment is supplied or not, to support continuity of care.

Purchasing this medication does not guarantee supply. The decision to supply is made by the pharmacist based on the information provided. If supply is not appropriate, your order will be refunded.

Main ingredients: Semaglutide 1.5 mg per tablet.

Excipients: Salcaprozate sodium, magnesium stearate

Wegovy tablets are used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance, in eligible adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related health problem.

Recommended dosing schedule

• Month 1: 1.5 mg once daily.
• Month 2: 4 mg once daily.
• Month 3: 9 mg once daily.
• Month 4 onwards: 25 mg once daily.

Each dose level should normally be used for at least one month. Where necessary, the previous dose level may be continued for longer.

The recommended maintenance dose is 25 mg once daily. The maximum recommended dose is 25 mg in one day.

How to take Wegovy

• Take one tablet once daily.
• Take the tablet on an empty stomach after fasting for at least 8 hours.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a sip of water, using no more than 120 mL.
• Do not split, crush or chew the tablet, as this may affect how semaglutide is absorbed.
• Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking another oral medicine.
• Do not take more than one tablet to obtain the effect of a higher dose.

Waiting for less than 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking another oral medicine may reduce the absorption of semaglutide.

Missed dose

If you forget a dose, skip the missed dose and take your usual dose the following day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

Additional advice

Do not stop taking Wegovy without speaking to your doctor.

If the response to treatment is lower than expected, check that the administration instructions are being followed and speak to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

Wegovy tablets are not recommended for children or adolescents under 18 years of age, as their safety and effectiveness have not been established in this age group.

Do not take Wegovy if:

• You are allergic to semaglutide, salcaprozate sodium, magnesium stearate or any other ingredient in this medicine.

Age restrictions

Wegovy tablets are not recommended for anyone under 18 years of age. Experience in adults aged 85 years or older is limited.

Speak to your doctor before taking Wegovy if you:

• Have previously had inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis.
• Have delayed stomach emptying, known as gastroparesis.
• Have kidney or liver problems.
• Have diabetes.
• Have diabetic eye disease.
• Have experienced recent changes in your eyesight.

Wegovy is not recommended in people with severe kidney impairment, end-stage kidney disease, severe liver impairment or severe gastroparesis.

Dehydration

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea can cause dehydration. Drink enough fluids, particularly if you have kidney problems.

Contact your doctor if you are unable to maintain your fluid intake or develop signs of dehydration.

Inflammation of the pancreas

Stop taking Wegovy and seek immediate medical attention if you develop severe and persistent abdominal pain, with or without nausea and vomiting. The pain may spread to your back and could indicate acute pancreatitis.

Severe allergic reactions

Seek immediate medical help if you develop:

• Difficulty breathing or wheezing.
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• A fast heartbeat.
• Pale and cold skin.
• Dizziness, weakness or feeling faint.

These may be signs of a severe allergic reaction.

Changes in eyesight

Contact your doctor urgently if you experience sudden loss of vision or rapidly or gradually worsening eyesight. This may indicate a serious eye condition requiring urgent assessment.

Bowel obstruction

Seek medical advice if you develop severe constipation accompanied by stomach pain, bloating or vomiting. These may be symptoms of bowel obstruction.

Kidney or bladder stones

Back pain, lower abdominal pain, difficulty passing urine or a change in urine colour may indicate kidney or bladder stones. Seek medical advice if these symptoms occur.

Diabetes and low blood sugar

Wegovy must not be used as a substitute for insulin.

Low blood sugar may occur, particularly in people with diabetes who also use insulin or a sulfonylurea medicine.

Signs of low blood sugar may include:

• Cold sweats or pale, cool skin.
• Headache or a fast heartbeat.
• Nausea or severe hunger.
• Changes in vision.
• Sleepiness, weakness or shaking.
• Nervousness, anxiety or confusion.
• Difficulty concentrating.

Wegovy should not be used with another glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medicine.

Interactions with other medicines

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse about all medicines you take, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Semaglutide delays stomach emptying and may affect the absorption of oral medicines. Additional monitoring may be required if you take:

• Levothyroxine.
• Warfarin.
• Another oral coumarin anticoagulant.

Wait at least 30 minutes after taking Wegovy before taking another oral medicine.

Surgery, anaesthesia and sedation

Tell your doctor or anaesthetist that you are taking Wegovy before any procedure involving general anaesthesia or deep sedation. Delayed stomach emptying may increase the risk of stomach contents entering the lungs.

Pregnancy

Wegovy should not be used during pregnancy.

Use effective contraception while taking Wegovy. Stop semaglutide at least two months before a planned pregnancy.

If you become pregnant while taking Wegovy, contact your doctor straight away, as your treatment will need to be changed.

Breastfeeding

Do not use Wegovy while breastfeeding, as a risk to a breastfed child cannot be excluded.

Driving and using machines

Wegovy is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, dizziness may occur, particularly while the dose is being increased.

Do not drive or operate machinery if you feel dizzy.

If you have diabetes and use insulin or a sulfonylurea, do not drive or operate machinery if you experience symptoms of low blood sugar.

Overdose

If you take more Wegovy than you should, contact your doctor immediately.

An overdose may cause gastrointestinal effects, including nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea, which may lead to dehydration.

Like all medicines, Wegovy can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.

Serious side effects requiring urgent medical attention

Other side effects: digestive, metabolic and cardiovascular systems

Other side effects: nervous system, senses, organs and general effects

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and stomach discomfort are often most noticeable while the dose is being increased and may improve over time.