How to take the Wegovy tablet correctly

What is the Wegovy tablet?

Wegovy oral tablets are a prescription-only weight loss treatment containing semaglutide. While Wegovy injections, which contain the same active ingredient, have been available in the UK for some time. Currently the Wegovy pill has not yet been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK, however they are expected to be approved and released in mid to late 2026.

Wegovy tablets are a prescription-only (POM) weight loss treatment containing the active ingredient semaglutide. Whilst the injections have been licensed and approved since 2023, the tablets are currently awaiting MHRA approval.

The four tablet strengths are 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg and 25mg (maximum maintenance dose)and are in the final stages of regulatory review prior to being launched.

How Do They Work?

As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide mimics the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone. This hormone plays an important role in suppressing appetite, slowing digestion and regulating blood sugar levels.

Semaglutide activates these receptors for longer than the natural hormone would and in doing so, can make you feel fuller, quicker for longer.

Its effects lead to reduced hunger and a lower calorie intake which, alongside increased physical activity levels can help promote weight loss.

How effective are Wegovy pills?

Data from clinical trials have shown that a daily 25mg Wegovy pill can result in an average weight loss of 13.6% after 64 weeks, compared to 2.2% with a placebo.

The same study additionally found that people taking Wegovy tablets were more likely to lose up to 20% of their starting weight, compared to placebo.

How to take

Whilst the injections are administered once-weekly, the tablets are administered once-daily.

With the injection, the drug is directly injected into subcutaneous fat, where more of it is available to work (high bioavailability).

The tablets have to pass through the digestive system: the stomach and intestines before the remainder is absorbed and is relatively less bioavailable. For this reason, the tablets need to be taken everyday to ensure a steady, therapeutic level of the drug in the body.

For eligible patients, treatment is initiated at the 1.5mg dose taken once-daily. This is increased until the 25mg maximum dose is reached.

A gradual dose titration is required to help your body adjust to the medication. Patients do not need to increase every 30 days, and can stay on a lower dose which offers a balance of effectiveness against tolerability.

Dose escalation

The dose of your Wegovy tablets can be increased but no sooner than every 30 days. This gradual dose escalation allows the body to safely adjust to the medication.

As with the injections, some patients may not need to increase the dose each month. If you are gaining active benefits of weight loss or maintenance with minimal side effects, you can safely remain at your preferred strength.

At Quick Meds, we monitor patients to ensure you are getting the most out of your medication in a safe manner. If you are experiencing side effects or not seeing optimum benefits, we can advise on how to safely adjust your dose accordingly.

Dose Tips

For optimum results:

• Take the tablets in the morning, on an empty stomach.

• Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other medications

• Tablets must be swallowed whole with \~100ml of water. (do not take with other liquids)

• Do not crush, cut, chew or dissolve the tablets.

Why does it have a strict dosing regimen?

Wegovy tablets have a strict, titrated (gradually increased) dosing regimen primarily to minimise gastrointestinal side effects and allow the body to effectively absorb its complex protein structure. The reasons are highlighted below:

Wegovy tablets contain SNAC technology. This helps the medication survive in the stomach long enough to be effectively absorbed. When combined with the strict dose rules mentioned above, you can optimise absorption of your medication.

Due to their effect on slowing gastric emptying and reducing appetite, it's important to start at the initiation dose. To start at a high dose immediately can shock the digestive system, causing severe side effects like constant vomiting, extreme nausea and severe diarrhoea.

Missed Doses

Wegovy tablets have been designed for ease of use, particularly when compared to the injections.
To ensure you are gaining the most out of treatment ensure to not:

• Crush, cut, chew, or dissolve the tablets.

• Take more than one tablet each day.

• Share your medication with others.

• Take if the pill appears damaged or discolored (it should be white to light yellow).

• Store in another container. Tablets should be stored in their original container.

• Take with any other liquid besides water.

• Store at temperature extremes - tablets should be stored at room temperature (not above 20-25°C)

Summary

The upcoming launch of Wegovy tablets is a significant milestone. It packs the proven effectiveness of semaglutide into a convenient pill form, suitable for those who have a needle-phobia, or patients frequently travelling.

However, true success on the tablets depends on how strictly you follow the dose instructions. By protecting the medicine from the stomach's environment, you can maximise absorption and with it, effectiveness.