Wegovy injections for weight loss

Wegovy (semaglutide) is licensed in the UK and is considered safe for most eligible adults when prescribed and monitored by a registered clinician. Side effects are common but usually mild and short-lived, and most affect the stomach and bowel. Serious reactions such as pancreatitis or gallbladder problems are uncommon. It is not suitable for everyone, including people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have a history of medullary thyroid cancer, MEN 2 or pancreatitis.

Most people report little or no pain, usually described as a brief scratch. The needle is very short and fine and the injection goes into the fatty layer just beneath the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm rather than into muscle. Rotating the site each week and letting the pen come to room temperature can make it more comfortable.

Nausea is usually managed by eating smaller, lower-fat meals, drinking fluids steadily through the day, avoiding lying down straight after eating and staying on the current dose for longer before any increase. Symptoms are most common in the first few days after a dose step-up and usually settle. Persistent or severe sickness, or vomiting that prevents you drinking, should be reported to your prescriber, who may reduce the dose.

There is no absolute contraindication, but alcohol is best limited. It irritates a stomach that is already emptying more slowly, which makes nausea and reflux more likely, and it can lower blood sugar in people also taking insulin or a sulfonylurea. Alcohol is also calorie dense, which works against the aim of treatment. Most people find their tolerance and desire for alcohol drops considerably.

Yes. UK regulations allow semaglutide to be prescribed following a remote consultation, provided a registered prescriber assesses your medical history, confirms your height and weight, and arranges follow-up. Registered online services must also check identity and may request further evidence. Face-to-face review remains an option and is sometimes preferable where the history is complex.

Yes. Semaglutide is not a fixed course, and treatment can be stopped at any point. Because appetite returns as the medicine clears, stopping is best discussed with a prescriber so that a maintenance or step-down plan can be put in place. Terms such as notice periods or fees differ between providers and should be checked before starting.

A prescriber will decline treatment and should explain why. Common reasons include a BMI below the licensed threshold, pregnancy or breastfeeding, certain thyroid cancers, previous pancreatitis, or already taking another GLP-1 medicine. Alternatives may include a different weight management medicine, an NHS weight management service through your GP, or treatment of a condition identified during the assessment.

No. Doses rise gradually to reduce side effects, but the increase is optional and led by clinical review. Many people achieve good results at 0.5mg or 1mg and remain there. The standard maintenance dose is 2.4mg, with a higher prescriber-led 7.2mg option, and neither is a target to aim for. A dose can be held or reduced if side effects are troublesome.

Pens are dispensed by a GPhC-registered pharmacy and sent in insulated, temperature-controlled packaging by a tracked courier, usually on a next working day service. Packaging is plain and does not identify the contents. On arrival the pen should be refrigerated between 2C and 8C, and any parcel that arrives warm or damaged should be reported before use.

If fewer than five days have passed, inject the missed dose as soon as it is remembered and keep the usual weekly day. If more than five days have passed, skip it and take the next dose on the normal day. Never take two doses close together to make up for a missed one. If several weeks have been missed, a prescriber may restart at a lower dose.

Yes, provided there are at least three days (72 hours) between injections. Take the next dose on the new day and continue weekly from then on. If the timing is unclear, it is safer to leave a longer gap than a shorter one and to check with a prescriber.

Yes, potentially. The combined oral contraceptive pill may be less reliable for four weeks after starting semaglutide and for four weeks after each dose increase, because delayed stomach emptying and vomiting can reduce absorption. Guidance is to use an additional barrier method during those periods or to switch to a non-oral method. Semaglutide must not be used in pregnancy.

Most medicines can be continued, but all current medicines and supplements should be declared before starting. Insulin and sulfonylureas often need reducing because of the risk of hypoglycaemia. Medicines with a narrow therapeutic range, such as warfarin or levothyroxine, may need closer monitoring, as slower stomach emptying can alter absorption.

Yes, in some cases. The UK licence allows treatment from a BMI of 27 where there is at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea, raised cholesterol or weight-related joint disease. Below a BMI of 27 it should not be prescribed for weight loss.

Yes. Semaglutide is a prescription-only medicine and cannot lawfully be sold over the counter or supplied without an assessment. A UK-registered prescriber must review your medical history and confirm treatment is appropriate, and the medicine must be dispensed by a registered pharmacy. Products offered without a prescription should be treated as unsafe or counterfeit.

There is no fixed duration. Semaglutide is licensed for long-term use, and trials ran for 68 weeks and beyond. Many people continue for at least a year while weight is being lost, then move to a maintenance dose. Because weight tends to return after stopping, any plan to come off treatment is usually staged with a prescriber alongside changes to diet and activity.

Yes, for best results. All the trial outcomes were achieved with diet and exercise support alongside the medicine. Because portions become much smaller, food quality matters more: adequate protein at each meal, plenty of vegetables and fibre, and enough fluid help protect muscle and reduce constipation. Very fatty or heavily processed meals tend to worsen nausea.

Cost varies by dose strength and provider, and higher strengths cost more. Private prices for a month's supply generally run from around £130 to £300 depending on strength and what is included. Check whether the price covers the prescriber review, needles, a sharps bin, delivery and ongoing support, as some services charge for these separately. Prices on this page are listed by strength.