Standard UK instructions start at 0.25 mg once weekly and step up gradually to improve comfort and reduce tummy side effects. Starting at 0.5 mg is not the routine plan and tends to increase nausea for first-time GLP-1 users. If you’ve previously tolerated a GLP-1, your prescriber will still weigh the pros and cons before deviating from the usual start. Why titration matters Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that acts on appetite control centres in the bra

You can change your weekly injection day if needed, as long as there are at least 3 days (72 hours) between two doses. After switching, keep to the new weekly day going forward. For missed doses, the rule is different: if you are within 5 days, take it as soon as you remember; if it has been more than 5 days, skip it and take the next dose on your usual day. Why flexibility is built in Wegovy is prescribed as a once-weekly injection. The idea is to give people a medicine that

Wegovy mimics the hormone GLP-1, acting on the brain to reduce appetite and slow digestion. Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion) affects brain reward and craving pathways, which can reduce emotional eating but doesn’t directly target satiety hormones. How Wegovy works Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics a natural gut hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain that you are full, slows down stomach emptying, and enhances insulin release wh

The most common side effects with Wegovy are gastrointestinal, such as nausea and diarrhoea, and these often lessen over time. Other medicines have different risks: Orlistat can cause oily stools, Mysimba may raise blood pressure, and phentermine (not used in the UK) carries cardiovascular risks. Understanding risk in context All weight-loss medicines come with benefits and risks. Doctors weigh these carefully before prescribing, taking into account a person’s health conditio

Yes, Wegovy has strong evidence in people with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnoea, where weight loss can improve outcomes. Other drugs may be chosen if semaglutide is unsuitable, but few have shown the same range of benefits across multiple health conditions. Why certain conditions matter Weight-related health problems often go beyond the number on the scales. People with obesity are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and sl

No, even though both contain semaglutide, they are licensed for different uses and come in different devices and doses. Doctors may...

The SELECT trial showed semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy) reduced the risk of major heart problems in people with overweight or obesity and cardiovascular disease. Orlistat, while useful for modest weight loss, has not shown the same scale of cardiovascular benefits in large outcome studies. Two very different medicines Wegovy and Orlistat are both prescribed for weight management, but they work in completely different ways. Wegovy (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that red

Wegovy works directly on appetite signals in the brain, helping people feel full sooner and think less about food. Other medicines act...

Wegovy has shown sustained weight loss of around 15% at 68 weeks, and many participants maintained benefits at two years. Qsymia (not...

Survey and trial follow-ups suggest people report higher satisfaction with Wegovy than older GLP-1 drugs, mainly because of greater...

Phentermine can produce modest, short-term weight loss, but it is not licensed in the UK for obesity treatment. In contrast, semaglutide...

In a head-to-head trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine , people taking Wegovy lost on average about 15.8% of their body weight over 68 weeks compared with 6.4% for those on Saxenda (liraglutide). This makes Wegovy the more effective of the two for weight loss in most cases. Two GLP-1 medicines, one key difference Both Wegovy and Saxenda belong to the same class of medicines, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. They work by mimicking a natural hormone that redu

Wegovy contains semaglutide at a higher dose and is licensed for weight management, while Trulicity (dulaglutide) is prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Weight changes with dulaglutide are usually modest compared with the significant reductions seen in trials of semaglutide for obesity. Two GLP-1 medicines, two purposes Both Wegovy and Trulicity belong to the same broad group of medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. They mimic a natural hormone in the body that helps reduce

They’re not the same product: both contain semaglutide, but Wegovy is the weight-management brand (higher dose) and Ozempic is the type-2-diabetes brand (lower dose ranges). Indications, dosing schedules, and pens differ, so switching should be guided by a prescriber. Same ingredient, different goals It’s true that both Wegovy and Ozempic are based on semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps regulate appetite, digestion, and blood sugar. But they were developed for di

For weight management, Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly) is the licensed option and generally achieves greater weight loss than the...

Choosing between Wegovy and Mounjaro comes down to what you’re aiming for (weight, blood sugar, side-effect profile) and what’s available to you. Many people see strong results with both; tirzepatide can yield greater reductions for some, while semaglutide has a longer real-world track record. Why these two drugs stand out Wegovy and Mounjaro are often compared because they’re part of the same family of treatments known as incretin-based medicines. Both act on hormones that h

Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist used at higher weekly doses for weight management. It helps reduce appetite and supports lower energy intake alongside everyday habits like balanced eating and movement. What semaglutide actually is Semaglutide is a medicine that mimics GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a natural hormone in the body. GLP-1 plays a key role in appetite and metabolism: it slows the emptying of the stomach, enhances the release of insulin when

There isn’t a one-off loading dose; instead there’s a gradual dose-escalation (titration) phase. You start low and step up in stages...

Yes — both men and women can use Wegovy when they meet eligibility criteria. Because exposure in pregnancy isn’t recommended, women of child-bearing potential are advised to use effective contraception and to discuss stopping in advance if planning a pregnancy. If you become pregnant, contact your clinical team promptly to review treatment. Apart from pregnancy and breastfeeding considerations, the approach to dosing and monitoring is similar across genders. Equal access in e

In UK services, routine age use focuses on adults within specialist pathways. Use in people under 18 is specialist and not part of standard adult commissioning routes. If a young person is being considered for treatment, this would happen in paediatric services with multidisciplinary input and careful assessment of risks and benefits. Focus on adults in UK guidance In the UK, Wegovy is commissioned primarily for adults who meet strict eligibility criteria. NICE guidance and c