Wegovy
A weekly injection that reduces appetite, helps you feel full sooner and supports safe, supervised weight loss.
Wegovy — active ingredient semaglutide — is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics a gut hormone that regulates appetite and slows stomach emptying, and it is also licensed to reduce cardiovascular risk.
A higher 7.2mg dose was approved in 2026. In trials, alongside diet and lifestyle change, it produced up to 20% loss of body weight — matching the figures seen with Mounjaro. That figure comes from treatment with clinical support around it, which is the part most online services leave out.
How it works
Appetite regulation
Signals to the brain that you feel fuller, sooner.
Slows digestion
Keeps food in the stomach for longer, reducing hunger.
Protects the heart
Licensed for cardiovascular risk reduction in people with established heart disease.
Semaglutide has been studied extensively. At the 7.2mg dose approved in 2026, trial participants lost up to 20% of their body weight; at lower maintenance doses the figures are smaller. As with any weight loss treatment, those results came alongside clinical support and changes to diet and activity, and individual outcomes varied.
Numbers from trials describe what happened to a group of people under study conditions. They are a reasonable guide to what treatment can do, not a prediction about you — which is part of what the consultation is for.
What Wegovy costs at the pharmacy
We believe patients should have a clear idea of the likely cost of treatment. Because we don’t dispense medication, the figures opposite are an indication of typical pharmacy costs — not our prices, and not fixed.
| Dose | Indicative monthly cost |
|---|---|
| 0.25mg | £113 |
| 0.5mg | £113 |
| 1mg | £113 |
| 1.7mg | £161 |
| 2.4mg | £211 |
| 7.2mg | £215 |
Prices are SignatureRx’s, inclusive of delivery, correct as of 7 July 2026, and subject to change at any time. You are free to use any UK pharmacy.
Doses increase in steps, each held for several weeks before the next. The pharmacy's price changes as the dose does, so the table above matters more than any single figure — it shows what treatment costs across the whole range, not just at the start.
Read a low headline price elsewhere carefully: a discounted first month can be followed by substantially dearer prescriptions.
The highest dose is not automatically the goal
7.2mg exists for the people who need it, not as a default. Many patients hold at a lower dose with good results, which changes the monthly cost substantially. If treatment is recommended after your consultation, your doctor will explain the expected pathway and likely medication costs.
Starting and monitoring treatment
Treatment begins with a low starting dose and regular reviews, to ensure safe and gradual progress.
Self-injected once weekly into the thigh, abdomen or upper arm.
0.25mg once a week, for four weeks.
A gradual increase as advised by your doctor — to the lowest dose that works for you, not automatically to the top of the ladder.
Regular follow-ups track your rate of weight loss, side effects, hydration, exercise and global wellbeing — and whether a dose change is genuinely needed.
Wegovy is not suitable for everyone
Suitability is assessed during your initial consultation. Patients with a history of certain endocrine conditions or gastrointestinal diseases may not be eligible.
Wegovy may be considered suitable for patients who:
Have a BMI over 30
Have a BMI over 27 with weight-related health conditions — for example type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol
Have established cardiovascular disease alongside raised weight, where the licence also covers risk reduction
Usually temporary, and always discussed with you
Like all medical treatments, Wegovy can cause side effects. These are usually temporary and may improve as your body adjusts.
Nausea, bloating or indigestion
Constipation or diarrhoea
Decreased appetite
Fatigue or mild headache
Hair loss while weight falls quickly
Reflux or heartburn
Rare, but more serious
Pancreatitis and biliary problems are uncommon but serious, and NAION — a rare eye condition causing visual change — has also been reported. All are discussed with you during your consultation, along with what to watch for. Treatment is always supervised by a GMC-registered endocrinologist.
Six questions, answered plainly
Will I definitely be prescribed Wegovy?+
No. A prescription is only made if a specialist doctor decides it is safe and appropriate, carefully balancing your individual risks and benefits.
What is the new 7.2mg dose?+
A higher maintenance dose approved in 2026, with up to 20% of body weight lost in trials. Whether stepping up to it is worthwhile is a decision made with your consultant — the highest dose is not automatically the goal.
How is Wegovy different from Mounjaro?+
Wegovy mimics one appetite hormone; Mounjaro mimics two. At their top doses the trial results are similar, so the choice usually turns on side effects, cost at your likely dose, and the cardiovascular licence — all weighed in your consultation.
Injection or tablet?+
The same medicine is available as a daily tablet, with a strict morning routine attached. Which suits you depends on your habits and your other medicines — and you can change your mind later.
Is it safe for people with diabetes?+
Semaglutide is also used in type 2 diabetes. It can be safe for many patients with type 1 diabetes, but only under medical supervision.
What happens if I miss a dose?+
Follow your doctor’s advice. Usually you can take it within a few days, then resume your weekly schedule.
Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine, supplied by a registered pharmacy following clinical assessment. Report side effects to us and via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
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