GLP-1 tablets for weight loss
Medically reviewed by
Dr Crystal WyllieLast reviewed: 03 Feb 2026
GLP-1 agonist tablets exist, but currently there are not any licensed for weight loss in the UK. Still, they can effectively help support weight loss in people with diabetes and some trials show they work when taken just for weight loss.
There’s a good chance that GLP-1 agonist tablets may soon become available for weight loss in the UK. Learn which tablets may be upcoming, how they compare to each other, and how they compare to existing GLP-1 agonist injection medications.
Do GLP-1 tablets exist?
Yes. Although most people are only familiar with GLP-1 agonist injections used for weight loss, tablets also exist.
While these tablets work in a similar way to the injections, they are currently only licensed for treating diabetes and not for weight loss.
Some examples of GLP-1 agonist tablets include:
- Rybelsus – contains the same active ingredient as the weight loss injection Wegovy
- orforglipron – this is a tablet with a new active ingredient not available as an injection
Are there GLP-1 tablets for weight loss?
There are no GLP-1 agonist tablets currently licensed for weight loss in the UK. However, it’s likely GLP-1 agonist tablets will become available for weight loss in the near future.
GLP-1 agonist tablets do already exist and are available for treating diabetes. They have already been shown to support weight loss in people who take them for diabetes. However, they are not currently licensed in the UK for weight loss in people without diabetes. This may change in the future as some tablets become licensed for weight loss as well.
There are also new tablets like orforglipron, which are being investigated specifically for treating weight loss. But, there is currently no set launch date for orforglipron in the UK as it’s still too early in development.
GLP-1 tablets currently under research
Orforglipron and Rybelsus are both tablets that are currently being explored as weight loss treatments. They are both GLP-1 agonist medications, but they have different active ingredients so they work slightly differently. They are also at different stages of development.
| Rybelsus | Orforglipron | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Semaglutide |
Orforglipron |
| Dose(s) tested | 50mg (this dose is not available in the UK) |
3mg, 12mg, and 36mg |
| Results for weight loss | 85% of patients lost at least 5% of their starting weight after 68 weeks Patients lost around 15% of their starting weight on average |
Patients lost around 8% of their starting weight on the highest dosage after 40 weeks |
| UK launch date set? | No |
No |
| Common side effects |
|
|
Mounjaro tablets: Is tirzepatide available in tablet form?
No, currently tizepatide is only available as an injection medication. This is either under the brand name Mounjaro for weight loss in the UK or Zepbound in the US.
There are also no current plans to create tirzepatide tablets. The reason for this is that tizepatide is broken down too quickly during digestion, so not enough medication would be absorbed by the body. This issue does not exist in the same way for other GLP-1 agonists, which is why GLP-1 agonist tablets with other active ingredients do exist.
Wegovy tablets: Does Wegovy exist in pill form?
Yes, tablets with the same active ingredient as Wegovy do exist. However, they are not called Wegovy, though like Wegovy they contain semaglutide. Currently, the only tablet that exists which contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy is Rybelsus.
Semaglutide tablets like Rybelsus are currently only licensed for treating weight loss in the UK, though this may change in the future.
A Wegovy pill has already been approved for use in the US as of December 2025. Although this Wegovy pill has the same active ingredient as Rybelsus, it has different doses and is licensed for weight loss rather than diabetes.
> Read more about Wegovy pills for weight loss.
| Wegovy pill | Rybelsus | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed for | Weight loss |
Diabetes |
| Approved in | US only |
US and UK |
| Available doses | 1.5mg lowest dose and 25mg highest dose |
1.5mg, 4mg, and 9mg |
| Dose tested | 25mg |
50mg (this dose is not available in the UK) |
| Results for weight loss | Patients lost around 14% of their starting weight on average after 64 weeks |
85% of patients lost at least 5% of their starting weight after 68 weeks Patients lost around 15% of their starting weight on average |
Ozempic tablets: Do they exist for weight loss?
Yes, tablets exist with the same active ingredient as Ozempic. Like Wegovy, Ozempic contains the active ingredient, semaglutide. Currently, the only semaglutide tablet available in the UK is Rybelsus, and it is only licensed to treat diabetes.
A new Wegovy pill became available for weight loss in the US in December 2025. See our section on ‘Wegovy tablets’ for more information. These tablets are not technically ‘Ozempic tablets’ but Wegovy tablets, as they are for weight loss not diabetes.
GLP-1 tablets vs GLP-1 injections
Since GLP-1 agonists come in both tablet and injection forms, it makes sense to ask which form is more effective for weight loss. However, there are other factors to consider, like side effects, cost, whether you’re comfortable self-injecting, and availability.
Manufacturers
| GLP-1 agonist injections | GLP-1 agonist tablets |
|---|---|
|
Current UK license status
| Licensed for weight loss? | Licensed for diabetes? | |
|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | ✓ |
✓ |
| Wegovy (semaglutide) | ✓ |
✓ (brand name: Ozempic) |
| Nevolat (liraglutide) | ✓ |
✓ (brand name: Victoza) |
| Rybelsus (semaglutide) | ✗ |
✓ |
| Orforglipron (orforglipron) | ✗ |
✗ |
How they work
| GLP-1 agonist injections | GLP-1 agonist tablets |
|---|---|
|
|
Effectiveness
| GLP-1 agonist injections (on highest dose) | GLP-1 agonist tablets |
|---|---|
|
|
Very common side effects
| GLP-1 agonist injections | GLP-1 agonist tablets |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Nevolat (liraglutide):
|
*These are the very common side effects seen in clinical trials, but an official side effect list is yet to be released and may change
Doses
| GLP-1 agonist injections | GLP-1 agonist tablets |
|---|---|
|
Rybelsus:
|
|
Orforglipron*:
|
Nevolat (liraglutide):
|
*These are the doses used in the most recent clinical trials, but final doses have not yet been approved or released
Frequently asked questions
Are over-the-counter GLP-1 capsules effective?
There are no effective GLP-1 agonist medications available over the counter. GLP-1 medications are prescription-only and must be approved by a doctor. Any product claiming to be an over-the-counter GLP-1 agonist medications is either lying, unsafe, or both.
Are there compounded versions of GLP-1 pills?
They may exist but are strongly discouraged by regulatory bodies like the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Compounded medications are custom-made medications produced by compounding pharmacies. Compounding pharmacies are legal in the UK, but they are heavily regulated. Compounding pharmacies still require you to have a legitimate prescription before buying medications.
If you need to use a compounding pharmacy due to allergies, make sure they are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Do I really have to take GLP-1 tablets on an empty stomach?
Yes, it’s a good idea to take them on an empty stomach. The reason for this is that they require you to have an empty stomach so they can be absorbed properly. If you take them on a full stomach, they may not be absorbed properly and you won’t experience the full effect of your medication. This could lead to uncontrolled blood sugar and increased appetite.
Will I gain the weight back when I stop taking GLP-1 weight loss pills?
It is possible. If you are taking GLP-1 agonist tablets for diabetes and they are also supporting you in losing weight, once you stop taking them you may put weight back on. This is because GLP-1 tablets reduce your appetite, so when you stop taking them your appetite comes back and you may eat more. You can keep the weight off if you stick to a diet and exercise plan after you stop your medication.
Crystal qualified in Medicine at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2010. She then trained as a GP in London hospitals and practices. She has a particular interest in reproductive, sexual, and women’s health.
Meet our doctorsLast reviewed: 03 Feb 2026
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Oral semaglutide 50 mg taken once per day in adults with overweight or obesity (OASIS 1): a randomised, double–blind, placebo–controlled, phase 3 trial, The Lancet [accessed 06 January 2026]
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Rybelsus 3 mg, EMC [accessed 06 January 2026]
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What is orforglipron?, drugs.com [accessed 06 January 2026]
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Mounjaro KwikPen 10mg solution for injection in pre–filled pen, EMC [accessed 06 January 2026]
GMC: 7074021
GMC: 6149065
GMC: 7085115
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