Semaglutide for weight loss

Semaglutide is an active ingredient that belongs to a medication group called GLP-1 receptor agonists. It was originally used as a type 2 diabetes treatment as it can help regulate blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It was found to aid with weight loss too, and so the product Wegovy was licensed in the UK, which is semaglutide for weight loss.

What is semaglutide used for?

Semaglutide is used for 3 conditions:

• weight loss
• type 2 diabetes
• as a preventative treatment for cardiovascular disease (conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels)

Treatments and dosage schedules are different for each condition, as well as the brand names. As well as helping to manage these conditions, semaglutide has other health benefits.

What forms does semaglutide come in?

You can get semaglutide in 2 forms:

• semaglutide injections – found under the brand names Wegovy (semaglutide for weight loss and cardiovascular disease) and Ozempic (semaglutide for type 2 diabetes)
• semaglutide tablets – known as Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes or Wegovy tablets for weight loss, though Wegovy tablets are only available in the US currently

The only approved and regulated treatment for weight loss in the UK that contains semaglutide is Wegovy. Ozempic and Rybelsus are only for people with type 2 diabetes.

Our guide covers the similarities and differences between Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro (another similar weight loss injection). We do not offer off-label prescriptions for Ozempic or Rybelsus, as Wegovy has been proven to be effective and comes in the correct doses for weight loss. It’s usually more expensive to get off-label prescriptions, and you may not get the correct weight loss support.

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it mimics a naturally occurring hormone in your body called GLP-1. After you eat, your body releases GLP-1 and this:

• sends a message to your brain that you’re full, reducing your appetite
• increases the time it takes for food to leave your stomach
• regulates your blood sugar levels

Semaglutide triggers these actions to help people to lose weight.

This means when you take semaglutide for weight loss, you can follow a diet plan and reduce your calorie intake without feeling so hungry. You’ll feel fuller and more satisfied between meals too.

How long it takes for semaglutide to work is different for every person, but you could see subtle results from the first dose. Most people notice a change in appetite and weight within a few weeks to a few months. It works best when you reach the maintenance dose of 7.2mg on the injecitons, or 25mg on the tablets - but this doesn’t mean you won’t see the effects before reaching this dose, or if you decide to stay at a lower dose.

When you stop taking semaglutide for weight loss, the effects of the medication will wear off over several weeks. You’ll notice a return in appetite, which may feel stronger than before because your appetite was suppressed due to how semaglutide works. Your blood sugar will also return to normal, so you may get more natural fluctuations in blood sugar, which can also affect your appetite and cravings.

Stopping semaglutide does not cause withdrawal symptoms, but you may notice some effects as your hormones change and your body adjusts, such as:

• an increase in appetite
• an increase in blood sugar levels
• not feeling as full as before

All of these can cause weight regain when you stop semaglutide. A study looking at what happens when you stop weight loss treatment found that people often return to their starting weight in 1.7 years after stopping semaglutide and tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro). The study also suggests that semaglutide should be a long-term obesity treatment.

Weight regain is not a guarantee, but you must keep following a diet and exercise plan, just as you were while taking your medication. Semaglutide reduces your appetite but it’s eating less and healthier, and exercising regularly that causes weight loss, rather than the medication itself. So, if you keep doing this, you’re less likely to regain your weight. Some people find food noise very difficult to manage, so if this is the case for you, speak to your doctor about taking semaglutide for maintenance.

Semaglutide (Wegovy) was tested in clinical trials and was found to help people lose an average of 21% of their starting weight after 72 weeks on the 7.2mg maintenance dose.

The same study also found that:

• 90.7% of people lose at least 5% of their starting weight
• 82.4% of people lose at least 10% of their starting weight
• 66.5% of people lose at least 15% of their starting weight
• 47.7% of people lose at least 20% of their starting weight
• 31.2% of people lose at least 25% of their starting weight

On the Wegovy tablet, clinical trials have found that people lose an average 17% of their starting weight.

Other data from the trial found that:

• 79.2% of people lose at least 5% of their starting weight
• 63% of people lose 10% or more of their starting weight
• 50% of people lose 15% or more of their starting weight
• 29.7% of people lose 20% or more of their starting weight

Injecting semaglutide

Semaglutide should only ever be injected under the skin, never into your muscle or vein. The areas to inject Wegovy are the abdomen, upper legs or upper arms with someone’s help. Make sure to choose a different site to inject semaglutide every week, even if this is in the same area but a different part of your skin. This reduces the risk of irritation, soreness, or other problems at the injection site.

Follow your doctor’s instructions when taking semaglutide for weight loss, and any instructions in the patient information leaflet. For further guidance on using the 7.2mg dose, read the patient information leaflet included with your medication.

The Wegovy pill dosage schedule is as follows:

• 1.5mg (usual starting dose)
• 4mg (step-up dose)
• 9mg (step-up dose)
• 25mg (maintenance dose)

25mg is the maximum maintenance dose on the semaglutide pill.

If you have never taken weight loss medication before, you will need to titrate gradually until you reach a suitable maintenance dose. If you are already on weight loss medication, for example, if you are using Wegovy or Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in the form of an injection, you may be able to switch. Your doctor can advise which dose is suitable for you based on the dose you are currently taking.

For more guidance, visit out Wegovy pill dosage page.

Semaglutide can cause some side effects, but each person's experience can be slightly different. You’re most likely to get very common and common side effects when you first start taking semaglutide injections, and these may come back after a dose increase, which is why your doctor will monitor your progress while taking it.

If side effects are bothering you a lot or are serious, speak to your doctor straight away. They may want you to stop taking semaglutide, or to stay at a lower dose for longer to see if they get better.

Semaglutide tablet side effects can be slightly different to semaglutide injections, because they are taken differently.

Very common semaglutide side effects include:

• headache
• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• stomach pain
• feeling weak or tired
• upset stomach or indigestion (dyspepsia)

These symptoms should get better over time, and you can treat them with rest, eating little and often and getting plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Common semaglutide side effects include:

• dizziness
• burping
• gas (flatulence)
• bloating
• inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
• reflux or heartburn (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD))
• taste changes
• gallstones
• hair loss
• taste changes
• abnormal skin sensations, like burning, stinging, or pins and needles (dysaesthesia)
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in people with type 2 diabetes

Uncommon semaglutide side effects include:

• low blood pressure
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded when standing after sitting or lying down because of a sudden drop in blood pressure
• fast heartbeat
• increased pancreatic enzyme levels in blood test results
• delayed stomach emptying
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in people who do not have type 2 diabetes
• increased levels of bilirubin in your blood, signs include yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

Some serious semaglutide side effects require immediate medical attention. Call 111 or 999 in an emergency if you notice any of the following while taking your treatment:

• Common: A complication of diabetic retinopathy (eye disease) in people with diabetes – symptoms include a change in vision and eye problems.
• Uncommon: An inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis) – symptoms include long-lasting and severe pain in the stomach that may move to the back. Kidney or bladder stones, with which you may experience back or lower abdomen pain.
• Rare: A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis/angioedema) – symptoms include breathing problems, swelling in the face and mouth, wheezing, difficulty swallowing, pale and cold skin, dizziness and weakness. Hip fractures are also rare serious side effects.
• Very rare: A medical eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) this may cause gradual vision loss in one of your eyes.
• Frequency not known: Bowel obstruction (severe constipation) – symptoms include bloating, vomiting, stomach ache and not being able to pass wind or open your bowels.

In clinical trials, semaglutide side effects (when taken in the form of Wegovy) were reported to last a few weeks and were mild. Most affected the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, like nausea or diarrhoea. They can also come back after a dose increase, but once you stay on a dose, or your body gets used to the medication, these should get better.

Make sure to speak to your doctor if your side effects do not get better after a few weeks, they may recommend staying on a lower dose for longer, or in some cases, semaglutide may not be the right medication for you.

To get a semaglutide injection or tablet prescription for weight loss, you’ll need to meet certain criteria, such as having a body mass index (BMI) of:

• 30 or above (obese)
• between 27 and 30 (overweight), and a medical condition that can be affected by your weight, such as sleep apnoea or prediabetes

You must not have any medical conditions that could make semaglutide unsafe, or take any medications that will interact with your treatment. When prescribing semaglutide, a doctor will check your BMI, medical history and current medications before making a decision.

You should not take semaglutide if you are:

• allergic to semaglutide, other GLP-1 receptor agonists, or any other ingredients contained in the injection
• pregnant or breastfeeding
• have had pancreatitis or acute pancreatitis
• have a severe digestive condition
• have severe kidney or liver problems

It’s also important to let your doctor know if you have:

• kidney problems, as there’s a risk of dehydration if you get side effects like vomiting and diarrhoea – it’s important to stay hydrated and speak to your doctor if these side effects are ongoing or severe
• diabetes – semaglutide can cause low blood sugar in people with diabetes, so your doctor may want to check your blood sugar more often than usual, especially if you take other diabetic medications
• taken any other medications recently, or are currently taking any
• gastroparesis – if you have delayed stomach emptying
• are going to have surgery that requires a general anaesthetic or deep sedation
• low blood sugar
• severe heart failure

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Semaglutide shouldn’t be taken if you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding, as it’s not known how this will affect the baby. If you think you’re pregnant, speak to your doctor as treatment should be stopped straight away.

It’s also recommended to use contraception while taking semaglutide. If you take the oral contraceptive pill, you should use another form of contraception if you get side effects such as vomiting and diarrhoea, as this could affect how well the contraceptive pill works. If you want to try for a baby, you must stop taking semaglutide for 2 months before trying.

You can buy semaglutide as Wegovy in the UK for weight loss online, it is available in the form of an injection and a tablet. Wegovy injections are also available to request via a weight management specialist on the NHS. It’s an approved treatment that you can get a prescription for. Wegovy pill is not currently available to request on the NHS.

Can I get semaglutide for weight loss online?

Yes, you can get a semaglutide prescription and treatment online. Make sure you choose a regulated service with GMC-registered doctors, such as Asda Online Doctor.

Just fill out a quick and simple medical questionnaire, choose your preferred weight loss treatment and our doctors will issue a semaglutide prescription if suitable. We’ll then send Wegovy to your chosen address. Plus, our weight loss service includes weight loss support and a patient account where you can contact a doctor for free with any follow-up questions.

Can I get semaglutide on the NHS?

Yes, but only Wegovy injection – Wegovy pill is not available on the NHS. For the Wegovy injection, the NHS has different prescribing requirements than private services. Some GPs can prescribe semaglutide for weight loss, but this may not be available in your area. If your GP can’t, they may refer you to a weight management service instead. Wait times for these services are different in each area, ranging from a few months to a few years.

There are other weight loss injections available for prescription in the UK that work similarly to semaglutide (Wegovy), as they belong to the same medication group. These are available for prescription from Asda Online Doctor.

Mounjaro:

A once-weekly injection that contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. It also mimics a second hormone which is thought to further enhance the effects of GLP-1 and works similarly to reduce appetite and promote feelings of fullness. Follows a dosage schedule like semaglutide, with 3 maintenance doses of 5mg, 10mg, and 15mg.

In studies, Mounjaro’s effectiveness at the highest maintenance dose was found to be very close to Wegovy’s effectiveness. After 72 weeks Mounjaro caused an average weight loss of 22.5%, while Wegovy 7.2mg caused an average weight loss of 21% in the same time frame.

➤ Find out more about tirzepatide and semaglutide, and which one might be best for you in our guide.

Nevolat:

A once-a-day injection that contains liraglutide. Previously found under the brand name Saxenda, Nevolat (generic liraglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It works in the same way as semaglutide to reduce appetite and keep you feeling full between meals. Follows a dosage schedule to a maintenance dose of 3mg a day.

Nevolat does not cause as much weight loss as Wegovy or Mounjaro, but is still an effective treatment. After 56 weeks, people taking liraglutide at the maximum maintenance dose of 3mg lost an average 8% of their starting weight.