Another name for Wegovy — and why the name you use matters

The misconception: same molecule, so same medicine, not quite

The most common source of confusion is the idea that because Wegovy and Ozempic contain identical active ingredients, you can use them interchangeably for weight loss. You can't, at least not legally or clinically, in the UK. Both products contain semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that slows gastric emptying and reduces appetite. But a UK prescriber follows the licence, and Ozempic's licence is for type 2 diabetes management, not weight loss. Wegovy's licence covers weight management for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above alongside a weight-related health condition. Those are different legal and clinical frameworks, and they matter when a prescriber decides what to put on your prescription.

If you've been reading about people sourcing Ozempic for weight loss, you're encountering an off-label use that the NHS's semaglutide information page does not endorse for that purpose. Wegovy is the right name to reach for (and the right product to ask about) if weight management is your goal. You can find a fuller breakdown of how the two compare on our Wegovy vs Ozempic page.

Every semaglutide brand name and what it's actually licensed for

It's worth running through the full list, because search results often mix them up. Wegovy (injection) was the first semaglutide product licensed in the UK specifically for weight management, approved by the MHRA and recommended by NICE for use in eligible adults (TA875). The weekly injection titrates from 0.25mg up to a 2.4mg maintenance dose, with a newer 7.2mg option approved in early 2026 for adults with obesity. Wegovy tablets, approved by the MHRA on 11 June 2026, brought oral semaglutide into weight management for the first time in the UK, a once-daily tablet titrating from 1.5mg to a 25mg maintenance dose. Ozempic is the semaglutide injection licensed for type 2 diabetes. Rybelsus is the oral semaglutide tablet, again for type 2 diabetes, at the 3mg, 7mg and 14mg strengths that belong to the diabetes schedule, not the weight-loss one. One molecule, four branded products, two distinct clinical indications. If you're wondering about whether there is another name for Wegovy, the answer depends entirely on which product and which licence you're talking about, and our page on what's another name for Wegovy walks through how the different brand names relate to one another.

If you want a broader look at how Wegovy fits into the weight-loss treatment landscape, the Wegovy overview page covers results, eligibility and the access routes in more detail.

Does the name on the box change how the medicine works or what side effects you might expect?

No, the pharmacology is consistent. Whether your prescription is for Wegovy injections or Wegovy tablets, you're receiving semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. The mechanism is the same: it acts on receptors involved in appetite regulation and slows how quickly the stomach empties. Side effects follow a similar pattern across products: nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting and indigestion are the most commonly reported, particularly in the early weeks of treatment or after a dose increase. They tend to ease as your body adjusts, though they don't disappear entirely for everyone. The MHRA also flagged acute pancreatitis as an infrequent but serious risk across GLP-1 medicines, seek urgent medical attention for severe stomach pain that radiates to the back, with or without vomiting. You can report any suspected side effect directly at the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme.

What does change between the injection and the tablet is the route and the routine. The injection is weekly and requires refrigeration. The tablet is daily, taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with a small amount of plain water, with a wait of at least 30 minutes before food or other medicines, and it needs no refrigeration, which some people find easier when travelling. If you're weighing up those practical differences, our page on other names for Wegovy sets them out alongside the branded names. You may also find it worth looking at the weight-loss treatments overview to see where Wegovy sits alongside other options.

What about the cost, does which name you're prescribed affect the price?

This is a question our prescribers hear fairly often, and the honest answer is: it depends on the product, the dose and the provider. Understanding what you're paying for matters more than which brand name appears at the top of the box. Any legitimate private prescription for a weight-management medicine should include clinical assessment, the prescription itself and dispensing from a pharmacy you can verify on the GPhC register. If a price looks unusually low for a named brand, that's worth questioning rather than celebrating, these are prescription-only medicines, and the supply chain matters for safety. The Wegovy cost page sets out what private treatment typically involves and what a transparent, all-included price should cover. If you've found yourself deep in a tab spiral trying to work out which brand name gets you the best deal, that's completely understandable, the naming is genuinely confusing. A consultation makes the decision cleaner, because a prescriber can tell you which product is clinically appropriate for your situation, not just which brand is in stock.