The information about Wegovy that actually answers your questions

The myth: Wegovy is just an appetite suppressant you can stop anytime

This is probably the most common thing people get wrong. Wegovy is not a short-term appetite pill. Semaglutide binds to GLP-1 receptors throughout the body, in the gut, where it slows the movement of food out of your stomach, and in the brain, where it dampens the hunger and reward signals that drive overeating. The result is a genuine shift in how hungry you feel and how quickly you feel full, which is why the STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, saw meaningful weight reductions over 68 weeks rather than the modest short-term dips typical of dietary change alone.

Because the medicine is working on your biology continuously, stopping abruptly tends to reverse much of the progress. That is not a marketing claim, it is the pharmacology. A prescriber can help you plan a realistic treatment duration and an exit strategy that makes sense for your situation. Wegovy is not a cure, but it can meaningfully change the conditions under which long-term weight management becomes possible. You can read a plain-English overview of how semaglutide works, including semaglutide prescribing information covering dosing and clinical use, on the semaglutide page.

Who the UK licence actually covers, and where the NHS draws its line

The licensed eligibility criteria for private treatment are straightforward: adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 to 29.9 alongside at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea or type 2 diabetes. The prescriber reviews the whole picture, so BMI alone is never the only factor. For some ethnic backgrounds, UK guidance applies a lower BMI threshold (2.5 kg/m² less) reflecting differing cardiometabolic risk profiles.

NHS access is a different matter. NICE's appraisal of Wegovy (TA875) recommends it only for use within specialist weight management services, for a maximum of two years, in adults meeting stricter criteria. Waiting lists for those services are commonly long. Private treatment through a regulated pharmacy is the route for people who do not meet the NHS threshold or prefer not to wait. It is also worth knowing that Wegovy holds two further UK authorisations beyond weight management: cardiovascular risk reduction in eligible adults, and (from July 2026) a conditional approval for a form of fatty liver disease known as MASH. At nume (sorry, at our clinic) the consultation covers weight management, which is the licensed indication dispensed here.

Side effects: what is common, what is serious, and when to act

The most frequently reported side effects are gastrointestinal: nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion and burping. These tend to peak after starting treatment or stepping up a dose, then ease over days to a couple of weeks for most people. Fatigue, headache and dizziness also appear in the trial data. Injection-site reactions are occasional rather than routine.

The side effect that warrants prompt medical attention is severe, persistent stomach pain that spreads to the back, with or without vomiting. This can indicate acute pancreatitis, which the MHRA flagged specifically in a Drug Safety Update for GLP-1 medicines in January 2026. It is an infrequent but serious risk. Other signs that need same-day medical review include symptoms of gallbladder trouble, heavy dehydration from prolonged sickness or diarrhoea, or an allergic reaction. Wegovy carries a Black Triangle (▼) designation (additional MHRA monitoring is active) so patients are encouraged to report anything unexpected via the Yellow Card scheme. A fuller breakdown of the side effect profile, along with wegovy patient information on managing side effects day to day, is on the Wegovy information sheet.

Wegovy is not recommended during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, or when actively trying to conceive. It is not licensed for anyone under 18. Women using oral contraceptives should be aware that the absorption of the pill may be affected while on injectable GLP-1 treatment, your prescriber will cover this at consultation.

Cost context and what a private prescription actually includes

Since Eli Lilly's UK price increase for Mounjaro in September 2025 repositioned the market, Wegovy private prices typically range from roughly £149 to £300 or more per month depending on dose and provider. For context on how the wider treatment landscape compares, the treatment comparison page sets it out clearly.

A legitimate private prescription for Wegovy includes a clinical consultation, the prescription itself, the medicine from a GPhC-registered pharmacy and (with a reputable provider) aftercare support. Prices that look far below the market range should prompt caution: the MHRA has warned publicly about counterfeit pens sold without a clinical assessment, some of which have contained harmful substances. Before starting treatment, it is worth reviewing the wegovy product information covering the pen device, storage and administration so you know exactly what to expect. You can verify any online pharmacy by searching the GPhC register before handing over payment details. One practical note: if payday or a bank holiday shifts your usual order date, placing it by 12pm on a working day means clinical review and same-day dispatch are still possible. That kind of flexibility matters when you are mid-treatment and need continuity.

If you want to explore whether Wegovy suits your circumstances, our wegovy information page gives a thorough overview of how the treatment works, and the free consultation at nume is reviewed the same day by a GPhC-registered prescriber, a real clinician reads your answers, not automated software. Check your eligibility and start there.