The semaglutide package: what's actually in the box

The biggest misconception: a 'semaglutide package' is not a fixed product you simply buy

Plenty of people arrive at this search thinking a semaglutide package is a bundle you pick off a shelf, a set dose, a set duration, a set price. It isn't. The pen format is standardised; the treatment is not. What you're actually getting is a licensed prescription medicine, dispensed by a pharmacy after clinical assessment, at a dose and for a duration your prescriber decides based on your weight, health history, and how you're tolerating treatment.

That distinction matters practically. The starting dose (0.25 mg weekly) is there to let your digestive system adjust, not to produce weight loss. It is not a therapeutic dose. Most people step up through 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg roughly every four weeks, though the prescriber controls that pace. Since January 2026 the MHRA has also approved a 7.2 mg maintenance dose, supplied initially via three 2.4 mg pens weekly, with a dedicated single-dose 7.2 mg pen approved on 14 April 2026 for adults with a BMI of 30 or above. For full detail on how the pen formats work, the Wegovy packaging guide covers each configuration.

Selling semaglutide without a valid prescription is illegal in the UK. Anyone offering a 'package' with no clinical assessment is selling outside the law, and likely outside the licensed supply chain.

What you will find inside a legitimate Wegovy pack

The physical contents are described in detail in the package insert for semaglutide, which is also available as the Patient Information Leaflet inside every box. In brief: one pre-filled KwikPen containing four cartridge-style doses, needles (supplied separately or enclosed depending on the pack), and the leaflet itself. The pen is pre-set to the dose for that stage of treatment, you do not dial anything.

Storage is refrigerated at 2–8°C. Once you know you need to keep the pen in the fridge, one simple check worth doing within a minute of your delivery arriving is to feel whether the box is cold. A room-temperature delivery from a reputable tracked courier will still be fine; a warm or clearly unrefrigerated supply from an unverified seller is a red flag. For exact room-temperature windows and storage rules, always follow the Patient Information Leaflet, the MHRA's guidance is clear that counterfeit pens have caused serious harm, and supply chain integrity starts with where you got the pen.

Injection sites are the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, rotated with each dose. A full walk-through of the semaglutide packaging and pen mechanism is worth reading if you're approaching your first injection. The Wegovy pack page also covers what changes at each dose stage.

Who the licensed semaglutide package is intended for

Wegovy is licensed in the UK for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 or above alongside at least one weight-related condition, for example, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, or obstructive sleep apnoea. Lower BMI thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance. Age eligibility for semaglutide is adults only; the medicine is not licensed for anyone under 18.

It is not recommended during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, or for anyone actively trying to conceive. A prescriber will also need to know about any personal or family history of certain thyroid conditions or pancreatitis before supply. NICE recommends semaglutide (TA875) within specialist weight management services for a maximum of two years; the criteria on the NHS are specific and the waiting lists are long in most areas, which is why many people pursue a private route instead. You can read more about that on the weight-loss treatment overview.

A licensed private route means a GPhC-registered pharmacy dispensing on a prescription from a qualified Independent Prescriber, not an algorithm, not an automated questionnaire. The prescriber reviews your consultation personally. For context on what private treatment costs and what legitimate pricing includes, the Wegovy cost page breaks that down honestly. Our clinical team handles every review here at nume, and you can verify our GPhC registration at any point on the GPhC register (registration number 9012878).

Side effects, reporting, and what to watch for

The most common side effects with semaglutide are gastrointestinal: nausea, loose stools, constipation, reflux, and burping are all reported. They tend to be most noticeable in the first week or two after starting or after a dose increase, then settle for most people. Fatigue and headache also appear in the trial data. The NHS semaglutide medicines page lists these in full and is worth bookmarking.

Rarer but more serious: the MHRA has highlighted acute pancreatitis as an infrequent but potentially serious effect, seek urgent medical help for severe stomach pain that radiates to the back, especially with vomiting, and do not wait to see if it settles. Gallbladder problems are also flagged for longer-term use. Any suspected side effect can be reported through the Yellow Card scheme, which is how the MHRA tracks safety signals for newer medicines like Wegovy. The Black Triangle symbol on the box is a prompt to report anything unusual, even if you're not sure it's related.

One note that comes up often in consultations: some people on oral contraceptives taking tirzepatide (a different GLP-1 medicine) need to add a non-oral method for the first weeks of treatment and after dose increases, because absorption may be affected. Current evidence does not show the same interaction for semaglutide, but it is worth discussing with your prescriber if contraception is relevant to you. If you have questions between doses, the contact page connects you to our aftercare team, available seven days a week.