Wegovy Patient Information: the Facts That Actually Matter

The misconception: Wegovy is simply a diabetes drug repurposed for weight loss

This comes up surprisingly often, and it is worth addressing clearly. Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide, but they are separate licensed products with separate indications. Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is licensed specifically for chronic weight management in adults, a distinct regulatory approval, at a higher dose, following its own clinical programme. The two are not interchangeable, and obtaining Ozempic for weight loss purposes falls outside its licence. Once that distinction is understood, the rest of the patient information for Wegovy makes a great deal more sense, because the dose schedule, the monitoring requirements and the eligibility criteria are all built around its weight management indication, not a diabetes one. If you want a fuller picture of the semaglutide landscape, the semaglutide overview on this site covers both licensed uses clearly.

The MHRA and NHS have both emphasised this point publicly, partly because confusion between these products has contributed to supply pressures and, more seriously, to people seeking semaglutide through unverified sellers. A prescription-only medicine obtained without a clinical assessment is not a shortcut; it is a risk. The Wegovy treatment page explains the licensed route in detail.

What the licensed Wegovy patient information actually covers

The official patient information leaflet for Wegovy sets out the titration schedule that a prescriber follows: 0.25 mg weekly for the first four weeks, then 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, and finally 2.4 mg as the standard maintenance dose. A higher 7.2 mg dose was approved by the MHRA in January 2026, and in April 2026 a dedicated single-dose 7.2 mg pen received approval, designed to deliver that dose in a single weekly injection with an auto-dosing mechanism. That pen is licensed for adults with obesity and a BMI of 30 or above. Whether a particular dose or pen format is available at any point is confirmed at consultation; availability shifts as supply and demand change.

The leaflet also covers injection technique: Wegovy is given subcutaneously into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, rotating sites. Storage is in the fridge at 2–8°C, though a limited window at room temperature applies, the patient information leaflet gives the exact figures, and those should always be the reference rather than a secondary source. The Wegovy patient information leaflet guide on this site walks through what the official document contains and how to read it. For the full prescribing detail, the Wegovy information page covers the SmPC in plain language.

On results: in the STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, adults taking semaglutide 2.4 mg alongside lifestyle changes achieved an average weight reduction of around 15% over 68 weeks. Trial evidence at 7.2 mg suggests results approaching those seen with tirzepatide 15 mg, though the licensed comparison context is set out in the Wegovy weight loss results page. These are averages from clinical trials; individual outcomes vary and depend on adherence, diet, activity and clinical factors a prescriber will discuss with you.

Side effects: what patient information leaflets say, and what patients actually find

The side effect profile documented in the Wegovy patient information is dominated by gastrointestinal symptoms. Nausea is the most commonly reported, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion and burping. Fatigue, headache, dizziness and injection-site reactions also appear. For most people these are most noticeable in the first days after a new or increased dose, and they ease as the body adjusts, usually within one to two weeks, though this varies.

The NHS patient information for tirzepatide and semaglutide both note that slowing the titration schedule can help manage these effects; that is a conversation to have with your prescriber, not a decision to make alone. The Wegovy patient guidance page goes into more detail on managing common side effects day to day.

One side effect worth understanding clearly is pancreatitis. In January 2026 the MHRA issued a Drug Safety Update noting acute pancreatitis as a known, if infrequent, side effect of GLP-1 medicines that can be serious. The symptom to act on promptly is severe and persistent stomach pain that may reach the back, with or without vomiting, that warrants same-day medical attention. Suspected side effects, including this, can be reported at the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme. The information about Wegovy page covers the full side effect picture, including rarer reactions documented in the SmPC.

Eligibility, access, and what the patient information does not tell you

The licensed eligibility criteria for Wegovy are: adults aged 18 or over, with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 29.9 with at least one weight-related condition such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Lower BMI thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance. BMI is the starting point, not the whole picture; a prescriber considers medical history, current medicines, contraindications and clinical suitability before issuing a prescription.

Wegovy is not recommended during pregnancy, for those who are breastfeeding, or for those actively trying to conceive. It is not licensed for under-18s. Anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 should not use it. These exclusions are set out in the patient information leaflet and assessed at consultation.

On NHS access: NICE recommends semaglutide for weight management (TA875) within specialist weight management services, with a maximum duration of two years. Eligibility criteria are stricter than the licensed criteria and involve multidisciplinary support. Waiting lists are long in many areas. Private treatment through a regulated online pharmacy is the route for people who do not meet NHS criteria or prefer not to wait. For a realistic sense of what private treatment costs, the Wegovy price comparison guide covers what to look for and how prices are structured, including what should always be included.

The Wegovy information sheet summarises the key facts in a format easy to share with your GP. Our clinical team at nume review every consultation personally. If you have a specific question before starting, the support team is available seven days a week. For a broader overview of weight management options, the weight loss treatments page is a useful starting point.