Reading the Wegovy patient information leaflet: a practical guide

What the MHRA-approved leaflet is based on

Every Wegovy pen you receive in the UK must include a patient information leaflet that mirrors the authorised Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). The SmPC is the technical document Novo Nordisk submitted to regulators and which the MHRA assessed before granting the UK marketing authorisation for semaglutide as a weight-management medicine. You can read the full SmPC and PIL text on the Electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC), which is updated whenever the licence changes.

The STEP 1 trial (68 weeks, nearly 2,000 adults with obesity, published in the New England Journal of Medicine) underpins the efficacy sections of the Wegovy PIL. Average weight loss in that trial was around 15% at the 2.4mg maintenance dose. The results formed part of the dossier that led to Wegovy's UK licence and subsequently NICE's recommendation (TA875) for use in qualifying adults.

One thing worth knowing before you start reading the leaflet: it was updated in early 2026 to reflect the MHRA's approval of the higher 7.2mg maintenance dose. The 7.2mg single-dose pen (a dedicated auto-injecting device approved on 14 April 2026) has its own PIL, so make sure the leaflet you're reading matches the pen in your hand. If you'd like an overview of the full treatment before diving into the small print, the Wegovy treatment overview covers the key facts in plain English.

The sections patients read most, and what they actually say

The PIL opens with what Wegovy is and what it is used for: weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to 29.9 with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. It then lists contraindications (situations where you must not use the medicine) including a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.

The dosing schedule section is the one most people turn to first. The PIL sets out the escalation: 0.25mg for the first four weeks, then 0.5mg, 1.0mg, 1.7mg, and finally 2.4mg maintenance, each step lasting approximately four weeks. The new 7.2mg pathway adds two further steps for people whose prescriber decides a higher maintenance dose is appropriate. The PIL makes clear that dose decisions rest with your prescriber, the leaflet explains the schedule, it doesn't replace clinical judgement about your personal titration.

The storage section specifies that pens should be kept refrigerated at 2–8°C. There is a defined period during which the pen may be kept at room temperature once removed from the fridge; the exact number of days is stated in the PIL and takes precedence over anything you read elsewhere, including here. You can find a plain-language breakdown of these and other storage and usage details on our Wegovy patient information page, which is a useful companion to the printed leaflet. For a broader look at semaglutide as a medicine, the NHS semaglutide page provides a patient-level summary.

Side effects as the PIL presents them, frequency, not alarm

The side effects section of the Wegovy patient information leaflet uses the standard EU/UK frequency classification. Very common effects (more than 1 in 10 people) are predominantly gastrointestinal: nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation and abdominal pain feature here. This is consistent with the STEP 1 trial data and with the semaglutide profile more broadly. Most GI effects are strongest in the first weeks after starting or after a dose increase, and tend to settle as the body adjusts.

The PIL also lists uncommon effects including gallbladder-related problems and, importantly, acute pancreatitis. The MHRA issued a Drug Safety Update in January 2026 specifically flagging pancreatitis as a known but infrequent GI risk across GLP-1 medicines. If you want to read the exact wording the regulator has approved, the Wegovy leaflet reproduced on our site lets you check the PIL text directly. The PIL's guidance on pancreatitis symptoms is clear: severe stomach pain that spreads to the back, with or without vomiting, is a reason to stop the medicine and seek urgent medical attention. Report suspected side effects to the MHRA via the Yellow Card scheme.

The PIL also carries an explicit warning that Wegovy is not recommended during pregnancy, whilst breastfeeding, or if you are actively trying to conceive. It recommends using contraception while on treatment. For women taking oral contraceptives, the semaglutide leaflet does not carry the same absorption warning as tirzepatide, but this is worth discussing with your prescriber if you have any doubt. We know that's not always the easiest conversation to start; our FAQs page covers some of the questions people find awkward to ask.

Using the PIL alongside your prescriber, not instead of them

The patient information leaflet answers specific factual questions well: what to do if you miss a dose, how to inject correctly, which medicines may interact with Wegovy (particularly oral medicines where absorption timing may matter). It is less useful for questions that depend on your personal health picture, whether a side effect you're experiencing warrants a dose pause, for example, or whether a new medication you've been prescribed affects your treatment. Our information about Wegovy page brings together the clinical context that can help you think through those kinds of questions before speaking to your prescriber.

That's the gap a prescriber fills. At nume, every repeat order is reviewed by a GPhC-registered Independent Prescriber before it's dispensed, not processed automatically. If your question isn't in the leaflet, or the leaflet's answer doesn't quite fit your situation, your prescriber is the right person to ask. For anyone still researching whether Wegovy is appropriate for them, the weight-loss treatment overview sets out the licensed options. You can also read more about what to expect as a Wegovy patient before making a decision. When you're ready to take the next step, start your free consultation, a real prescriber reads every submission the same day.