Wegovy

Wegovy (semaglutide) tablets and injections are prescription medications used for weight loss, long-term weight management, and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in certain patients with obesity or who are overweight. Wegovy injection is also approved for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatis (MASH), a serious liver disease.

Wegovy injection is self-administered once weekly as a subcutaneous injection (under the skin) using a Wegovy pen.

Wegovy pills are taken once daily in the morning with water. Tablets should be swallowed whole and should not be split, crushed, chewed, or dissolved.

Wegovy pills and injections should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to support weight management and overall health outcomes.

Wegovy HD 7.2mg injection received FDA approval on March 19, 2026. Wegovy HD 7.2mg dose average weight loss was ~21% at 72 weeks in adults with obesity in the STEP UP Trial (NCT05646706), in patients who stayed on treatment.

The FDA approved Wegovy tablets on December 22, 2025, following positive results from the OASIS 4 phase 3 clinical trial (NCT05564117).

Wegovy pills are used for:

• Long-term weight loss and weight management in:

• To reduce the risk of major adverse CV events in:

• adults with established cardiovascular disease who have obesity or are overweight.

Wegovy injection can be used for:

• Long-term weight loss and weight management in:

• Reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke in: adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight.

• Noncirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) in: Patients with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis (consistent with stages F2 to F3 fibrosis) in adults. This is an accelerated approval based on the improvement of MASH and fibrosis. Continued approval for this indication is dependent on confirmation of clinical benefit in a clinical trial. MASH was formerly known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Wegovy should be used in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Wegovy cost with insurance

The Wegovy pill or injections may cost $25 per month if you have commercial insurance and have coverage for Wegovy. The savings are up to a maximum of $100 per 1-month prescription, $200 per 2-month prescription, or $300 per 3-month prescription.

Wegovy cost without insurance

The Wegovy pill cost without insurance is $149 per month for the 1.5mg tablets, and for the Wegovy pen, 0.25 mg, it is $199 for one month, as an introductory price until August 31, 2026. These prices are using the Wegovy Savings Offer, and prices may vary with each dose. This is the price for patients without insurance, with commercial insurance that does not cover Wegovy, or those who are self-paying/opting to process outside of their commercial insurance plan.

For more information on the pricing of all strengths of Wegovy pills and injections, see “What is the cost of Wegovy pills and injections?”

Prices current as of April 1, 2026.

Wegovy works by mimicking GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a natural hormone released in the body after eating. GLP-1 helps regulate appetite and food intake.

Wegovy helps with weight loss by:

• Reducing appetite
• Increasing feelings of fullness
• Slowing digestion

These effects help you eat less and feel satisfied longer, which supports sustained weight loss, reduces risk of cardiovascular events, and also helps improve liver fibrosis in patients with MASH.

Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist.

How well does the Wegovy pill work?

In the OASIS 4 study, patients taking Wegovy tablets experienced an average weight loss of approximately 17% (16.6%), compared with 3% in the placebo group, after 64 weeks, when patients stayed on treatment. Regardless of treatment discontinuation, adults taking the Wegovy pill achieved an average weight loss of 13.6% (~14%), compared with 2.4% (~2%) in those receiving a placebo.

How well does Wegovy injection work?

The average weight loss with Wegovy injection was 14.9% (34.6 lb / 15.7 kg) from a starting weight of 232 lb (105 kg) after 68 weeks in the STEP 1 clinical trial (NCT03548935), compared with 2.4% (5.5 lb / 2.5 kg) with placebo.

Wegovy has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. A boxed warning is the strongest safety-related warning issued by the FDA.

Wegovy may cause serious side effects, including possible thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer.

Contact your healthcare provider right away if you notice a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath, as these may be symptoms of thyroid cancer.

In animal studies, Wegovy and other medications that work like Wegovy caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known whether Wegovy causes thyroid tumors or medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in humans.

Do not use Wegovy if you or anyone in your family has ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have a rare endocrine condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to it or if you have:

• multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (tumors in your glands);
• a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of thyroid cancer); or diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a stomach or intestinal disorder, such as severe gastroparesis;
• pancreatitis;
• kidney disease;
• are planning surgery or other procedure that uses anesthesia or deep sedation;
• eye problems caused by diabetes (diabetic retinopathy);
• have or have had depression or suicidal thoughts, or other mental health issues.

In animal studies, semaglutide caused thyroid tumors or thyroid cancer. It is not known whether these effects would occur in people. Ask your doctor about your risk.

Pregnancy

You should stop using this medicine at least two months before you plan to get pregnant. This medicine may harm your baby. Ask your doctor for a safer medicine to use during this time. Controlling diabetes is very important during pregnancy, as is gaining the right amount of weight. Even if you are overweight, losing weight during pregnancy could harm the unborn baby.

There is a pregnancy exposure registry for women who use Wegovy during pregnancy. The reason for this registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your doctor about how you can take part in this registry, or you may contact Novo Nordisk at 1-877-390-2760 or visit www.wegovypregnancyregistry.com.

Breastfeeding

Tell your healthcare professional if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Wegovy tablets. It is unknown if Wegovy injection passes into your breast milk. You should talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while using this medicine.

Common Wegovy side effects

Common Wegovy side effects in adults may include:

• nausea (44%)
• diarrhea (30%)
• vomiting (24%)
• constipation (24%)
• stomach pain (20%)
• headache (14%)
• tiredness (11%)
• Indigestion (9%)
• bloating (7%)
• burping (7%)
• low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes (6%)
• gas or flatulence (6%)
• gastroenteritis (6%)
• heartburn (5%)
• hair loss
• changes in skin sensations
• dizziness.

These side effects occurred in 5% or more of obese or overweight adult patients using Wegovy 2.4mg in clinical trials. They usually subside within a few weeks of starting treatment or a few weeks after your dose increases. These Wegovy side effects are usually mild and temporary and most likely will not interfere with long-term treatment. Some Wegovy patients (16%) stopped treatment due to side effects compared to 8% of placebo-treated patients in clinical trials.

Tips for managing Wegovy stomach side effects

Wegovy stomach-related side effects are the most common. If you have stomach side effects like nausea when first starting treatment, you can help to manage it by:

• eating more slowly
• eat low-fat bland foods (like crackers, toast, and rice)
• having smaller meals more often
• avoid fried or greasy food
• eating foods that contain water (like soup or gelatin)
• stay upright after eating, and not lie down after eating
• going outside for fresh air
• start with a low dose of Wegovy and increase slowly as instructed by your doctor

If your stomach side effects bother you, worsen, or do not go away, call your healthcare provider for advice.

If you do not tolerate the 2.4 mg once weekly maintenance dosage, your healthcare provider may reduce your maintenance dose to 1.7 mg once weekly. If you cannot tolerate the 1.7 mg once-weekly dosage, your doctor may discontinue your medication.

Serious side effects

Wegovy can cause serious side effects, including pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), kidney problems, serious allergic reactions, increased heart rate, suicidal thoughts or behavior, eye complications in type 2 diabetic patients (diabetic retinopathy), severe gastrointestinal side effects, and liquid or food getting into the lungs during deep sedation or anesthesia.

Allergic reaction - get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, itching, dizziness, fast heartbeats, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

You should call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of other serious Wegovy side effects, including:

• vision changes;
• unusual mood changes, thoughts about hurting yourself;
• pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• signs of a thyroid tumor - swelling or a lump in your neck, trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice, feeling short of breath;
• symptoms of pancreatitis - severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea with or without vomiting, fast heart rate;
• gallbladder problems - upper stomach pain, fever, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• low blood sugar - headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery;
• kidney problems - swelling, urinating less, feeling tired or short of breath, or
• stomach flu symptoms - stomach cramps, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea (may be watery or bloody).

Also, see the Warning section.

This is not a complete list of side effects from Wegovy, and other adverse effects may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Wegovy Injections

Wegovy injection directions

• Wegovy is used once a week, on the same day each week. You can be injected any time of the day and with or without food.
• If you choose a different weekly injection day, start your new schedule after at least two days have passed since the last injection you gave.
• The Wegovy pen is for one-time use only, and the dose is already set on your pen.
• Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it.
• Check your injection, if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it
• The needle is covered by the needle cover, and the needle will not be seen. You should not touch or push on the needle cover as you could get a needle stick injury.

How to use Wegovy injection

• Remove the pen cap when you are ready to inject.
• To inject Wegovy, push the pen firmly against the skin and hold until the yellow bar has stopped moving.
• If the yellow bar does not start moving, you should press the pen more firmly against your skin.
• You will hear two clicks during the injection. Click 1 is when the injection has started, and click 2 when the injection is still ongoing.
• Do not remove the pen from your skin before the yellow bar in the pen window has stopped moving. If you remove the needle earlier, you may not get your full dose.
• If the yellow bar does not start moving or stops during the injection, contact your healthcare provider or Novo Nordisk at Wegovy.com or call Novo Nordisk Inc. at 1-833-934-6891.
• The needle cover will lock when the pen is removed from your skin. You cannot stop the injection and restart it later.

Where to inject Wegovy

• Wegovy is injected under the skin of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm, using a single dose pen device. This medicine should not be injected into a muscle (intramuscularly) or vein (intravenously).
• Change your injection site with each injection. You may inject in the same body area each week, but it is important to use a different spot each time. Do not inject into an area where the skin is tender, bruised, red, or hard. Avoid injecting into areas with scars or stretch marks.
• Put the used Wegovy pen in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right away after use. Do not throw away (dispose of) the pen in your household trash.
• People who are blind or have vision problems should not use the Wegovy pen without help from a person trained to use the pen.

For complete instructions with diagrams on how to use Wegovy, see Instructions for Wegovy Use

Wegovy injection dosing information

Wegovy injections are started at a low weekly dose and gradually increased over months to help the body adjust to the medication. This slow dose escalation is designed to reduce the risk of common side effects, especially gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. If you do not tolerate a dose during dosage escalation, your healthcare professional may consider delaying the dosage increase for 4 weeks.

Table of Wegovy Injection Dose Escalation Schedule

Maintenance injection dose guidance

Adult weight reduction maintenance dose:

• 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg (recommended) injected subcutaneously once weekly.
• Dose may be increased to 7.2 mg subcutaneously once weekly on patients who tolerate the 2.4 mg dosage for at least 4 weeks and additional weight reduction is clinically indicated.
• Maximum dose 7.2 mg once weekly
• Consider treatment response and tolerability when selecting the maintenance dosage

Pediatric patients' weight reduction maintenance dose (patients aged 12 years and older):

• Either 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg once weekly.
• Consider treatment response and tolerability when selecting the maintenance dosage

Cardiovascular risk reduction maintenance dose:

• Either 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg once weekly, based on patient response and tolerance.

Non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis maintenance dose:

• 2.4 mg injected once weekly.
• If a patient does not tolerate the 2.4 mg once-weekly maintenance dose, the dose may be reduced to 1.7 mg once weekly.
• Re-escalation to 2.4 mg once weekly may be considered if the lower dose is tolerated.

Table of Wegovy Injection Dosing Schedule Maintenance Doses

What happens if I miss a Wegovy injection dose?

If you miss a dose of Wegovy injection and the next scheduled dose is more than 2 days away (48 hours), take the missed dose as soon as possible. If you miss a dose of Wegovy injection and the next scheduled dose is less than 2 days away (48 hours), do not administer the dose. Take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day.

If you miss doses of Wegovy injection for 2 or more consecutive weeks, contact your healthcare provider to talk about how to restart your treatment.

Wegovy pen is available as:

• 0.25 mg pen (4 pens per carton)
• 0.5 mg pen (4 pens per carton)
• 1 mg pen (4 pens per carton)
• 1.7 mg pen (4 pens per carton)
• 2.4 mg pen (4 pens per carton)
• 7.2 mg pen (4 pens per carton)

Wegovy tablets

How to take Wegovy tablets

• Take one Wegovy tablet by mouth once daily in the morning on an empty stomach.
• Tablets should be taken with plain water only (no more than 4 ounces). Do not take Wegovy tablets with any liquids other than water.
• Swallow Wegovy tablets whole. Do not split, crush, chew, or dissolve the tablet.
• Do not take more than one Wegovy tablet per day.
• Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other oral medications.
• If you miss a dose of Wegovy, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regularly scheduled time.

Wegovy tablet dosing information

Table of Wegovy Tablet Dosing Schedule

The recommended starting dosage of Wegovy tablets is 1.5 mg tablet once daily for the first 30 days and then gradually increased every 30 days to reach the recommended 25 mg once-daily maintenance dose. The dosage escalation helps to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal side effects.

If patients do not tolerate the 25 mg once daily maintenance dosage, consider switching to the injection 1.7 mg once weekly.

Wegovy tablets are available as 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg.

Switching from Wegovy injection to Wegovy tablets

• Patients taking Wegovy 2.4 mg injection for cardiovascular risk reduction or weight reduction in adults may switch to Wegovy 25 mg tablets.
• One week after discontinuing the 2.4 mg injection, initiate 25 mg of Wegovy tablets orally once daily.

Switching from Wegovy tablets to Wegovy injection

• Patients may switch from Wegovy 25 mg tablets to Wegovy injection
• The day after discontinuing Wegovy tablets 25 mg once daily, initiate Wegovy 2.4 mg subcutaneous injection once weekly. For patients who do not tolerate Wegovy 25 mg tablets, consider switching to Wegovy 1.7 mg injection.
• If additional weight reduction is needed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with Wegovy 25 mg tablets, consider switching to Wegovy 1.7 mg injection and follow the recommended dosage escalation for Wegovy injection.

If you take too much of this medicine, you may have severe nausea, severe vomiting, and severe low blood sugar. Call your healthcare provider or Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. Advice is also available online at poisonhelp.org

Never share an injection pen, even if you changed the needle. Sharing this device can pass infection or disease from person to person.

Wegovy can slow your digestion, and it may take longer for your body to absorb any medicines you take by mouth.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially insulin or other diabetes medicines, such as dulaglutide, exenatide, liraglutide, Byetta, Trulicity, Victoza, and others.

Other drugs may affect Wegovy, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Wegovy injection storage

• Store injection in refrigerator from 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F).
• If needed (prior to cap removal), the single-dose pen can be kept from 8°C to 30°C (46°F to 86°F) for up to 28 days. The Wegovy FlexTouch pen can be stored at room temperature from 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F) or in the refrigerator for up to 56 days after first use.
• Do not store Wegovy in the freezer or directly beside the refrigerator cooling element.
• Do not freeze Wegovy, and do not use Wegovy if it has been frozen.
• Protect from light, and it must be kept in the original carton until the time of administration. Discard the pen after use.

Wegovy tablet storage

• Store tablets at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
• Store tablets in the original closed Wegovy bottle until you are ready to take one. Do not store in any other container.
• Store in a dry place away from moisture.

Active Ingredient: semaglutide

Injection Inactive Ingredients: disodium phosphate dihydrate, sodium chloride, and water for injection. Phenol and propylene glycol are also inactive ingredients in the single-patient-use Wegovy FlexTouch. Hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide may be added to adjust pH.

Tablet Inactive Ingredients: salcaprozate sodium (SNAC) and magnesium stearate.

Wegovy Novo Nordisk A/S. Novo Allé. DK-2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark.