Wegovy (semaglutide injection)

What the Wegovy injection is licensed for

Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, but carry different licences. The MHRA lists Wegovy for weight management and for reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke in people living with overweight or obesity. Wegovy is not licensed to treat diabetes. Ozempic is licensed only for type 2 diabetes, as the Ozempic page explains.

The adult weight-management licence applies alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity. The adolescent licence covers young people aged 12 and over with obesity, defined against age and sex growth charts, and a body weight above 60 kg.

In 2026 the MHRA made two further decisions. On 14 April a single-dose 7.2 mg pen was approved for adults with a BMI of 30 or more. On 3 July Wegovy gained a conditional approval for adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and moderate to advanced liver scarring, pending results from an ongoing study. NHS access for the liver indication awaits a NICE decision.

NHS access through specialist services

NICE technology appraisal TA875 recommends semaglutide for weight management only within a specialist weight management service, for a maximum of two years, and only for people with at least one weight-related condition. The NICE rationale refers to a BMI of at least 35, or 30 to 34.9 for people who meet NICE referral criteria for specialist services. Lower BMI thresholds, usually by 2.5, apply to people from some ethnic backgrounds.

The NHS medicine guide adds an option for people with overweight or obesity who have had a heart attack or stroke, or who have peripheral arterial disease. For pharmacy and GP staff, the practical point is simple: a GP practice does not start NHS Wegovy for weight loss in the way the NHS England tirzepatide rollout allows for Mounjaro.

Safety points to cover

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation are the most common side effects. Severe fluid loss can lead to dehydration.
• Acute pancreatitis is rare. Persistent severe stomach pain spreading to the back needs urgent help.
• The NHS lists worsening diabetic eye disease and sudden loss of vision, usually in one eye, as rare serious side effects. The MHRA links a small number of cases of NAION, a type of optic nerve damage, to semaglutide.
• Semaglutide should not be used in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. The MHRA advises stopping at least two months before trying to conceive.
• Slower stomach emptying raises the risk of aspiration under general anaesthesia or deep sedation, so patients should tell their anaesthetist.
• Two pen types and a wide dose range increase the chance of a dispensing or administration error. Check the strength and the pen against the prescription every time.

The GLP-1 safety guide brings these points together for all the medicines in the class.

Marketing expectations and clinical judgement

Wegovy has had wide media coverage, and some patients arrive at a consultation with fixed expectations about results and speed. Some services add their own pressure through sign-up targets, promotional emails or scripts which treat the consultation as a sales call.

Advertising a prescription-only medicine to the public is illegal in the UK under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. In June 2026 the MHRA and the Advertising Standards Authority warned businesses again about weight-loss promotions, and the GPhC said action can follow against a pharmacy owner, the superintendent pharmacist or an individual registrant. If you are asked to write, approve or share promotional material, ask who has checked the material against the law, and keep a note of your answer.

Say a patient has a BMI of 26 and asks for Wegovy before a holiday. The MHRA states GLP-1 medicines have been shown to be safe and effective only for people with a BMI of 27 or more, and should not be used for cosmetic weight loss. You can decline, explain why, and record the conversation. The guide to pressure to prescribe gives wording for this conversation, and the commercial pressure guide covers targets and incentives.

Reporting side effects and fake products

Report suspected side effects, medication errors which cause harm, and suspected counterfeit pens to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme (opens another website). The MHRA asks for reports even when you are unsure the medicine caused the problem.

If the concern is about how your service supplies Wegovy, for example short consultations or skipped checks, use the steps in the guide to raising patient-safety concerns. Stock pressure when demand spikes is covered in the shortages and demand guide.

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