How to take Wegovy tablets 

Wegovy tablets should be taken once a day, first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach.

To take Wegovy tablets correctly:

1. Take one tablet first thing in the morning.
2. Take it with a small among of water (120ml)
3. Swallow the tablet whole (do not crush, split, chew or dissolve the tablet)
4. Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking any other oral medication.

Wegovy tablets should be taken in the morning, before you have anything to eat or drink.

You should try to take it at roughly the same time each day. This helps build a routine and reduces the chance of forgetting your dose.

Wegovy contains semaglutide, which is broken down very easily in the stomach. To solve this, the tablet includes an absorption enhancer. This stops the stomach acid from breaking down semaglutide.

Food and drink (including large amounts of water) can significantly reduce how much of the medicine is absorbed, resulting in inaccurate dosing.

Further reading: Wegovy tablets dosage guide

In studies of oral semaglutide formulations, absorption has been shown to drop by around half when taken with food or excess fluid, which is why strict timing instructions are so important.

Waiting 30 minutes before you eat or drink ensures that more semaglutide reaches your bloodstream.

If you forget to take your Wegovy tablet, skip the missed dose and take your next tablet as normal the following morning.

Do not take two tablets on the same day to make up for a missed dose. Taking extra tablets can increase the risk of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain or feeling generally unwell.

Further reading: Side effects of Wegovy tablets

Missing the occasional tablet is unlikely to ruin your progress but try to get back into your usual routine the next day. It may help to set a morning reminder or keep the tablets somewhere visible as part of your morning routine.

• Taking the tablet with food or drinks other than water
• Not waiting the full 30 minutes before eating or drinking
• Using more than a small amount of water to take the tablet
• Crushing, chewing, or splitting the tablet
• Taking the tablet at different times each day
• Taking a double dose after forgetting one
• Eating or drinking immediately after waking before taking the tablet
• Taking it with other morning medications at the same time

Store Wegovy tablets at room temperature in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat, sunlight and moisture.

Keep them in their original bottle with the lid tightly closed, as this helps protect the tablets from moisture.

Do not store them in warm or humid areas such as bathrooms or near kitchen sinks and keep them safely out of reach of children.

Wegovy tablets do not usually need to be kept in the fridge, but you should always follow the storage instructions on the label or patient information leaflet.

Most side effects of Wegovy are mild and improve over time, but there are some situations where you should seek help.

Contact NHS 111 (urgent advice, not emergency) 

• Persistent nausea or vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down
• Signs of dehydration (very dark urine, dizziness, dry mouth)
• Ongoing stomach pain that is uncomfortable but not severe
• Side effects that don’t improve after a few days or are getting worse
• You’re unsure whether your symptoms are normal for starting treatment
• You think you may have taken the tablet incorrectly and feel unwell

Call 999 or go to A&E (emergency care) 

• Signs of a severe allergic reaction (swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat)
• Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or tight chest
• Severe, sudden stomach pain (especially if it spreads to your back)
• Fainting, collapse, or severe dizziness
• Chest pain or feeling very unwell suddenly
• Repeated vomiting with signs of severe dehydration or confusion

Taking Wegovy tablets correctly is important to help the medicine work as intended. They should be taken first thing in the morning with plain water only, followed by a 30-minute wait before food, drink or other medicines. Missed doses should not be doubled up, and tablets should be stored safely at room temperature in their original bottle. Following these simple steps can help improve absorption, reduce mistakes and support consistent treatment.