How to Take Wegovy Tablets Correctly: Fasting Rules

Take Wegovy tablets once daily, first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Swallow the tablet whole with plain water only, using no more than 120ml.

Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else, or taking other oral medicines.

Do not take Wegovy tablets with tea, coffee, juice, milk, fizzy drinks or food. These can reduce how much semaglutide your body absorbs.

Wegovy tablets are taken once daily.

This is different from Wegovy injections, which are taken once weekly.

Tablets may suit people who want a needle-free option, but they require a stricter daily routine.

Further reading: 

• Switching from Wegovy injections to tablets
• Wegovy tablets vs injections

Wegovy tablets need strict fasting rules because semaglutide is difficult for the body to absorb through the stomach.

The tablet contains an absorption enhancer called SNAC, which helps semaglutide pass through the stomach lining. Food, drinks and other medicines can interfere with this process, which is why the tablet must be taken on an empty stomach with water only.

Waiting at least 30 minutes gives the medicine time to start absorbing before anything else enters the stomach.

The best time to take Wegovy tablets is first thing in the morning, before breakfast, drinks or other medicines.

This usually works best because your stomach has been empty overnight.

After taking the tablet, wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything other than water, or taking other tablets.

Take Wegovy tablets with a small amount of plain water, up to 120ml.

Using too much water may reduce absorption.

You should not take the tablet with any other drink, including coffee, tea, milk, juice or fizzy drinks.

You should wait at least 30 minutes before taking other oral medicines.

This includes tablets, capsules and liquid medicines taken by mouth. If you take important morning medicines, speak to your prescriber or pharmacist before starting Wegovy tablets so they can advise you on timing.

This is especially important if you take:

• levothyroxine
• diabetes medicines
• epilepsy medicines
• blood thinners
• blood pressure medicines
• medicines that must be taken at a specific time

If you miss a Wegovy tablet, skip the missed dose and take your next dose the following morning.

Do not take two tablets in one day. Do not take an extra tablet to make up for a missed dose.

If you vomit after taking Wegovy tablets, do not take another tablet on the same day.

Take your next dose the following morning as usual.

If vomiting continues, or you cannot keep fluids down, contact your prescriber because there may be a risk of dehydration.

Yes. Taking Wegovy tablets incorrectly may reduce how much medicine your body absorbs. This could make the treatment less effective.

If it happens once, do not take an extra tablet. Continue with your normal dose the next morning. If it happens regularly, speak to your prescriber because your routine may need adjusting.

A consistent morning routine can help you take Wegovy tablets correctly.

You may find it useful to:

• take the tablet immediately after waking
• keep the tablets away from food and drinks
• use a small glass or measured bottle for water
• set a 30-minute timer before breakfast or coffee
• take other morning medicines after the 30-minute wait
• speak to your prescriber if your morning routine is difficult

Contact your prescriber if:

• you are struggling to take Wegovy tablets correctly
• you keep missing doses
• you regularly eat or drink too soon after taking the tablet
• you have severe nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
• you cannot keep fluids down
• you feel dizzy, faint or dehydrated
• you take diabetes medicines
• you take important morning medicines and are unsure how to space them

Seek urgent medical help if you develop severe ongoing stomach pain, symptoms of an allergic reaction, severe dehydration or sudden vision changes.

Wegovy tablets need to be taken correctly for the medicine to absorb properly. The key rule is to take one tablet in the morning on an empty stomach with plain water only, then wait at least 30 minutes before food, drinks or other oral medicines.

The strict routine may not suit everyone. If you take other morning medicines, struggle with fasting, or regularly forget doses, speak to your prescriber before starting or continuing Wegovy tablets.