Wegovy Tablets vs Injections

There has not been a direct head-to-head trial comparing Wegovy tablets with Wegovy injections.

The figures below come from separate clinical trials, so they should be treated as an indirect comparison, not definitive proof that one version is better than the other.

Wegovy tablets

Wegovy tablets are taken once daily. In the OASIS 4 trial, oral semaglutide 25mg produced 13.6% average weight loss at 64 weeks in the main treatment-policy analysis.

In an analysis estimating results if all patients stayed on treatment, average weight loss was 16.6% at 64 weeks.

Further reading: Wegovy tablet results

Wegovy injections

In a clinical trial known as the STEP 1 trial, semaglutide 2.4mg produced 14.9% average weight loss at 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% with placebo.

Longer-term data from STEP 5 showed 15.2% average weight loss at 104 weeks with semaglutide 2.4mg, compared with 2.6% with placebo.

As of 2026, a higher-dose Wegovy injection, 7.2mg once weekly, has also been studied and approved in the UK. In STEP UP, semaglutide 7.2mg produced 18.7% average weight loss at 72 weeks in the main analysis, and 20.7% in those who stayed on treatment.

Further reading: Wegovy injection results

Summary

Wegovy tablets appear to produce strong weight loss results. However, from clinical trial data, the injections will help to lose an extra 4% of your starting body weight.

Wegovy tablets

Wegovy tablets are taken once daily.

They should be taken on an empty stomach in the morning with around 120ml of water. You should wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines.

The biggest advantage is that there are no needles. The biggest drawback is that the instructions are stricter and need to be followed every day.

Further reading: How to take Wegovy tablets

Wegovy injections

Wegovy injections are taken once weekly, on the same day each week. They are injected under the skin and can be taken with or without food.

Summary

Wegovy tablets may be better for people who strongly dislike injections and are comfortable following strict daily timing rules.

Wegovy injections may be easier for people who prefer a once-weekly routine and do not mind self-injecting.

Wegovy tablets

Wegovy tablets can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, indigestion and reflux. In OASIS 4, gastrointestinal adverse events were reported in 74.0% of patients using oral semaglutide 25mg, compared with 42.2% using placebo. Nausea was reported in 46.6%, and vomiting in 30.9%.

Because the tablet has to be absorbed through the stomach, correct administration is particularly important. Taking it incorrectly may reduce how much medicine is absorbed.

Further reading: Wegovy tablets side effects

Wegovy injections

Wegovy injections can cause the same common GLP-1 side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain. Standard 2.4mg Wegovy injection trial data reported nausea in 44%, diarrhoea in 30%, vomiting in 24%, constipation in 24%, and abdominal pain in 20%.

For Wegovy 7.2mg, the FDA label reports nausea in 39%, vomiting in 22%, constipation in 20%, abdominal pain in 12%, fatigue in 11%, headache in 9%, and dizziness in 6%. Dysesthesia, meaning altered skin sensations such as burning, sensitive skin or tingling, was reported in 22% with Wegovy 7.2mg compared with 6% with 2.4mg in the relevant trial table.

Further reading: Wegovy injection side effects

Summary

Both Wegovy tablets and injections contain semaglutide, so their side effect profile is broadly similar.

The most common side effects are gastrointestinal, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain.

The type and frequency of common adverse reactions with Wegovy 25mg tablets were similar to those seen with Wegovy 2.4mg injections.

Wegovy tablets

In the US, the tablet version has been priced at around 15% less than the injectable version.

If a similar pricing pattern was followed in the UK, Wegovy tablets could cost somewhere in the region of £130-£250 per month, depending on the provider, dose and dispensing fees.

However, this is only an estimate. Novo Nordisk has not yet released official UK pricing for Wegovy tablets, so the final private cost may be higher or lower once they become available.

Wegovy injections

Wegovy injections are already established in the UK private market.

Current UK market comparisons commonly place private Wegovy injections at around £150–£300 per month.

Summary

Based on the pricing strategy in the US, we can expect the price of Wegovy tablets to be cheaper than the injections.

This is most likely because they are cheaper to manufacture, store and ship.

Wegovy tablets and injections both contain semaglutide, which enters the body and works in the same way to reduce appetite and support weight loss. Because of this, the side effects are likely to be broadly similar, especially digestive symptoms such as nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting.

The main advantage of Wegovy tablets is that they offer a needle-free alternative for people who dislike injections. However, this comes with a trade-off: tablets need to be taken every day, on an empty stomach, and with a strict dosing routine.

UK pricing has not yet been confirmed, but tablets may be cheaper than injections when they become available. For some patients, cost may become an important deciding factor alongside convenience, side effects and personal preference.