What the Wegovy pill is
The Wegovy pill contains semaglutide and is made by Novo Nordisk. Approved December 22, 2025, the first GLP-1 pill for weight loss.
FDA-approved for
- Long-term weight reduction (adults)
- Lowering cardiovascular risk in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight
Dosing
Daily pill, on an empty stomach with up to 4 oz of water, 30 minutes before food or other medicines. 1.5 mg (days 1–30), then 4 mg, then 9 mg, then 25 mg maintenance from day 91. Your clinician sets the pace, and it is common to stay at a dose longer if side effects are hard to manage.
How well it works
In OASIS 4, the 25 mg dose produced 13.6% average weight loss over 64 weeks, vs 2.4% on placebo. These are averages from clinical trials; your results may be different.
Wegovy pill cost
$149 (1.5 mg), $199 (4 mg) and $299 (9 mg and 25 mg) a month self-pay at NovoCare Pharmacy, labeled a limited-time offer. If your commercial insurance covers it, the manufacturer savings card can bring the cost down to as little as $25 a month. For every price option, read How much does Wegovy cost in 2026?. For the steps, read How to get the Wegovy pill online.
Common side effects
Stomach-related side effects are the most common, especially while the dose is going up. Percentages show people on the medication vs placebo in the label trials.
Scroll sideways to see the full table
| Side effect | Wegovy 2.4 mg | Zepbound 5–15 mg | Foundayo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 44% vs 16% | 25–29% vs 8% | 26–35% vs 10% |
| Diarrhea | 30% vs 16% | 19–23% vs 8% | 21–25% vs 11% |
| Vomiting | 24% vs 6% | 8–13% vs 2% | 13–24% vs 4% |
| Constipation | 24% vs 11% | 11–17% vs 5% | 20–27% vs 9% |
| Abdominal pain | 20% vs 10% | 9–10% vs 5% | 13–14% vs 7% |
| Fatigue | 11% vs 5% | 5–7% vs 3% | 6–9% vs 4% |
| Hair loss | 3% vs 1% | 4–5% vs 1% | 4–5% vs 2% |
Source: Wegovy (rev. 06/2026), Zepbound (rev. 08/2026) and Foundayo (rev. 07/2026) prescribing information.
Safety: GLP-1 medications carry a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors and are not for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2. Labels also warn about pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, low blood sugar with some diabetes drugs, kidney problems from dehydration and severe stomach problems. Talk to a licensed clinician about your history.
Legal status: Prescription only; FDA-approved.