This website has been produced and funded by Novo Nordisk and
is intended for adult patients in the United Kingdom who have been prescribed Wegovy®▼ (semaglutide
tablets). Side effect reporting information can be found in the footer of this page.
Getting started with Wegovy®▼ (semaglutide tablets) pill video series
If you have been prescribed Wegovy® tablets, also known as Wegovy® pill, by your healthcare professional, you may have lots of questions. In this ‘Getting started' video series, you can learn all about your treatment with Wegovy® pill. From understanding how it works to managing potential side effects, click on the videos below to find out more.
Safety information can be found at the bottom of this page.
Side effect reporting information can be found in the footer of this page.
Video 1: Understanding your treatment
Find out more about what the Wegovy® pill is, how it works and what lifestyle changes you can make to get the most out of your treatment.
Video 2: Your dosing schedule
Understand your dosing schedule with the Wegovy® pill, from stepping up your dose each month to knowing what to do if you missed a dose.
Video 3: How to take Wegovy® each day
Explore guidance on how to take the Wegovy® pill each day and build this into your routine.
Video 4: Managing potential side effects
Learn about the potential gastrointestinal side effects of the Wegovy® pill and how you can manage them with small lifestyle changes.
Side effects
Like all medicines, Wegovy® pill can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious side effects
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- Complications of diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy). If you have diabetes you should inform your doctor if you experience eye problems, such as changes in vision, during treatment with this medicine
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- Inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis) which could cause severe pain in the stomach and back which does not go away. This is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. You should see a doctor immediately if you experience such symptoms.
Stop using this medicine and seek urgent medical help if you experience: Severe, persistent pain in the stomach area (abdomen), with or without nausea and vomiting. This could be a sign of acute pancreatitis, which is serious and potentially life-threatening - Kidney or bladder stones. Signs may include back or lower abdomen pain, difficulty in urination or change in colour of your urine
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
- Severe allergic reactions (anaphylactic reactions, angioedema). You should seek immediate medical help and inform your doctor straight away if you get symptoms such as breathing problems, swelling of face, lips, tongue, and/or throat with difficulty swallowing, wheezing, fast heartbeat, pale and cold skin, feeling dizzy or weak
- Hip fractures
Very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
- A medical condition of the eye called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which may cause loss of vision to one of your eyes without any pain. You should urgently contact your doctor if you notice sudden or gradually worsening eyesight (see section 2 of your Patient Information Leaflet (PIL): “Sudden changes to your eyesight”)
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
- Bowel obstruction. A severe form of constipation with additional symptoms such as stomach ache, bloating, vomiting etc.
Other side effects
Very common side effects: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
- Headache
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Being sick (vomiting)
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Feeling weak or tired
- Upset stomach or indigestion
These usually go away over time.
Common side effects: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- Feeling dizzy
- Burping
- Gas (flatulence)
- Bloating of the stomach
- Inflamed stomach (‘gastritis’) — the signs include stomach ache, feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- Reflux or heartburn — also called ‘gastro-oesophageal reflux disease’
- Gallstones
- Hair loss
- Change in the way food or drink tastes
- Change in skin sensation
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in patients with diabetes
The warning signs of low blood sugar may come on suddenly. They can include: cold sweat, cool pale skin, headache, fast heartbeat, feeling sick (nausea) or very hungry, changes in vision, feeling sleepy or weak, feeling nervous, anxious or confused, difficulty concentrating or shaking.
Your doctor will tell you how to treat low blood sugar and what to do if you notice these warning signs.
Low blood sugar is more likely to happen if you also take a sulfonylurea or insulin. Your doctor may reduce your dose of these medicines before you start using this medicine.
For a full list of side effects, warnings and precautions, please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL).
For more information about the Wegovy® pill, please click here to return to our home page
The information on this website does not replace the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL), which you are advised to read in full. It is not intended as a substitute for clinical advice provided by your healthcare professional. Please contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your treatment and for clinical advice. Please refer to the PIL found in the product carton for further information on how to use Wegovy® pill and a full list of side effects, warnings and precautions.
Reporting side effects
▼This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information promptly. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ for how to report side effects.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. Side effects should also be reported to Novo Nordisk Limited (Telephone Novo Nordisk Customer Care Centre 0800 023 2573). Calls may be monitored for training purposes. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.