A pharmacist has cautioned that a common habit of taking medication with food or beverages could render the new tablet version of the Wegovy slimming drug ineffective. Nasir Ali, a drug expert and co-founder of SwiftDoctor, stated that the absorption of the semaglutide-containing tablet is significantly affected by how it is taken, unlike its injectable counterpart.
"The medicine has to be absorbed through the digestive system, which means the way it is taken matters much more than it does with a jab," Ali explained. "Many people are used to taking medication with breakfast or a cup of tea or coffee, but this can affect how well the tablets are absorbed."
According to Ali, food and drinks other than water can alter the digestive system's conditions, which are crucial for the medication to enter the bloodstream. He advises individuals to take the tablet immediately after waking up and to wait at least 30 minutes before consuming anything other than water. Patients should also wait half an hour before taking other medications and swallow the Wegovy pill whole with a small amount of plain water, approximately 120ml, ideally at the same time each morning.
Ali also issued a warning against purchasing the medication online from unregulated sources, citing reports of counterfeit slimming injections containing harmful substances like rat poison and cement. He stressed that a lower price should not be the primary factor when selecting a provider for treatment.
"Legitimate online pharmacies can provide access to treatment through remote consultations, but patients should make sure they are using a registered pharmacy with qualified prescribers and proper follow-up support," Ali said. "A good provider should assess someone’s health, explain how to use the medication correctly, and offer advice if side effects occur."
The Wegovy tablet received approval from regulators in June, and UK pharmacies began distributing the first packs on July 7, with a monthly supply costing around £100. Currently, the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, is only supplying the two lowest doses: 1.5mg for new users and 4mg for those transitioning from lower doses of Wegovy or Mounjaro injections. The pills, taken daily, are not expected to be available through the National Health Service for several months while the UK drug watchdog completes a value-for-money analysis.
Patients can anticipate side effects similar to those experienced with the injections, as both treatments share the same active ingredient. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach discomfort, and reduced appetite. These symptoms may be more pronounced when starting treatment or increasing the dose, but often become more manageable over time as the body adjusts.
Similar to the injections, the Wegovy pill functions by mimicking a gut hormone that signals fullness to the brain, thereby reducing appetite. Clinical trial results indicate that participants using the pill achieved approximately a 17% reduction in body weight, making it slightly less effective than the injections, which have shown up to a 20.7% reduction with the highest dose. It is estimated that at least 1.6 million adults in the UK are currently using weight-loss injections, with an additional 3.3 million considering their use.