The burgeoning market for weight-loss drugs has introduced new oral tablet formats alongside existing injectable options, offering convenience but yielding mixed results for early adopters. Two writers detailed their recent experiences with these new formulations, highlighting differing outcomes.
Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic, released a pill version of Wegovy in early July. Eli Lilly followed in late August with Foundayo, a tablet form of a different drug, orforglipron, distinct from its injectable Mounjaro which contains tirzepatide. While both pills are priced competitively and offer greater ease of use than injections, their effectiveness and side effect profiles are subject to ongoing user experience.
Foundayo is noted to be pharmacologically more similar to the Wegovy pill than to Mounjaro. Both pill formulations aim to provide a more accessible alternative for individuals averse to injections or seeking to maintain weight loss. The demand for these oral options has been significant, with waiting lists quickly filling.
One user, Lucy Cavendish, described her transition from Mounjaro injections, which led to a substantial weight loss of four stone, to the Wegovy tablet. However, she reported experiencing nausea, stomach cramps, and increased hunger on the Wegovy pill, leading her to discontinue its use. Cavendish then began taking Foundayo, noting it contains a different drug, orforglipron, and can be taken with or without food, unlike the Wegovy pill which requires an empty stomach.
She found Foundayo to be more convenient, costing approximately £90 to £170 per month, which is less expensive than the injectable versions. Despite initial positive experiences with Foundayo regarding side effects, Cavendish still reported feeling hungry in the first week and is awaiting a higher dosage to see if appetite control improves. She expressed a cautious hope that Foundayo might offer a viable, hassle-free solution for weight management.
Conversely, Louise Atkinson switched from Mounjaro injections to the Wegovy pill in early July, hoping for continued support in maintaining her weight loss. After losing two stones with Mounjaro injections the previous year, Atkinson found the £170 monthly cost of injections increasingly difficult to justify. She was prescribed a 4mg dose of the Wegovy pill, bypassing the lowest starter dose.
Atkinson reported experiencing a range of gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, heartburn, constipation, and diarrhea. While these symptoms initially subsided, and she experienced appetite suppression, her weight began to increase after five weeks, leading to a gain of five pounds. She also noted other adverse effects such as breast soreness, water retention, fatigue, and mood changes. Atkinson speculated that her body might not be effectively processing the GLP-1 component of the Wegovy pill without the GIP component present in Mounjaro.
She ultimately decided to return to Mounjaro injections, reporting an immediate return to digestive normalcy and a subsequent decrease in weight within days. Atkinson concluded that she personally responds better to Mounjaro and plans to continue with it, despite acknowledging the accessibility benefits of the new pill forms for other users. She also noted rumors of Eli Lilly potentially reducing Mounjaro injection prices.