Wegovy
semaglutide · GLP-1 receptor agonist
Wegovy is semaglutide dosed for weight management, available as a once-weekly 2.4 mg injection and, since January 2026, as a once-daily 25 mg pill. It is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults and adolescents 12 and older, for cardiovascular risk reduction, and for non-cirrhotic MASH. Injection doses step up from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg over roughly 16 weeks. Common side effects are gastrointestinal, and a boxed warning covers thyroid C-cell tumor risk. List price is about $1,349/mo for the injection, with self-pay routes starting at $149/mo for the pill.
GLP-1 RA
Weekly or daily
~15%
$1,349/mo
Overview
Wegovy is the brand name for semaglutide at weight-management doses, made by Novo Nordisk. It is the same molecule as Ozempic, dosed higher and labeled for obesity rather than diabetes. Wegovy is now approved as both a once-daily pill (semaglutide tablet 25 mg) and a once-weekly injection (semaglutide 2.4 mg). It mimics a natural gut hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar, and it is prescribed alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
How Wegovy works
Curbs appetite
Slows digestion
Protects the heart
What it's used for
- Chronic weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition
- Chronic weight management in adolescents 12 and older at or above the 95th BMI percentile
- Reduce major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity
- Treatment of non-cirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with moderate-to-advanced fibrosis
Effectiveness
In STEP 1, the 2.4 mg injection produced roughly 15% mean body-weight loss at 68 weeks. For the pill, OASIS 4 showed 16.6% mean weight loss at 64 weeks with full adherence versus 2.7% for placebo, and 13.6% versus 2.2% in the treatment-policy analysis. SELECT showed about a 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events. Individual results vary.
Dosing schedule
Injection (once weekly)
Pill (once daily)
Wegovy tablets are taken on an empty stomach with no more than 4 oz of plain water, at least 30 minutes before any other food, drink, or oral medication.
Side effects & Safety
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Headache
- Fatigue
Serious risks & warnings
- Thyroid C-cell tumor risk (boxed warning)
- Pancreatitis
- Gallbladder problems
- Low blood sugar with insulin/sulfonylureas
- Kidney injury from dehydration
- Severe gastrointestinal reactions
- Pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation
- Monitor for depression or suicidal thoughts
Do not use with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2. Not for use during pregnancy.
Cost & savings
List price is about $1,349/mo for the injection without insurance. Most people pay less through one of these routes:
Through insurance
Varies
Telehealth cash-pay
$99/mo
Patient assistance
$0
Self-pay pricing through NovoCare Pharmacy requires your prescriber to send the prescription to NovoCare specifically, and is not available to patients on Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or VA benefits. Prices verified August 2026.
Compare with other GLP-1s
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Wegovy and Ozempic?
Same molecule, semaglutide, from the same manufacturer. Wegovy is dosed higher, up to 2.4 mg weekly, and FDA-approved for weight management. Ozempic is dosed up to 2 mg weekly and approved for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk, and chronic kidney disease. Insurance treats them very differently.
Is the Wegovy pill as effective as the injection?
In separate trials, the 25 mg pill produced about 13.6% mean weight loss at 64 weeks in the treatment-policy analysis, compared with about 15% for the 2.4 mg injection in STEP 1. There has been no head-to-head trial, so the comparison is indirect.
How long does it take to see results on Wegovy?
Most people notice reduced appetite within the first few weeks, but meaningful weight loss builds over months as the dose escalates. Trial participants continued losing weight through about week 60.
What happens if I stop taking Wegovy?
Weight regain is common. In the STEP 1 extension, participants regained roughly two-thirds of their lost weight within a year of stopping. Wegovy is labeled for chronic use.
Will insurance cover Wegovy?
Coverage is inconsistent and depends on your plan's obesity benefit. Plans are more likely to cover it when there is an approved cardiovascular or MASH indication documented. Check your formulary before starting.
Educational only, not medical advice. Wegovy is a prescription medication; a licensed clinician determines if it's appropriate. Effectiveness figures are trial averages (STEP, OASIS, SELECT); results vary. Pricing verified August 2026 and subject to change. *Starting price for doctor-guided care; medication cost is separate.