Switching to the Wegovy pill: planning the change

The switch the UK label describes

The tablet SmPC says patients on semaglutide injection 2.4 mg weekly can move to semaglutide tablets 25 mg daily, starting one week after the last injection. The SmPC also warns the effect of the switch is hard to predict, because absorption from a tablet varies more.

This information guides prescribers. You should not apply the same schedule if you take a different injection dose, tirzepatide or another oral semaglutide product. Your clinician needs to confirm the right form of the medicine and whether you are suitable.

The new daily routine is part of the switch

Moving from one injection a week means a daily routine of fasting and spacing out other medicines. Check this fits your shifts, breakfast and other tablets before the prescription changes. The active ingredient stays the same, but daily life on treatment changes.

Record why you are changing. If severe stomach or bowel symptoms or another serious reaction led to the switch, a change from injection to tablet may leave the underlying problem in place. A new form of the medicine should never be used to get round a safety concern about semaglutide itself.

Bring a full treatment history

Write down each medicine name, form, strength, dates, how you responded and why you stopped. Include side effects, suspected allergic reactions, any history of pancreatitis and any long gap. A screenshot of an order confirmation is a poor record of what you took.

If a different provider manages the switch, share your records with your consent and keep your GP informed. The new clinician should know whether your last treatment did not work, caused side effects you were unable to tolerate, was out of stock or was inconvenient. Each reason changes what a good switch looks like.

Agree the plan after the change

Your plan should set out the first dose, the dates for dose increases or reviews, advice on symptoms and who to call if you cannot tolerate the new treatment. If you have diabetes, the plan should also cover glucose monitoring and your other medicines.

Do not judge the switch on the first day's appetite or a single weigh-in. Do not ignore severe symptoms while you wait for things to settle either. Follow-up should check progress towards your goal and whether you can keep up the new routine. A dispensed prescription is no proof the switch worked.

Keep any leftover supply of your old treatment apart until your pharmacist advises on disposal or another plan. Two similar packs in daily use raise the risk of taking both by accident. Update your reminders and repeat ordering to the new schedule so they stop prompting the old one.

Questions to take to your appointment

Ask whether the labelled switch from 2.4 mg injection to 25 mg tablet applies to your exact situation. Use the one-week timing only if your clinician has approved that specific switch. Agree how your prescriber will review the daily tablet routine and your response.