Wegovy is Novo Nordisk's brand of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist sold as a weekly injection and a daily tablet for weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction.
What Wegovy is
"Wegovy is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist" [1]. Its active ingredient is semaglutide, a peptide modeled on human GLP-1 [3]. So Wegovy is a GLP-1 drug, it is a peptide, and it is not tirzepatide (the drug in Zepbound). Is Wegovy Ozempic? Same ingredient, different labels and doses: Ozempic is for type 2 diabetes and tops out at 2 mg [3]. See Ozempic vs Wegovy and semaglutide.
What Wegovy does in your body
Semaglutide acts like the GLP-1 hormone: it stimulates insulin release and slows how fast food leaves the stomach after meals [3]. Its half-life is about a week, which is why the shot is weekly [3]. Weight loss builds over months: STEP 1 measured results at 68 weeks [2]. Background: how GLP-1 medicines work.
What Wegovy is approved for
- Weight. To reduce excess body weight and keep it off: the shot for adults and children 12 and older, the pill for adults only [1].
- Heart risk. To lower the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack and stroke in adults with established heart disease and obesity or overweight. FDA approved this on March 8, 2024 [4].
- MASH. The shot is approved under accelerated approval for noncirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis (F2 to F3) in adults [1].
When did Wegovy come out? The label lists semaglutide's first US approval as 2017 [6]; the heart indication came in March 2024 [4] and the pill on December 22, 2025 [7]. We have not confirmed the date of Wegovy's original approval for weight management.
Pen or pill
| Wegovy pen | Wegovy pill | |
|---|---|---|
| How often | Once a week | Once a day [1] |
| Dose steps | 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.7 mg, each for 4 weeks; then 1.7 or 2.4 mg; up to 7.2 mg for some adults | 1.5, 4, 9 mg, each for 30 days; then 25 mg [1] |
| How to take | Under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm; rotate sites; not into a muscle or vein | Morning, empty stomach, up to 4 oz of plain water; wait 30 minutes before food, drinks or other pills [1] |
| Missed dose | Take it if the next dose is more than 48 hours away; otherwise skip | Skip it and take the next day's dose [1] |
| Storage | Fridge; unopened pens up to 28 days at up to 86 F | Room temperature in the original bottle [8] |
| Self-pay | $199 for the first two fills of 0.25 or 0.5 mg, then $349; 7.2 mg $399 | $149 (1.5 mg), $199 (4 mg), $299 (9 and 25 mg) [5] |
How to give a Wegovy shot
Inject under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, using a different spot each week. You can change the time of day and the site without changing the dose. Do not inject into a muscle or vein [1]. If you miss two or more weeks in a row, call your prescriber, who may restart you at a lower dose [1]. Step-by-step: how to use Wegovy. Storage and travel: Wegovy storage.
What is Wegovy HD?
The 7.2 mg weekly dose. Adults can move to it after at least 4 weeks on 2.4 mg if more weight loss is needed [1]. It costs $399 a month self-pay [5]. In trials, it brought more nausea and vomiting than 2.4 mg, and 22% reported dysesthesia (abnormal skin sensations) vs 6% on 2.4 mg [1]. See Wegovy dosage.
How effective is Wegovy?
In STEP 1, average loss at 68 weeks was 14.9% on 2.4 mg vs 2.4% on placebo; 86.4% lost at least 5% and 50.5% lost at least 15% [2]. Head to head in SURMOUNT-5, average loss was 13.7% on semaglutide vs 20.2% on tirzepatide [9]. So is Zepbound stronger than Wegovy for weight? On average in that trial, yes. Wegovy has the heart-risk indication. See Wegovy vs Zepbound and Wegovy results.
Keeping weight off after Wegovy
In the STEP 1 extension, people who stopped regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost within a year, and most heart and metabolic gains faded [10]. Talk with your prescriber before stopping. More: stopping Wegovy and what to eat on Wegovy.
Is Wegovy safe?
| Side effect | Wegovy | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 44% | 16% |
| Diarrhea | 30% | 16% |
| Vomiting | 24% | 6% |
| Constipation | 24% | 11% |
| Headache | 14% | 10% |
| Fatigue | 11% | 5% |
Who should not take Wegovy: anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 (boxed warning), and anyone with a prior serious allergic reaction to semaglutide or the product's ingredients [1]. The label also warns about pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, low blood sugar, kidney injury from fluid loss, severe stomach reactions, allergic reactions, diabetic eye complications, a higher heart rate and aspiration under anesthesia [1]. Stop Wegovy when pregnancy is recognized, and at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy [1]. Breastfeeding is not recommended on the pill [1]. Other medicines: Wegovy interactions.
Get care right away for
Severe stomach pain that will not go away, with or without vomiting (possible pancreatitis); swelling of the face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing; signs of low blood sugar if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea [1]. Call 911 in an emergency.
What Wegovy costs
| Route | Price per month | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| NovoCare self-pay, pen | $199 intro for two fills, then $349; 7.2 mg $399 | Prescription required; 18 and older; payments do not count toward deductibles | [5] |
| Self-pay, pill | $149 to $299 by dose | Retail pharmacy or NovoCare | [5] |
| Commercial insurance with coverage | As little as $25 | Savings capped at $100 a month | [5] |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | $50 copay | Pen and pill covered for eligible Part D enrollees | [11][12] |
| List price | $1,349 | Drops to $675 on Jan 1, 2027 | [13][14] |
How to get Wegovy
- Get a prescription from a licensed clinician, local or online. See semaglutide near you and semaglutide online.
- Register for the NovoCare offer; your prescriber sends the prescription to NovoCare Pharmacy for free home delivery, or you use the offer at a local pharmacy [5].
- With insurance, ask your plan about prior authorization before paying cash.
All Wegovy guides
- Wegovy cost: NovoCare, savings program and insurance
- Does insurance cover Wegovy? Plan by plan
- Wegovy pill: cost by dose and how to get it
- Wegovy side effects: what is common and what is serious
- How long Wegovy takes to work and how much weight people lose
- Wegovy dosage: doses and schedule
- How to use Wegovy: injection sites, timing and missed doses
- Does Wegovy need to be refrigerated? Storage and travel
- What to eat and drink on Wegovy
- Wegovy with other medicines and health conditions
- What happens when you stop Wegovy
- Wegovy vs Zepbound (semaglutide vs tirzepatide)
- Ozempic vs Wegovy
- Wegovy pill vs injection: results, cost and side effects
- Foundayo vs Wegovy pill: GLP-1 pills compared
In this section
Costs and prices
- Cost guideDoes insurance cover Wegovy? How plans decide and what you pay
- Cost guideWegovy cost: NovoCare, savings program and insurance
Guides
- GuideDoes Wegovy need to be refrigerated? Storage and travel
- GuideHow long Wegovy takes to work and how much weight people lose
- GuideHow to use Wegovy: injection sites, timing and missed doses
- GuideWegovy dosage: doses and schedule
- GuideWegovy side effects: what is common and what is serious
- GuideWegovy with other medicines and health conditions
- GuideWhat happens when you stop Wegovy
- GuideWhat to eat and drink on Wegovy
Questions people ask
What does Wegovy do?
Wegovy (semaglutide) acts like the GLP-1 hormone, stimulating insulin release and slowing stomach emptying [3]. It is approved to reduce excess weight and keep it off, to lower heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death risk in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight, and, as a shot, for MASH with moderate to advanced fibrosis [1].
Is Wegovy tirzepatide?
Who makes Wegovy?
Is Wegovy safe?
It is FDA-approved with known risks, including a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents and warnings for pancreatitis and gallbladder disease. In weight trials, 6.8% stopped for side effects vs 3.2% on placebo [1].
How effective is Wegovy?
In STEP 1, adults on Wegovy 2.4 mg lost an average of 14.9% of body weight at 68 weeks, vs 2.4% on placebo [2]. Results vary from person to person.
What is in Wegovy?
The active ingredient is semaglutide. The tablets also contain the absorption enhancer SNAC, which is why the label does not recommend breastfeeding on the pill [1].
When should I take Wegovy?
How much is Wegovy without insurance?
Checked October 17, 2026: $349 a month for standard pen doses, $199 for the first two fills of 0.25 or 0.5 mg through December 31, 2026, $399 for 7.2 mg, and $149 to $299 for the pill [5].
Sources
15 cited
- Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets prescribing information. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine (Novo Nordisk label), Jun 2026.
- Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1). New England Journal of Medicine (PubMed record), Feb 10, 2021.
- Ozempic (semaglutide) injection prescribing information. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine (Novo Nordisk label), May 2026.
- FDA approves first treatment to reduce risk of serious heart problems specifically in adults with obesity or overweight. US Food and Drug Administration, Mar 8, 2024.
- Wegovy self-pay offer. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare Pharmacy), Oct 17, 2026.
- Wegovy structured product label. US FDA FDALabel, Jun 18, 2026.
- Wegovy pill FDA approval. Novo Nordisk, Dec 22, 2025.
- Wegovy Medication Guide. DailyMed, National Library of Medicine, Jun 2026.
- Tirzepatide as compared with semaglutide for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-5). New England Journal of Medicine (PubMed record), May 11, 2025.
- Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide (STEP 1 extension). Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (PubMed record), May 19, 2022.
- Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for pharmacies. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Oct 17, 2026.
- Weight loss drugs coverage. Medicare.gov, Oct 17, 2026.
- TrumpRx.gov. US government, Oct 17, 2026.
- Novo Nordisk announces reduction in US list price for Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus. Novo Nordisk via PR Newswire, Feb 24, 2026.
- Zepbound prescribing information, 217806 s050. US Food and Drug Administration, Apr 2026.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own care.