Last updated November 2, 2026 · Reviewed by the Gala Health team
Quick comparison
The table below comes from the current Wegovy prescribing information, which covers both forms.
| Wegovy® tablets | Wegovy® injection | |
|---|---|---|
| How often | Once daily | Once weekly |
| How it is taken | Swallowed whole on an empty stomach with water | Injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm |
| Starting dose | 1.5 mg daily for 30 days | 0.25 mg weekly for 4 weeks |
| Escalation | Every 30 days: 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg, then 25 mg | Every 4 weeks: 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.7 mg, then maintenance |
| Maintenance dose | 25 mg daily (from day 91) | 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg weekly (2.4 mg recommended); up to 7.2 mg for some patients |
| Missed dose | Skip it and take the next dose the following day | Take it if the next dose is more than 2 days away; otherwise skip it |
| Boxed warning | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors |
How the pill must be taken
The label gives specific instructions for the tablet, and following them matters because they affect how the medicine is taken up by the body.
- Take one tablet once daily, on an empty stomach, in the morning.
- Swallow it with water, up to 4 ounces. Do not take it with any other liquid.
- Swallow it whole. Do not split, crush, chew or dissolve it.
- After taking it, wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything or taking other oral medications.
- Do not take more than one tablet per day.
- If you miss a dose, skip it and take the next dose the following day.
If a dose is not tolerated during escalation, the label says to consider delaying escalation. If the 25 mg maintenance dose is not tolerated, the label says to consider switching to Wegovy injection 1.7 mg once weekly.
What the pill trial found
The label's evidence for the tablet comes from a 64-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial known as OASIS 4. It enrolled 307 adults with obesity, or overweight plus at least one weight-related condition, who did not have type 2 diabetes. Participants were randomized 2 to 1 to Wegovy 25 mg tablets or placebo, with dose escalation over 12 weeks, and all received diet and activity counseling.
- Average weight change at week 64 was a 13.6% loss with Wegovy tablets vs 2.4% with placebo, according to the label.
- 76.3% of the Wegovy tablet group lost at least 5% of body weight (31.3% with placebo), 59.8% lost at least 10% (14.4%), 47% lost at least 15% (5.5%) and 27.9% lost at least 20% (3.1%).
- In the published report, gastrointestinal adverse events were more common with the tablet (74.0%) than with placebo (42.2%).
- In the label, about 7% of the tablet group and 5.9% of the placebo group stopped treatment because of an adverse reaction, most often a digestive one.
For the injection, the label's 68-week trial in 1,961 adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related condition found an average weight change of a 14.9% loss with Wegovy 2.4 mg vs 2.4% with placebo. These are separate trials with different populations and lengths, so they should not be used to rank the two forms. Results describe the approved brand-name product and are not predictions for any one person.
Side effects and safety
The label says the types and frequency of common adverse reactions in the tablet trial were similar to those seen with the injection, mainly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. The same boxed warning, contraindications and warnings apply to both forms, including pancreatitis, gallbladder problems and dehydration. The Wegovy label also says tablets or injection should not be used with other semaglutide products or any other GLP-1 receptor agonist. See our guide to GLP-1 side effects.
Switching between the pill and the injection
The label includes switching instructions for prescribers. A patient taking Wegovy 2.4 mg injection may switch to 25 mg tablets, starting one week after the last injection. A patient taking 25 mg tablets may switch to the injection, starting 2.4 mg the day after stopping the tablets, or 1.7 mg for those who did not tolerate the tablets. These are decisions for your prescriber, not a do-it-yourself schedule. Compare all label schedules in our GLP-1 dosing schedule guide.
Getting started with Gala
The Wegovy® pill is coming soon and will be available through Gala later. You can join the waitlist on the Wegovy pill page.
Gala currently offers compounded semaglutide, compounded tirzepatide and brand-name Ozempic®. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. A licensed provider reviews your online assessment and prescribes only if it is appropriate for you. If prescribed, your medication ships to your home, you can message your care team, and your provider can adjust your dose over time. To begin, start your online GLP-1 assessment. You can also read about semaglutide for weight loss, compare compounded vs brand-name GLP-1 medications or browse the weight loss hub.
This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about what is right for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Wegovy pill FDA-approved?
Yes. Wegovy tablets are included on the current FDA-approved Wegovy label, together with the Wegovy injection. They are approved with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction in adults with obesity or overweight plus a weight-related condition, and to lower cardiovascular risk in adults with established heart disease and obesity or overweight.
How do you take the Wegovy pill?
Take one tablet once daily in the morning on an empty stomach with water, up to 4 ounces, and no other liquid. Swallow it whole. Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines. If you miss a dose, skip it and take the next dose the following day.
What is the Wegovy pill dose schedule?
The label starts at 1.5 mg daily for 30 days, then 4 mg for 30 days, then 9 mg for 30 days, then the 25 mg daily maintenance dose from day 91 onward. If a dose is not tolerated, the label says to consider delaying escalation.
Is the pill as effective as the injection?
They were studied in separate trials. In the label, adults taking Wegovy 25 mg tablets lost an average of 13.6% of body weight at 64 weeks vs 2.4% with placebo, and adults taking Wegovy 2.4 mg injection lost 14.9% at 68 weeks vs 2.4% with placebo. The trials differ, so the numbers should not be compared directly.
Can I get the Wegovy pill through Gala?
Not yet. The Wegovy pill is coming soon and will be available through Gala later. You can join the waitlist on the Wegovy pill page. Gala currently offers compounded semaglutide, compounded tirzepatide and brand-name Ozempic, and a licensed provider decides whether a prescription is appropriate. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
Ready to talk to a provider?
Your answers go to a licensed provider, who decides whether treatment is right for you. Learn more about Weight Loss.
Sources
- Novo Nordisk. WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and tablets prescribing information. FDA-approved label.
- Wharton S et al. Oral semaglutide at a dose of 25 mg in adults with overweight or obesity (OASIS 4). N Engl J Med. 2025.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed provider about your own health.