Wegovy® pill: oral GLP-1 for weight loss

 

With insurance, the co-pay for the oral Wegovy® pill could be about $25 or less. Self-pay options will start at about $149 for a month long supply without insurance.

Most branded weight loss medications require prior authorization in order for insurance to cover the cost. Your PlushCare physician and care team will reach out to your insurer on your behalf, and this process can take several business days. If you are denied the prior authorization or do not have health insurance, you may still purchase the medication at the full cash price.

Yes, Wegovy® pill is effective for weight loss; people taking it experienced a mean weight loss of 13.6% of their body weight.

The weight loss achieved with the Wegovy^® pill was similar to that of injectable Wegovy^® 2.4 mg. Furthermore, participants in the oral semaglutide group were significantly more likely than those in the placebo group to have body-weight reductions of 5% or more, 10% or more, 15% or more, and 20% or more (P<0.001 for all comparisons) and to have an improved IWQOL-Lite-CT Physical Function score (P<0.001). The well-known safety and tolerability profile of semaglutide was reaffirmed with the Wegovy^® pill in the trial, which was comparable to previous trials with semaglutide for weight management.

Over the 71 weeks, an average of 13.6% of body weight was lost in these patients treated with once-daily oral Wegovy® (semaglutide) 25 mg pill compared to −2.2% in the placebo group with obesity or overweight with one or more comorbidities.

Over the 71-week clinical trial, patients treated with Wegovy® pill lost an average of 13.6% body weight.

The weight loss medication is most effective when used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

A 71-week clinical trial with over 300 participants found that those with obesity or overweight who completed the trial and took the oral Wegovy® pill once a day lost an average of 13.6% of their body weight, a similar amount of weight loss to those who took the 2.4 mg injectable form of Wegovy® once a week, as reported in an earlier study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2021.

The oral Wegovy® pill is taken once daily by mouth, while the Wegovy® pen is taken once weekly as an injection.

Anyone considering switching between dosages and different forms of Wegovy should consult their doctor before making any changes.

Both the oral and injectable Wegovy® contain semaglutide, but the oral Wegovy® pill will be available in starting doses of 1.5 mg, whereas the injectables are available in 2.4 mg doses.

Many patients notice changes within the first few weeks. Your doctor will set realistic milestones based on your plan.