lookindex

Semaglutide

Also known as Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus

Proven, approved weight loss for people who meet prescribing criteria. It is not a cosmetic shortcut: side effects are common and weight tends to return after stopping.

Information only. Not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change anything.

What people claim

  • Melts fat quickly
  • Works for anyone who wants to lean out
  • You keep the results when you stop

What the evidence shows

  • In STEP 1, 1,961 adults lost 14.9% of body weight over 68 weeks against 2.4% on placebo.[1]
  • A year after stopping, people in the extension study had regained about two-thirds of the weight they lost.[2]
  • Trials enrolled people with obesity or overweight plus a related health problem. They do not tell you what happens if you are already a healthy weight and want to look leaner.[1]

Known risks

  • Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation are common.[3]
  • Boxed US warning: thyroid C-cell tumours in rodents. Not for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2.[3]
  • Label warnings include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney injury, low blood sugar, raised heart rate and suicidal thoughts.[3]
  • Hair loss was reported in 3% of people, against 1% on placebo.[3]
  • NAION, a sudden eye condition that can cause vision loss, is a very rare side effect affecting up to 1 in 10,000 people.[4]
  • Compounded versions: FDA had 990 adverse event reports by 31 May 2026, including hospitalisations linked to dosing errors.[5]
  • Fake pens circulate. Report any you find to your regulator.[6]

Reported side effects

Moderated user reports are not open yet, so nothing is shown here. They will be labelled as unverified personal accounts.

Legal status

A summary, not legal advice. Rules change, and sport bans are separate.

United States

Prescription

FDA approved. Compounded versions are not FDA approved and are not reviewed for safety or quality.[3][5]

United Kingdom

Prescription

Licensed. MHRA warns against pens bought online.[6]

Australia

Prescription

Approved by TGA.

European Union

Prescription

Authorised through the European Medicines Agency.[4]

Sources

  1. 1.STEP 1 trialNew England Journal of Medicine, 2021
  2. 2.Weight regain after withdrawal of semaglutide: STEP 1 extensionDiabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2022
  3. 3.US prescribing information for injectable semaglutideUS FDA
  4. 4.PRAC concludes NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutideEuropean Medicines Agency, 2025
  5. 5.FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight lossUS FDA
  6. 6.MHRA seizes illegal medicines worth almost £45m in 2025MHRA UK
  7. 7.Novo Nordisk rolls out $349 Wegovy cash price ahead of planReuters, Nov 2025
  8. 8.Wegovy pill price shows Novo strategy in weight loss drug marketSTAT, Dec 2025

Profile last checked 7 Nov 2026.