Wegovy Pill Gains Traction as Alternative to Injections for Weight Loss

For individuals seeking weight management solutions, the landscape is continually evolving. While Wegovy injections have been available for some time, a new oral formulation of the drug is gaining popularity, offering a more convenient and potentially less stressful option for patients. This shift is particularly appealing to those who have experienced plateaus with injections or anxieties surrounding self-administration.

From Shots to Pills: A Patient’s Experience

Colleen O’Connor, a Long Island, New York resident, initially found success with Wegovy injections, losing approximately 30 pounds and experiencing a reduction in constant food cravings. However, her weight loss eventually plateaued, and concerns about the consistency of her compounded injections arose. The introduction of the Wegovy pill offered a welcome alternative.

The Rise of Oral Semaglutide

The daily Wegovy pill, containing semaglutide, became available in US pharmacies on January 5, 2026, and quickly gained traction. Within three weeks, over 50,000 prescriptions were being filled weekly, with more than 170,000 individuals now utilizing the medication. O’Connor now obtains the FDA-approved pills through online pharmacy Ro, at a cost of $149 per month, a change from the $199 monthly expense for compounded injections from Hers.

How Wegovy Works and Potential Challenges

Wegovy, like other GLP-1 receptor agonists, works by suppressing appetite. However, weight loss isn’t always linear. Plateaus can occur as the body’s resting metabolism decreases with weight loss, and subtle reductions in daily activity due to lower calorie intake can as well contribute. It’s vital to note that a significant portion of weight loss associated with semaglutide – up to 40% – can come from lean muscle mass, impacting the body’s energy expenditure.

France’s Approach to Wegovy

While Wegovy is available in France, the government has chosen not to cover the cost through its national health insurance program. Patients can purchase the drug for between €270 to €330 per month, but must pay out-of-pocket. Initially, prescriptions were limited to specialists, but French GPs were granted the ability to prescribe GLP-1 analogs, including Wegovy and Mounjaro, starting June 23, 2025. The French drug safety agency requires initial prescriptions to come from obesity medicine specialists to prevent misuse.

Side Effects and Considerations

Both the pill and injection forms of Wegovy commonly cause digestive side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach cramps. While clinical trials suggest similar side effect profiles for both formulations, long-term real-world data is still being collected.

O’Connor’s Positive Results with the Pill

After switching to the pill, O’Connor reported losing approximately 8 pounds in the first month, a significant improvement after experiencing a standstill with the injections. She also noted a natural reduction in portion sizes without feeling deprived and experienced no noticeable side effects. For O’Connor, the convenience and discretion of the pill have been transformative.