A WEIGHT-LOSS pill goes on sale for the first time tomorrow in a further milestone in the war on obesity.
Tens of thousands are expected to take the wonder drug.
A weight-loss pill Wegovy goes on sale for the first time tomorrow in a further milestone in the war on obesity Credit: Supplied
Wegovy boss Mike Doustdar said it was a turning point in the fight against obesity Credit: Getty
is the first of its kind to be approved by the UK medicines regulator.
And it is expected to rival fat jabs such as that need weekly injections.
boss Mike Doustdar said it was a .
He said: “There is very little understanding that this is a chronic disease.
“The pill is giving people more options.”
Patients still need a private prescription and start on 1.5mg a day for a month then go to 4mg, 9mg and 25mg.
From today, — 1.5mg and 4mg — will be available as part of weight management programmes at some pharmacies.
Danish manufacturers Novo Nordisk made more than £9billion from last year.
It is now producing millions of tablets to prepare for demand.
Though it has not yet been assessed for use, last month it became for weight loss approved in the UK.
The National Pharmacy Association chairman Olivier Picard said it is particularly significant for patients who cannot or do not want to take an injectable medicine.
He said community pharmacies — which can prescribe drugs — will help eligible patients access treatment safely and mitigate the impact of obesity on the NHS.
But he warned potential patients to be wary of medicines at a cost that’s too good to be true, or providers who do not offer consultations before prescribing.
Mr Picard added: “Weight-loss medication is not a silver bullet and won’t be suitable for all patients.”
What you need to know about the Wegovy pill
- The starting dose for the tablet is 1.5 mg once daily, escalating to 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg with at least a month on each dose.
- There is no comparable doses between the pill and injectable, but those on the starting dose of Wegovy (0.25mg) will likely be switched to 4 mg. Patients currently treated privately with a 2.4 mg semaglutide injection once weekly can be transitioned straight to 25 mg tablets.
- A week break must be taken between the last injection and first pill.
- The pill must be taken on an empty stomach after at least eight hours of fasting, with no more than 120ml of water (a sip), before waiting 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking any other medication.
- Eligibility will vary by provider, but it was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for people with a BMI of 30 or above (obese), or a BMI of 27 to 30 with at least one weight-related comorbidity.
- It does not need to be stored in the fridge.
- The active ingredient is semaglutide – the same as in the Wegovy injection, made by Novo Nordisk.
- Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine should talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, either through the website or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
