Oral semaglutide tablets for weight management: what you need to know

In June 2026 the UK approved the first once-daily tablet in the semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist) class for weight management. This page explains what was approved, what the evidence shows, how the tablet is taken, and its safety profile. It is general information, not a recommendation, and it does not replace advice from a healthcare professional.

What was approved

On 11 June 2026 the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved an oral form of semaglutide for weight management in adults. It is the first tablet in the GLP-1 receptor agonist class to be licensed for this use in the UK, and it contains the same active ingredient as the established once-weekly injection.

It is licensed as an aid alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or above, or a BMI of 27 kg/m² to under 30 kg/m² who also have at least one weight-related health condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, raised cholesterol or obstructive sleep apnoea.

How it works

Semaglutide mimics a natural gut hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which the body releases after eating. It acts on the areas of the brain that regulate appetite, helping people feel fuller for longer and reducing hunger and food cravings. This can support eating less alongside diet and lifestyle change. Because it also slows the rate at which the stomach empties, it can affect how other medicines taken by mouth are absorbed.

What the evidence shows

Approval was based largely on a 64-week randomised, placebo-controlled trial (OASIS 4) in adults with obesity or overweight who also received lifestyle guidance. Participants taking the tablet lost on average around 13 to 14 per cent of their body weight over the study, compared with roughly 2 to 3 per cent on placebo. Among those who kept to treatment throughout, the average was higher, at around 16 to 17 per cent. These results are broadly in line with the weekly injection at its 2.4 mg dose.

Individual results vary, and weight management medicines are a support for long-term lifestyle change rather than a replacement for it. Weight is commonly regained if treatment stops without other measures in place.

How it is taken

The absorption of oral semaglutide is easily reduced by food and drink, so the instructions are strict and are not optional:

• Take one tablet first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, after fasting for at least eight hours.
• Swallow it whole with a small sip of plain water only. Do not split, crush or chew it.
• Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else, or taking other medicines by mouth.

Treatment starts at a low dose and is increased in steps (1.5 mg, then 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg), with a minimum of one month at each level, to help the body adjust and reduce side effects. Following the instructions in the patient information leaflet matters, because taking the tablet incorrectly can make it far less effective.

Possible side effects

As with all medicines, side effects are possible. The most common affect the stomach and digestion, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach discomfort and indigestion. These are often most noticeable when starting treatment or increasing the dose, and tend to ease as the body adjusts. Less common but more serious effects can occur, which is one of the reasons treatment needs clinical assessment beforehand and supervision throughout. The patient information leaflet lists the full range of side effects, and any suspected side effect can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

How it differs from other semaglutide products

• Versus the weekly injection: both contain semaglutide and work the same way. The tablet is taken every day with a strict fasting routine, while the injection is taken once a week and can be taken at any time of day. The tablet does not need refrigeration.
• Versus the diabetes tablet: a lower-dose oral semaglutide has been licensed for some years for type 2 diabetes. That is a different product and licence. The doses are not interchangeable, so the two should not be confused.

People already established on the weekly 2.4 mg injection may in some cases be able to switch to the daily tablet, but only following a clinical assessment.

Availability in the UK

Approval and availability are separate steps. As of the last review of this page, the tablet had been approved but had not yet launched commercially in the UK. The manufacturer has indicated a launch in the second half of 2026, with private prescription access expected first, and no confirmed date has been published. It is not currently available on the NHS; the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is expected to carry out a separate appraisal to decide on NHS use, which usually takes several months.

Getting reliable information and treatment

Weight management medicines are powerful treatments, not cosmetic products, and they require proper assessment, appropriate prescribing and ongoing follow-up. If you are considering treatment, speak to a healthcare professional or a registered pharmacy, who can talk through whether it is suitable for you and what the alternatives are. Always read the patient information leaflet, and check any information against the official Summary of Product Characteristics once it is published.

This page provides general information for the public and does not constitute medical advice, a recommendation, or an offer of treatment. The medicine described is prescription-only and available only where a prescriber considers it clinically appropriate following an assessment. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the date of last review and may change; always check the current patient information leaflet and Summary of Product Characteristics.