GLP-1 Oral Tablets in the UK: What Is Licensed (October 2026)

01 · The core answer

Are GLP-1 tablets available in the UK?

Yes. Two GLP-1 weight-loss tablets are now licensed in the UK, and both are prescription-only. They are different medicines from Mounjaro, with their own dosing, eligibility checks and trial results.

If you want the wider picture of what is on the market, our overview of GLP-1 tablets and the oral GLP-1 weight loss guide go through the options side by side. You can also read about each product on its own page: the Wegovy pill and Foundayo (orforglipron).

02 · The decision

GLP-1 injection or oral: which should you consider?

The choice comes down to routine, tolerance of needles and what your prescriber considers suitable, not to a head-to-head winner. Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection; Wegovy tablets and Foundayo are once-daily tablets. No trial has compared Mounjaro directly with either tablet, so results from separate trials, with different people, durations and doses, should not be set against each other as if they were head to head.¹⁵

The trial rows are listed for orientation only. They measured different people over different periods and are not a ranking.

03 · Your next step

What should you do next?

Start by deciding which routine you could actually keep: a daily tablet with or without strict timing, or one injection a week. Then have your suitability reviewed by a prescriber, who will check your health, your other medicines and your routine.²⁰

Mounjaro is licensed for weight management in adults and is supplied only after an online consultation reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.¹ Our weight loss clinic explains the wider treatment options, and our pharmacy is GPhC-registered (9012878).

Beware of anything sold online as a "GLP-1 pill" without a consultation or prescription.

04 · How oral GLP-1 works

How oral GLP-1 tablets work

GLP-1 is a natural gut hormone, and GLP-1 medicines imitate its action. In practice, most people feel fuller sooner and less hungry between meals, which supports a reduced-calorie diet.¹ That is the shared idea behind injections and tablets alike.

The tablets reach the same receptor in different ways. Wegovy tablets contain semaglutide, the same active ingredient as the Wegovy injection, taken as one tablet once a day.²⁰ Foundayo contains orforglipron, a once-daily GLP-1 tablet.²¹ Foundayo is made by Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro, but it is a separate medicine.²¹

Mounjaro is different again. Tirzepatide is the first treatment of its kind to activate two natural gut-hormone receptors at once: GIP and GLP-1.¹ This dual action distinguishes Mounjaro from single-action GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide. There is no tablet form of Mounjaro, because tirzepatide is injection-only in the UK.²⁰

Why "oral" is not the same as "supplement"

Products marketed as an oral GLP-1 supplement are not medicines. They are not regulated for this use and have no comparable trial evidence.²⁰ Our explainer on oral GLP-1 supplements sets out the difference.

For a wider catalogue of what is licensed in tablet form, see our guide to GLP-1 drugs in oral form. It is a reference page and does not replace a prescriber's assessment.

05 · Wegovy tablets explained

Wegovy tablets: what they are and how to take them

Wegovy tablets are oral semaglutide made by Novo Nordisk, and they were approved by the MHRA in June 2026.²⁰ Wegovy tablets contain semaglutide, the same active ingredient as the Wegovy injection, taken as one tablet once a day.²⁰ You can read more on our Wegovy pill page, where current prices are shown.

Who the licence covers

They are licensed for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to under 30 with at least one weight-related condition, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity.²⁰ Meeting a BMI threshold does not promise suitability. A prescriber also considers your health history and your other medicines before deciding.

The dose ladder

Treatment starts at 1.5mg once daily and steps up to 4mg, 9mg and then the 25mg maintenance dose, with at least one month at each dose; the dose can stay at an earlier step if needed.²⁰ That last point matters: higher is not automatically better, and holding at a tolerable step is within the licence. Do not adjust the dose yourself outside the instructions you are given.

The morning routine

The routine is the biggest practical difference between this tablet and the others. The tablet must be taken on an empty stomach after fasting for at least 8 hours, swallowed whole with a sip of water (up to half a glass, about 120ml), and you then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other tablets.²⁰ In real life that means taking it as soon as you wake, with other morning medicines held back until the waiting period is over. If your mornings are rushed or you take several tablets, ask your prescriber how to fit this in.

Missed doses and switching

If a dose is missed, skip it and take the next tablet the following day.²⁰ Never double up to compensate.

People already on the Wegovy injection have a defined route across. People on the 2.4mg weekly Wegovy injection can move to the 25mg tablet, starting one week after their last injection.²⁰ If you are weighing the Wegovy injection against the tablet, the Wegovy pen page has the injection details; its own licensed ladder is 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and 2.4mg once weekly, stepping up after at least four weeks.¹⁸

Switching between any weight-loss medicines should be arranged with a prescriber, not improvised. Availability can change, so check availability at the time of order.

06 · Wegovy tablet results

Wegovy tablets: OASIS 4 results and side effects

In the OASIS 4 trial, adults taking semaglutide 25mg tablets for 64 weeks lost on average 13.6% of their body weight, compared with 2.2% on placebo.²² Individual results vary, and trial averages do not predict your own result.

The trial also reported how many people reached common weight-loss milestones. 76.3% lost at least 5% of their body weight (vs 30.5% on placebo) and 59.8% lost at least 10% (vs 14.1%).²² These percentages show how results were spread, not what any one person should expect. Some people lose less than the average and some lose more.

Putting the average into context

Percentages can feel abstract. For someone starting at 100 kg, 13.6% is about 13.6 kg. That is a worked example of the trial average, not a promise, and it does not tell you how quickly the loss would arrive. Think in months rather than days, and judge progress by the trend rather than single weigh-ins.

Do not line these figures up against injection trials and declare a winner. They come from different studies with different people, durations and doses. Only SURMOUNT-5 directly compared tirzepatide with injected semaglutide, and no trial has compared Mounjaro directly with either tablet.¹⁵

Side effects

The most common side effects are digestive — nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion and stomach pain — along with headache and tiredness; gallstones and hair loss are listed as common.²² Digestive effects are the ones to plan around. Tell your prescriber if digestive effects are hard to manage; they can hold you at an earlier step within the licence.

Our broader reference on GLP-1 pills explained keeps these points alongside the other licensed options.

07 · Foundayo explained

Foundayo (orforglipron): what it is and how to take it

Foundayo is a once-daily GLP-1 tablet made by Eli Lilly, approved in August 2026 and different from Mounjaro.²¹ Foundayo contains orforglipron, a once-daily GLP-1 tablet made by Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro.²¹ The Foundayo (orforglipron) product page shows current availability and pricing.

Taking it day to day

Unlike Wegovy tablets it can be taken at any time of day, with or without food and without water restrictions; the tablet is swallowed whole.²¹ For people who dislike a fasting routine or take other morning tablets, that flexibility is the main practical appeal.

Who it is licensed for

It is licensed for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 to under 30 with at least one weight-related condition, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity.²¹

Dose steps

Treatment starts at 0.8mg once daily, then steps up to 2.5mg and 5.5mg, and then to 9mg, 14.5mg or 17.2mg depending on response and tolerability, with at least 30 days at each dose; 17.2mg once daily is the maximum.²¹ Notice that the final dose is chosen according to how you respond and tolerate it.

Missed doses

If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible, but never more than one tablet a day.²¹ That is a different rule from Wegovy tablets, where a missed dose is skipped. Keep the two rules separate if you ever switch between them.

Contraception

This is the most important interaction to know about. Foundayo may make oral contraceptive pills less effective: switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for 30 days after starting and for 30 days after each dose increase.²¹ The MHRA also publishes guidance on contraception with GLP-1 medicines.⁷ Tell your prescriber about any contraception you use before you start.

Foundayo is one of several tablets in this space; our overview of GLP-1 medications in tablet form compares the options in plain language.

08 · Foundayo results

Foundayo: ATTAIN-1 results and side effects

In ATTAIN-1, people on the highest dose of orforglipron lost on average 12.4% of their body weight over 72 weeks, compared with 0.9% on placebo. Individual results vary.

Reading the trial correctly

Check one caveat before you compare doses. The trial used capsules, and the UK 17.2mg tablet corresponds to the highest trial dose, so the tablet and capsule doses are not comparable milligram for milligram.²³ In other words, do not map trial milligrams onto the tablet strengths on your prescription. Your prescriber works from the UK label, not the trial doses.

The lower doses gave smaller average losses, which is a reminder that response depends on dose and individual tolerance. For someone starting at 100 kg, 12.4% is about 12.4 kg as a worked example of the trial average. That is not a prediction for you, and it says nothing about how fast the loss would occur.

Side effects and stopping

The most common side effects are digestive — nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion and stomach pain.²³ The trial also reported discontinuations: in the trial, 10.3% of people on the highest dose stopped because of side effects, compared with 2.7% on placebo.²³ Talk to your prescriber early if side effects are troubling, rather than pushing through.

Long-term effects

Figures vary, and your prescriber can advise on what applies to you. Ongoing reviews are part of responsible treatment, and any new symptom can be reported through the Yellow Card scheme.¹⁹

How quickly does it work?

The honest answer is gradually. Treatment steps up with at least 30 days at each dose, so the effect builds across the ladder instead of arriving on the first tablet. Early on, experiences differ widely and early loss can include water weight. Judge progress by the trend over months, not individual weigh-ins.

If your prescriber and you decide the tablet is not the right fit, injections remain licensed options; our reference on GLP-1 drugs in oral form and the product pages explain what else is available.

09 · Tablets vs Mounjaro

GLP-1 tablets vs Mounjaro injection

Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection; Wegovy tablets and Foundayo are once-daily tablets.¹⁵ That single difference shapes everything else about daily life on treatment.

What the evidence does and does not say

No trial has compared Mounjaro directly with either tablet, so results from separate trials — with different people, durations and doses — should not be set against each other as if they were head to head (SURMOUNT-5 is the trial that compared tirzepatide directly with injected semaglutide).¹⁵ Be wary of any page that sets averages side by side and crowns a winner. Trial publications describe separate populations, and a tablet trial is not a rerun of an injection trial.

Mounjaro's own pivotal trial is SURMOUNT-1, which measured results at 72 weeks, and trial figures for the injection are reported in that paper.²

Practical differences that matter

The practical differences matter as much as the averages: Wegovy tablets need a strict empty-stomach routine every morning, Foundayo has no food or water rules, and Mounjaro needs one injection a week.¹⁵ Think about these questions:

• Would a daily habit or a weekly habit be easier to keep?
• Could you manage fasting and waiting before eating each morning?
• Do you take other morning tablets that would need to wait?
• Do you use an oral contraceptive that Foundayo might affect? Mounjaro can also reduce how well oral contraceptive pills are absorbed: switch to a non-oral method, or add a barrier method (such as condoms), for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro and for 4 weeks after each dose increase.
• Are you comfortable with a weekly self-injection using a pre-filled pen?

Mounjaro routine in brief

Mounjaro is injected under the skin once a week, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without food.¹ Everyone starts on 2.5mg, and the dose can step up by 2.5mg at a minimum of four-week intervals to a maximum of 15mg weekly depending on response and tolerance. Many people settle on 5mg, 10mg or 15mg.

Mounjaro is supplied through our Mounjaro pen page with official LillyDirect supply, genuine KwikPens, free next-day tracked delivery and ongoing monthly reviews. If you decide on an injection, the prescriber still decides on suitability.

Switching or stopping

If you stop Mounjaro, tirzepatide has a half-life of about five days, so after a final dose it takes four to five weeks to clear the system, and nothing needs doing while it clears.¹

10 · Safety and who should ask

Safety: who should not take GLP-1 pills, and what to avoid

Whether a GLP-1 tablet suits you is a prescriber decision, not something a web page can settle. Both licensed tablets are prescription-only, and each comes with an eligibility check.²⁰

What is in the patient information leaflet?

The leaflet is the official guide that comes with the medicine. It explains what the tablet is for, how to take it, side effects, how to store it and what to do if you miss a dose. Read it before the first tablet and keep it. It does not replace a conversation with your prescriber.

What you can and cannot do

The "what can you not do" question has a few firm answers:

• Wegovy tablets: do not eat, drink or take other tablets until the waiting period after your dose is over.²⁰
• Foundayo: never take more than one tablet a day, even after a missed dose.²¹
• Foundayo and oral contraception: do not rely on the pill alone around starting and each dose increase.²¹
• Any GLP-1: do not adjust doses outside the licensed ladder.

Reporting problems

If you have a side effect, tell your prescriber. You can also report it yourself via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, which is how new safety information reaches regulators.¹⁹ The MHRA also publishes counterfeit medicine alerts, a good reason to buy only from a registered pharmacy.⁷ You can check any pharmacy on the public GPhC register; ours is GPhC 9012878.¹²

Scams to avoid

Anyone offering to supply a GLP-1 "pill" without a consultation or prescription is not operating legitimately. Dramatic weight-loss claims are a warning sign, as are products described as "nature's Ozempic". Those are supplements, they are not medicines and dosing is not standardised. There is no comparable trial evidence behind them, and they come with no clinical oversight.

Pregnancy, other medicines and conditions

Your prescriber needs a full picture: conditions, current prescriptions and plans such as pregnancy. Mounjaro must not be used during pregnancy, and it should be stopped at least one month before trying to conceive. If you become pregnant during treatment, stop the medicine and tell your prescriber promptly. Do not start or stop any medicine on the strength of a web page. If you take medicines for diabetes, tell your prescriber, because doses of insulin or sulfonylureas may need adjusting because of low blood sugar risk.

11 · NHS and private access

NHS and private access to GLP-1 medicines

NHS access to Wegovy runs through specialist weight-management services; ask your GP. For Mounjaro, the NHS picture is documented. Mounjaro is available on the NHS, but access is being phased in over several years.⁴ NICE recommends it for adults with a BMI of at least 35 plus at least one weight-related condition, and the NHS primary-care rollout began in June 2025 with the highest-need groups first (initially BMI 40+ with four or more qualifying conditions).⁶ Full rollout is expected to take years, which is why many people who meet the licensed criteria choose regulated private treatment rather than waiting.

Tablets and the NHS

Ask your GP or local weight-management service what is currently commissioned in your area. The NHS charge for an England prescription is £9.90 where charges apply, but that does not tell you whether a given weight-loss medicine is available on prescription.

What private treatment involves

Private treatment through a registered online pharmacy follows a clear path.

• Free online consultation: a short health questionnaire, with no charge and no obligation.
• Prescriber review: reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber, not a scoring script. Payment is taken when you place the order; if the prescriber decides the treatment is not suitable, the order is refunded automatically in full.
• Dispensing and delivery: dispensed by our registered pharmacy, with same-day dispatch when ordered by 3pm and free next-day tracked delivery in temperature-controlled packaging. Saturday delivery is £14.99.

The consultation is free, and the price shown is the price paid, with no hidden fees. Repeat orders re-check suitability, and there is no auto-shipping. Klarna and pay-monthly options are available, with no subscriptions.

Aftercare

Whichever route you choose, aftercare matters. Our prescribing team provides ongoing monthly reviews, dose-titration and follow-up assessments, and side-effect support. You can also track your progress with GLPTrackr, our free companion app for iOS and Android. Support is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, by email, portal chat or phone.

12 · Pace and expectations

What to expect: pace, reviews and realistic goals

Weight loss on GLP-1 medicines is gradual by design. Trials measured results over long periods, so think in months, not days, and judge progress by trend, not individual weigh-ins.

Can you aim for a specific amount of weight loss?

People often ask whether a GLP-1 medicine will deliver a specific amount of weight loss. No medicine promises specific results. The trial figures are averages across many people, with some losing less and some more, and a trial average does not predict your own result. Dramatic weight-loss claims in adverts are not evidence. Use a trial percentage as a worked example against your own starting weight, then discuss realistic goals with your prescriber.

Review points

With Mounjaro, if you have lost less than 5% of your starting weight after 6 months on the highest dose you can tolerate, your prescriber will discuss whether continuing or stopping is right for you.¹

Pairing medicine with habits

Both licensed tablets are used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity.²⁰²¹ The medicine can make that easier by reducing appetite, but it does not replace it. Keep notes on how you feel after each dose change, your appetite and any digestive symptoms, so your reviews are specific and useful.

Tablets and storage

Storage instructions for the tablets sit in the patient information leaflet, so follow the label. Mounjaro pens are different: keep them in a fridge at 2–8°C and never freeze them; once in use, a pen can be kept out of the fridge not above 30°C for up to 30 days, after which it should be discarded.¹ If you are weighing a tablet partly for travel convenience, remember that most holidays need no special arrangements for an in-use pen, and a tablet has its own rules to check.

Choosing for the long term

If a tablet routine proves difficult, or side effects are hard to tolerate, talk to your prescriber before stopping. Our hub on the Mounjaro pen and the other product pages show the alternatives, and the weight loss clinic is the place to begin a consultation.

13 · Serious side effects

Serious side effects: when to get help straight away

Serious side effects are uncommon but need urgent attention. Seek immediate medical help for: severe, persistent stomach pain that may spread to your back, with or without vomiting (possible pancreatitis); pain in the upper right abdomen, fever or yellowing of skin/eyes (possible gallbladder problems); or signs of a severe allergic reaction such as swelling of the face or throat and difficulty breathing. If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea alongside Mounjaro, watch for low blood sugar (shakiness, sweating, confusion) — your prescriber may need to adjust those medicines.¹