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Ozempic vs Wegovy in the UK: what’s the difference?

The same medicine, semaglutide, from the same maker, under two brand names with two different UK licences. Doses, trial results, side effects, list prices and NHS routes, side by side.

GLP Guidebook teamPublished 14 Oct 20266 min read19 sourcesWritten from published sources
What we checked19 sources, each one opened and linked to the sentence it supportsLast checked 14 Oct 2026 · Next review due 14 Apr 2027 · How we write

Written for the UK. Reading from India? India version

The short answer

Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same medicine, semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk. In the UK, Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes, in weekly doses up to 2 mg. Wegovy is licensed for weight management, at 2.4 mg a week, or 7.2 mg if needed. In STEP 2, weight fell 9.9% on 2.4 mg and 7.2% on 1 mg.

Key takeaways

  • Ozempic and Wegovy are two brands of semaglutide from Novo Nordisk; the MHRA lists Ozempic for diabetes only and Wegovy for weight.3
  • Ozempic’s UK doses go up to 2 mg a week, while Wegovy’s maintenance dose is 2.4 mg, with 7.2 mg possible for obesity.1,2
  • In STEP 2, adults with type 2 diabetes lost 9.9% of their weight on semaglutide 2.4 mg, 7.2% on 1 mg and 3.3% on dummy injections over 68 weeks.5
  • Stomach side effects rose with the dose in STEP 2: 64 in 100 on 2.4 mg and 58 in 100 on 1 mg, against 34 in 100 on dummy injections.4
  • The October 2026 Drug Tariff prices Ozempic and Wegovy pens alike at the same strengths: £73.25 a pen up to 1 mg, excluding VAT.9
Before you go further
  • GLP‑1 medicines are prescription-only medicines in the UK, never sold over the counter.19
  • Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes only, not for weight loss.3
  • A prescriber decides whether a medicine fits, which one and at what dose. Nothing here is a recommendation.
  • Prices below are official NHS list prices. We don’t quote, rank or link to any seller. The risks are in our side effects guide.
On this page
  1. At a glance
  2. Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same medicine?
  3. Why is Ozempic not licensed for weight in the UK?
  4. How do the doses differ?
  5. Does the higher dose make a difference?
  6. How do the side effects compare?
  7. What does each cost, and what does the NHS cover?
  8. Which one? What does a prescriber weigh?
  9. Questions people ask
  10. How we researched this
  11. Sources

At a glance

FeatureOzempicWegovy
Medicine and makerSemaglutide, Novo Nordisk1Semaglutide, Novo Nordisk2
Licensed for in the UKType 2 diabetes in adults. Not licensed for weight loss1,3Weight management (adults, and teens 12+ over 60 kg); cutting heart-attack and stroke risk in adults with heart disease and a BMI of 27+; a form of fatty liver disease (MASH)2
How it’s takenInjection under the skin once a week; each pen delivers 4 doses1Injection under the skin once a week; FlexTouch pens of 4 doses, or single-dose 7.2 mg pens2,10
Dose steps0.25 mg for 4 weeks, then 0.5 mg; up to 1 mg, then 2 mg, at least 4 weeks apart10.25, 0.5, 1 and 1.7 mg for 4 weeks each, then 2.4 mg; 7.2 mg after at least 4 weeks on 2.4 mg, if needed for obesity2
Weight change in the trial that tested both dosesSTEP 2 (type 2 diabetes), 1 mg: −7.2% over 68 weeks, against −3.3% on dummy injections. Stomach side effects: 58 in 100, against 34 in 100 on dummy injections4,5STEP 2 (type 2 diabetes), 2.4 mg: −9.9% over 68 weeks, against −3.3% on dummy injections. Stomach side effects: 64 in 100, against 34 in 1004,5STEP 1, a separate trial without diabetes: −14.9% on 2.4 mg, against −2.4%2
Most common side effects (UK label)Very common (more than 1 in 10): feeling sick, diarrhoea. Common: vomiting, constipation, stomach pain1Very common: feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain, headache, tiredness2
NHS list price, per 4-week supply£73.25 (0.25 to 1 mg); £146.50 (2 mg)9£73.25 (0.25 to 1 mg); £124.53 (1.7 mg); £175.80 (2.4 mg); £330 for 4 pens of 7.2 mg9,10
Per month and per year at one doseAbout £79 to £159 a month; £952 to £1,905 a yearAbout £190 a month and £2,285 a year at 2.4 mg; about £358 and £4,290 at 7.2 mg
NHS coverageFor type 2 diabetes; free in England with a medical exemption certificate, and free in Scotland, Wales and NI8,11,13,14,15England: for weight only in specialist services, for up to 2 years; also for adults with heart disease and a BMI of 27+6,7

Side by side, not ranked. The STEP 2 figures come from one trial that tested both doses in people with type 2 diabetes; STEP 1 was a separate trial in people without diabetes, so its numbers can’t be set directly against STEP 2’s.2,4,5 Prices exclude VAT. Month and year figures are our arithmetic on a 52-week year, the same rule as our cost calculator.

Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same medicine?

Yes: both contain semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk, but they are separate brands with separate UK licences, doses and pens.1,2,3

The medicine is what works in your body; the brand is the name on the box. Paracetamol is one medicine sold under many brands. Semaglutide is sold as three brands in the UK:3

  • Ozempic: weekly injection for type 2 diabetes.1
  • Wegovy: weekly injection, and a daily tablet, for weight management.2,19
  • Rybelsus: tablet for type 2 diabetes.3

Semaglutide copies GLP‑1, a hormone your gut releases after you eat. It acts on GLP‑1 receptors in the pancreas and the brain, which affects blood sugar and appetite.1 It lasts about a week in the body, which is why it is injected weekly.2

Why is Ozempic not licensed for weight in the UK?

Because Novo Nordisk holds a separate licence for weight under the Wegovy name; Ozempic’s licence covers type 2 diabetes only.1,2,3

Ozempic’s UK label covers adults whose type 2 diabetes is not controlled by diet and exercise.1 Wegovy’s covers weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition.2

The MHRA says it has not assessed these medicines when used outside their licence.3 Using a medicine outside its licence is called off-label use. See Can I get Ozempic for weight loss in the UK?

How do the doses differ?

Both start at 0.25 mg a week; Ozempic stops at 2 mg, while Wegovy goes on to 2.4 mg, and 7.2 mg if needed for obesity.1,2

Ozempic rises to 0.5 mg after 4 weeks. It can go to 1 mg, then 2 mg, at least 4 weeks apart.1 Wegovy rises every 4 weeks through 0.5, 1 and 1.7 mg to 2.4 mg by week 17.2

For adults with obesity, Wegovy’s label allows 7.2 mg after at least 4 weeks on 2.4 mg.2 In STEP UP, weight fell 18.7% on 7.2 mg and 15.6% on 2.4 mg over 72 weeks, against 3.9% on dummy injections.2 More in our 7.2 mg post.

NICE’s diabetes guideline names Ozempic only up to 1 mg in its recommendations.8

Does the higher dose make a difference?

In STEP 2, which tested both doses in people with type 2 diabetes, weight fell 9.9% on 2.4 mg and 7.2% on 1 mg over 68 weeks.5

How this trial worked:

  • 1,210 adults with type 2 diabetes and a BMI of 27 or more were put into three groups at random.4
  • Each got semaglutide 2.4 mg, semaglutide 1 mg or a dummy injection (placebo) weekly for 68 weeks, plus the same lifestyle advice.4
  • Neither patients nor doctors knew who had which. Novo Nordisk paid for it.4

On the posted results, weight fell 9.9% on 2.4 mg, 7.2% on 1 mg and 3.3% on placebo.5 For a 100 kg (15 st 10 lb) person, that is about 10 kg, 7 kg and 3 kg. These are averages; some lost far more, some very little.

The 1 mg dose is an Ozempic strength, though STEP 2 used it to study weight.1,4 In STEP 1, a separate trial in people without diabetes, weight fell 14.9% on 2.4 mg.2

How do the side effects compare?

They are the same kind of side effects, mostly in the stomach and gut, and in STEP 2 they were a little more common on the higher dose.4

Out of every 100 people in each group of STEP 2, stomach or gut side effects were reported by:4

  • Semaglutide 2.4 mg: about 64.
  • Semaglutide 1 mg: about 58.
  • Dummy injection: about 34.

Across the four main 68-week Wegovy 2.4 mg trials pooled on the UK label, 44 in 100 felt sick, against 16 in 100 on a dummy injection.2 The MHRA advises stopping semaglutide at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy, whichever brand.3

RisksThe risks, in brief
  • Stomach effects. Feeling sick and diarrhoea are very common (more than 1 in 10) on both UK labels. In the trials they were mostly mild or moderate.1,2
  • Gallstones are common (1 in 10 to 1 in 100) on both UK labels.1,2
  • Pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas) is uncommon (1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000). The MHRA’s warning sign is severe, persistent stomach pain that may spread to the back.1,2,16
  • Sudden sight loss in one eye (NAION) is very rare (fewer than 1 in 10,000) on both labels.1,2
  • Surgery and pregnancy. Tell the team before any anaesthetic. Stop semaglutide at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.3
Full detail in our side effects guide →
Get help now: call 999 or go to A&E for severe stomach pain that won’t go away, with or without vomiting. It can be pancreatitis.16 Not sure? Use NHS 111.17 Northern Ireland has no 111: use your GP’s out-of-hours service.18
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What does each cost, and what does the NHS cover?

Pens of the same strength share a list price, £73.25 up to 1 mg; on the NHS you pay £9.90 an item in England, or nothing if exempt or elsewhere in the UK.9,12,13,14,15

The October 2026 Drug Tariff lists Ozempic at £73.25 up to 1 mg and £146.50 at 2 mg. Wegovy is £124.53 at 1.7 mg and £175.80 at 2.4 mg.9 Four 7.2 mg Wegovy pens cost £330 in NHS prescribing data.10

NICE’s diabetes guideline includes Ozempic up to 1 mg.8 In England, a medical exemption certificate makes prescriptions free for diabetes treated with medicine.11 NHS Wegovy for weight comes only from specialist weight services, for at most 2 years.6

A 2026 NICE decision adds a second Wegovy route: adults with heart or artery disease and a BMI of at least 27.7 See Wegovy on the NHS and Ozempic for type 2 diabetes on the NHS.

Which one? What does a prescriber weigh?

The reason for treatment comes first, since each brand is licensed for a different use; then the dose, your other medicines and what your NHS area offers.

  • Diabetes or weight. Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy for weight management and heart-risk reduction.1,2
  • The dose needed. Ozempic tops out at 2 mg; Wegovy at 2.4 mg, or 7.2 mg for obesity.1,2
  • Other diabetes medicines. Insulin or a sulfonylurea may need a lower dose to avoid hypos.1,2
  • Switching. The MHRA says to consult a healthcare professional before switching, even between brands of the same medicine.3

Our guide to getting a prescription in the UK lists what to bring to the appointment.

Questions people ask

Is Ozempic the same as Wegovy?

Both contain semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk. In the UK, Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight management.3

Can I use Ozempic instead of Wegovy for weight loss?

Ozempic is not licensed for weight loss in the UK. Wegovy is the semaglutide brand licensed for weight. The MHRA says it has not assessed these medicines outside their licensed uses.3

Is 2 mg of Ozempic the same as Wegovy?

No. Wegovy’s maintenance dose is 2.4 mg, and 7.2 mg is possible for obesity. Ozempic’s top dose is 2 mg.1,2

Why is Wegovy more expensive than Ozempic?

Up to 1 mg the pens cost the same, £73.25. Wegovy’s higher strengths cost more: £175.80 for a 2.4 mg pen, against £146.50 for Ozempic 2 mg.9

Can my GP prescribe Wegovy?

For weight, NICE limits NHS Wegovy to specialist weight management services. Ozempic for type 2 diabetes is covered by NICE’s diabetes guideline, NG28.6,8

How we researched this

On 14 October 2026 we read the UK labels (SmPCs) for Ozempic and Wegovy, the STEP 2 paper and its posted results, MHRA guidance, NICE TA875, TA1152 and NG28, the October 2026 Drug Tariff and NHSBSA prescribing data.

STEP 2 percentages are the posted in-trial results, which differ slightly from the paper’s headline estimate for 2.4 mg (9.6%). We don’t rank the brands.

Before you move on

  • Ozempic is licensed for diabetes; Wegovy for weight.
  • The doses differ: Ozempic up to 2 mg, Wegovy 2.4 or 7.2 mg.
  • NHS Wegovy for weight is a specialist service with a 2-year limit.
  • Stop semaglutide 2 months before a planned pregnancy.
  • Ask before switching brands, even of the same medicine.
Doctor questionsConsidering it for my weightSide effects and risks

More from the UK blog

UKUnited KingdomCan you get Wegovy on the NHS? Specialist services, the 2-year limit and the heart routeUKUnited KingdomWhat is Wegovy 7.2 mg, and how does it compare with 2.4 mg?UKUnited KingdomOzempic for type 2 diabetes on the NHS: where does it fit now?
About GLP Guidebook

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An independent guide to GLP‑1 medicines. We don’t sell medicines, take drug-company money, earn commissions or link to any provider. Once a month: NHS changes, approvals, list prices and safety alerts. How we write

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Sources

  1. Novo Nordisk. Ozempic solution for injection in pre-filled pen: UK summary of product characteristics (SmPC), electronic Medicines Compendium. Date of revision 07/2026. Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.8 (Table 1), 5.1 and 6.5. UK label. medicines.org.uk (emc)
  2. Novo Nordisk. Wegovy FlexTouch: UK summary of product characteristics (SmPC), electronic Medicines Compendium. Date of revision 09/2026. Sections 4.1, 4.2 (Table 2), 4.8 (Table 3 and STEP side-effect rates), 5.1 (STEP 1 and STEP UP tables) and 5.2. UK label. medicines.org.uk (emc)
  3. MHRA. GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes: what you need to know. Guidance, updated 5 February 2026. gov.uk
  4. Davies M et al. Semaglutide 2.4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2). Lancet 2021;397:971–984. Funded by Novo Nordisk. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00213-0. PMID 33667417. PubMed
  5. ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT03552757 (STEP 2), posted results: change in body weight (%) from week 0 to week 68, semaglutide 2.4 mg vs 1.0 mg vs placebo (in-trial observation period). clinicaltrials.gov
  6. NICE. Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity, technology appraisal TA875, recommendation 1.1. Published 8 March 2023. nice.org.uk
  7. NICE. Semaglutide for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in people with cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity, technology appraisal TA1152, recommendation 1.1. Published 7 May 2026. nice.org.uk
  8. NICE. Type 2 diabetes in adults: management (NG28), chapter “Further medication”, recommendation 1.27.1 and the note on which GLP-1 medicines are included. Last updated 18 February 2026. nice.org.uk
  9. NHS Business Services Authority. Drug Tariff, Part VIIIA, October 2026 (basic prices excluding VAT): semaglutide pens £73.25 (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg), £124.53 (1.7 mg), £146.50 (2 mg), £175.80 (2.4 mg). nhsbsa.nhs.uk
  10. NHS Business Services Authority. English Prescribing Dataset (EPD), July 2026: basic NHS price of Wegovy 7.2 mg/0.75 ml single-dose pens, £330.00 for 4 pens, excluding VAT. opendata.nhsbsa.net
  11. NHS Business Services Authority. Medical exemption certificates: cover “diabetes mellitus, except where treatment is by diet alone”. nhsbsa.nhs.uk
  12. NHS Business Services Authority. NHS prescription prepayment certificate (PPC): “The prescription charge in England is £9.90.” nhsbsa.nhs.uk
  13. Citizens Advice Scotland. Help with health costs: “Prescriptions in Scotland are free.” citizensadvice.org.uk
  14. Welsh Government. Free prescriptions. gov.wales
  15. nidirect (Northern Ireland). Help with health costs: “All prescriptions dispensed in Northern Ireland are free of charge for everyone.” nidirect.gov.uk
  16. MHRA. MHRA updates guidance for GLP-1 prescribers and patients (acute pancreatitis). Press release, 29 January 2026. gov.uk
  17. NHS. When to call 999, and NHS 111 if you’re not sure. nhs.uk
  18. nidirect (Northern Ireland). GP out of hours service. nidirect.gov.uk
  19. MHRA. First GLP-1 tablet for weight loss approved in the UK. Press release, 11 June 2026 (“As with all GLP-1 receptor agonists, this is a prescription-only medication”). gov.uk

Last checked 14 Oct 2026 · Next review due 14 Apr 2027 · Report an error

How this page was made. Written by the GLP Guidebook team from the sources above. It’s general information, not medical advice. Talk to your GP, pharmacist or prescriber before starting, stopping or changing any medicine. We don’t sell, prescribe or recommend any brand or provider. How we write