How each form is taken
| Label item | Injection | Tablet |
|---|---|---|
| Products (US) | Ozempic®, Wegovy® | Rybelsus®, Ozempic® tablets, Wegovy® tablets |
| How often | Once a week, same day each week | Once a day, in the morning |
| How | Under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm; sites rotated [4][2] | Swallowed whole on an empty stomach with up to 4 oz (about 120 mL) of plain water [1][2] |
| Around meals | With or without food | At least 30 minutes before food, drinks or other oral medicines [1][2] |
| Storage | Refrigerated before use; limited days at room temperature (label specific) | Room temperature in the original bottle, away from moisture |
| Missed dose | Label-specific window, then skipped | Skipped; the next tablet is taken the following day [1][2] |
Why the milligrams look so different
The Rybelsus® label reports that about 0.4% to 1% of a tablet dose reaches the bloodstream [1]. The tablets therefore carry larger milligram numbers, and the two cannot be compared one to one.
Side by side, from the labels
| Label item | Wegovy® tablets | Wegovy® (injection) |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, by mouth | Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Maker | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk |
| FDA-approved uses | Adults only, with diet and physical activity: lowering the risk of major cardiovascular events in those with cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight, and long-term weight reduction. [2] | With diet and physical activity: lowering the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight; long-term weight reduction in adults and children 12 and older with obesity, and in adults with overweight plus a weight-related condition; MASH with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis in adults (accelerated approval). [2] |
| How it is taken | Once a day by mouth, in the morning on an empty stomach with up to 4 oz (about 120 mL) of plain water; at least 30 minutes before food, drinks or other oral medicines. | Once a week, under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. The same label also covers Wegovy® tablets, taken once a day. |
| Forms in the US | Tablets in four strengths, bottles of 30 (section 3). FDA approval: 22 December 2025. | Single-dose pens (one strength sold as Wegovy® HD), single-dose syringes and the FlexTouch® multi-dose pen (section 3). |
| Dose steps | Section 2.3 of the label: a low starting dose raised every 30 days, then a maintenance dose. Not repeated here; your prescriber sets your steps. [2] | Section 2.2 of the label: a low starting dose raised every 4 weeks, then a maintenance dose that depends on the use. Not repeated here; your prescriber sets your steps. [2] |
| Half-life (section 12.3) | About 1 week [2] | About 1 week [2] |
| Most common side effects (label) | The label says common reactions with the tablet were similar in type and frequency to those with Wegovy® injection: mostly digestive, such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. | Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, indigestion, dizziness and others listed in the label. |
| Storage (label) | Room temperature (20–25 °C), in the original bottle, away from moisture. | Refrigerated (2–8 °C). A single-dose pen may be kept at 8–30 °C for up to 28 days; a FlexTouch® pen for up to 56 days after first use. Not to be frozen. |
| Boxed warning | Yes: risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. | Yes: risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. |
| In the EU (EMA) | Authorised for adults as part of the Wegovy® authorisation; the EMA overview says the tablets are taken after at least 8 hours of fasting. [5] | Authorised since 2022 for weight management in adults and in adolescents 12 and older who weigh more than 60 kg; tablets for adults only. [5] |
Timing facts from the labels
| Label item | Wegovy® tablets | Wegovy® (injection) |
|---|---|---|
| Half-life (section 12.3) | About 1 week [2] | About 1 week [2] |
| Time to peak level (section 12.3) | About 1 hour after a tablet [2] | 1 to 3 days after an injection [2] |
| Steady state (section 12.3) | The label gives steady-state levels, not a time to reach them [2] | The label gives steady-state levels, not a time to reach them [2] |
| After the last dose (section 12.3) | About 5 to 7 weeks in the circulation after the last dose [2] | About 5 to 7 weeks in the circulation after the last dose [2] |
| Missed dose (section 2) | Skipped; the next tablet is taken the following day (section 2.4) [2] | Given if the next dose is more than 2 days away, otherwise skipped (section 2.4) [2] |
| Section on switching | Section 2.5, between Wegovy® tablets and Wegovy® injection only [2] | Section 2.5, between Wegovy® injection and Wegovy® tablets only [2] |
Moving between forms, in both directions
- Wegovy®: section 2.5 of the label covers moving from the injection to the tablet and from the tablet back to the injection, each with its own timing [2].
- Ozempic®: the tablet label covers moving from Ozempic® injection to tablets (section 2.4); neither label covers the reverse [1][4].
- In every case the prescriber decides whether, when and at which strength.
Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Rybelsus®, Saxenda®, Victoza® and FlexTouch® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Mounjaro®, Zepbound® and KwikPen® are registered trademarks owned or licensed by Eli Lilly and Company; Foundayo™ is a trademark of Eli Lilly and Company. PepLabo is not affiliated with or endorsed by these companies.
