Wegovy in Ireland: How It Works, Doses and How to Get It

Wegovy is the brand of semaglutide licensed in the EU for weight management: a once-weekly injection, prescription only, used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity. This guide explains who it is licensed for, how the dose builds up, the side effects, how a prescription reaches a pharmacy in Ireland, and where the HSE stands on paying for it.

What Wegovy is and who it is licensed for

Wegovy contains semaglutide, the same active substance as Ozempic, at the doses and with the licence for weight management. The European Medicines Agency authorised it across the EU on 6 January 2022 for adults with a BMI of 30 or more; adults with a BMI of 27 to under 30 who have at least one weight-related condition such as prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal blood fats, obstructive sleep apnoea or heart and blood vessel disease; and adolescents aged 12 and over with obesity (BMI at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex) who weigh more than 60kg. Whether it suits a particular person is the prescriber’s decision.

Semaglutide acts like GLP-1, a gut hormone that increases fullness, reduces hunger and cravings and slows stomach emptying, so people eat less. It does not burn fat on its own, which is why the licence pairs it with diet and activity.

Doses: the 16-week step-up

The slow build-up reduces stomach side effects. If symptoms are troublesome, the prescriber can delay a step or drop back to the previous dose. For adolescents, 2.4mg is the maximum.

How to use the pen

• Inject once a week, on the same day each week, under the skin of the stomach, thigh or upper arm, using a different spot each week.
• Missed dose: inject as soon as you can if it is within 5 days. After 5 days, skip it and take the next dose on your usual day. Never take two doses to catch up.
• Keep pens in the fridge at 2°C to 8°C, in the carton, and never freeze them. A pen can be kept out of the fridge for up to 28 days below 30°C.

What the trials showed

In the main adult trial of 1,961 people, those on Wegovy lost on average 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks, against 2% on placebo. People switched to placebo after 20 weeks regained about 7% of their weight over the next 48 weeks, while those who stayed on lost a further 8%, so the EMA’s conclusion is that people need to keep taking it to avoid regaining weight. Our guide to stopping, stepping down or staying on covers the options.

Side effects

• Very common (more than 1 in 10): headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain, feeling weak or tired. Mainly seen while the dose is going up, and they usually go away over time.
• Common (up to 1 in 10): dizziness, indigestion, reflux, wind, bloating, gallstones, hair loss, injection site reactions, and low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
• Serious: acute pancreatitis, serious allergic reactions, worsening of diabetic eye disease in people with type 2 diabetes, and dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea, which in rare cases can affect the kidneys.

The HSE suggests small regular meals, eaten slowly, lean protein, high-fibre foods and water through the day. If you feel dizzy, do not drive. If you are having an operation or sedation, tell the team you use Wegovy.

Who should not use Wegovy

Anyone allergic to semaglutide or an ingredient in the pen. It should not be used in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and if you want to become pregnant it should be stopped at least 2 months before trying, because the medicine stays in the body for a long time. It is not recommended in severe kidney disease and is used with caution after pancreatitis. Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all your medicines, in particular warfarin, levothyroxine, insulin and other diabetes medicines.

How to get Wegovy in Ireland

1. A prescriber assesses you. Your own GP is the natural starting point. A registered Irish online prescriber is another option. Our weight management page has a BMI checker.
2. The prescription comes by Healthmail. Healthmail is the secure email system Irish prescribers use to send prescriptions to pharmacies. Ask your prescriber to send it to Laois Pharmacy, Portlaoise. A paper prescription works too.
3. We check and dispense it. Our pharmacists check the dose and your other medicines, dispense the pen from the fridge and show you how to inject.
4. Collect or have it delivered. Collect at Lyster Square, Portlaoise, or choose cold-chain delivery for €10 anywhere in the Republic of Ireland, usually within 24 to 48 hours, Monday to Saturday by DPD. See our delivery page.
5. Repeats. Each month your prescriber issues the next dose. Our WhatsApp prescription service makes the repeat simple.

Is Wegovy covered by the HSE?

At the time of writing, the HSE says Wegovy is not covered by the medical card, the Long-Term Illness Scheme or the Drugs Payment Scheme. That may change. On 13 October 2026 the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics completed its assessment of Wegovy for adults and recommended that it be considered for reimbursement, while noting that the budget impact would be substantial. The HSE makes the final decision and had not made one when this article was written. Our posts on the Drug Payment Scheme and on whether the HSE will fund weight loss injections have the background.

Our Ozempic vs Wegovy vs Mounjaro comparison sets the three side by side, and our post on the Wegovy pill in Europe covers the EMA-authorised tablet.

Wegovy in Ireland: common questions

General information for people in Ireland, correct as far as we know in November 2026. Scheme rules can change. Not a substitute for advice from your own prescriber or pharmacist. Always read the leaflet.