The Wegovy is the brand name of an FDA-approved semaglutide medicine marketed by Novo Nordisk, available as a once-weekly injection and a once-daily tablet. Its label describes it as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Compounded semaglutide is a separate product and is not FDA approved.
What is Wegovy approved for?
FDA has approved Wegovy for use in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. The injection has three uses on its label. It is indicated to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in adults and in children aged 12 and older with obesity, and in adults with overweight who have at least one weight-related condition. It is indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight. It is also indicated, under accelerated approval, for noncirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis in adults. Wegovy tablets carry the weight and cardiovascular uses for adults. The label has a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents. Wegovy is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2.
How is Wegovy taken?
Wegovy is taken as a weekly injection or a daily tablet, on a schedule set by its label. The injection goes under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals. It starts at 0.25 mg and steps up every four weeks to a maintenance dosage, which is 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg for weight reduction in adults. The tablet is taken once a day on an empty stomach in the morning, with up to 4 ounces of water, at least 30 minutes before food, drinks or other oral medications. It starts at 1.5 mg and steps up every 30 days to 25 mg. Single-dose pens and syringes are stored in a refrigerator at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit. The label says not to freeze Wegovy and not to use it if it has been frozen.
How does Wegovy compare with compounded semaglutide?
Wegovy is FDA approved and compounded semaglutide is not. FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed. FDA also says compounded drugs and generic drugs are not the same. A generic drug is approved after meeting requirements that include establishing therapeutic equivalence to a brand-name drug, and a compounded drug is not approved by FDA. The two differ in who makes them and in form as well. Novo Nordisk markets Wegovy in pens, syringes and tablets with fixed doses. A state-licensed pharmacy makes compounded semaglutide for one patient on a prescription. The FDA-approved GLP-1 on our shelf today is Zepbound, a tirzepatide injection, and Wegovy is coming soon. A provider reviews your health history and decides whether to prescribe, and which medication. Every plan and its up-front total is on our pricing page.
| Form | Strengths | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Single-dose pen | 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, 2.4 mg and 7.2 mg (Wegovy HD) | Once weekly |
| Single-dose syringe | 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg | Once weekly |
| Single-patient-use pen (Wegovy FlexTouch) | Four 2.4 mg doses in one pen | Once weekly |
| Tablet | 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg | Once daily |
Common questions
Is Wegovy a GLP-1?
Yes. The label describes Wegovy as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, is a GLP-1 analogue that binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor. The label says that using Wegovy with other semaglutide-containing products, or with any other GLP-1 receptor agonist, is not recommended.
Is compounded semaglutide a generic version of Wegovy?
No. FDA says compounded drugs and generic drugs are not the same. A generic drug is approved by FDA after meeting requirements that include establishing therapeutic equivalence to a brand-name drug. A compounded drug is not approved by FDA. Compounded semaglutide is made by a state-licensed pharmacy for one patient on a prescription.
Related terms
- Semaglutide: the medication in Wegovy.
- GLP-1: the hormone whose receptor Wegovy acts on.
- Zepbound: the FDA-approved tirzepatide brand.
- Compounded medication: what compounded semaglutide is, and how it differs from an approved drug.
Sources
- Wegovy (semaglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, revised 6/2026, on DailyMed: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ee06186f-2aa3-4990-a760-757579d8f77b
- FDA, Compounding and the FDA: questions and answers, content current as of September 16, 2025: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/compounding-and-fda-questions-and-answers
- FDA, FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss, content current as of October 1, 2026: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-alerts-and-statements/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss
Compounded medications are not FDA approved. They are prescribed by a licensed clinician and filled by a licensed 503A pharmacy.
