Rybelsus - Uses, How it Works and Side Effects
Patients should always use this medicine exactly as their prescriber tells them and to check with their doctor, pharmacist or nurse if they’re not sure. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved a maximum dose of up to 7.2mg per week of semaglutide (Wegovy) on 6 January 2026. Guidance on potential side effects of semaglutide and on its safe and effective use is available here. “Patient safety is the MHRA’s top priority and we continually monitor the safety and efficacy of all licensed medicines. Patients taking semaglutide who notice a change in their eyesight, such as sudden impairment to their vision, or if their eyesight gets worse very quickly in one or both eyes, should urgently attend eye casualty (if available in the area) or A&E.
Rybelsus ® is an oral formulation of semaglutide, a Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, indicated for use in adults with type 2 diabetes. Healthcare professionals should be aware that the original formulation is anticipated to be available until approximately 31st January 2026 however, original formulation stock of imported Rybelsus ® may be within supply chains beyond this date. Healthcare systems are advised that a co-ordinated response is required to manage switching patients to the new formulation. This could affect disease control and increase the risk of side effects.
tirzepatide UK is one brand of semaglutide, licensed for type 2 diabetes. Rarer but serious risks include pancreatitis (severe stomach pain that won’t go away needs urgent help), gallbladder problems and dehydration if you can’t stop vomiting. On the NHS, prescription charges and exemptions differ across the UK. A headline amount or introductory promotion is not a complete total.
Healthcare systems are advised that a co-ordinated response is required to manage switching patients on to the new formulation. Both the original and new formulations are currently available on the market while the transition is in progress and existing stocks are depleted. In September 2025, the Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH), Novo Nordisk, launched a new formulation of Rybelsus ® which enhances absorption of the medicine allowing the same treatment effect to be achieved at a lower strength.
It prompts insulin release when blood sugar is high, slows how fast food leaves your stomach and lowers appetite, so you feel full sooner and for longer. Medicine sources checked 28 September 2026. Wegovy is the brand licensed for weight management.
This is subject to a decision from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) which is currently appraising its clinical and cost effectiveness as a treatment option for MASH. Patients with MASH are not currently able to get semaglutide to treat this condition on the NHS. The MHRA will review new information on this medicine at least every year and the Summary of Product Characteristics will be updated, as necessary. The starting dose of 0.25 mg semaglutide once weekly is increased to doses of 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg, with four weeks on each dose, up to the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once weekly.
The new formulation is equally as effective as the original formulation. Exceeding this will result in overdose which increases the risk of side effects. When patients are switched to the new strengths, the dose remains one tablet per day. Existing patients should be systematically switched to the new strength of the new formulation that is equivalent to the strength of the old formulation they are currently taking. Once the new formulation is available in your prescribing system, new patients should be started on this.
You can sign up to receive email notifications for Drug Safety Updates. When reporting suspected adverse drug reactions, please provide as much information as possible, including information about medical history, any concomitant medication, onset timing, and treatment dates. No changes need to be made to a patient’s prescription until the new strengths are available in your systems.
For further information and resources, the MAH has distributed a Direct Healthcare Professional Communication and a patient transition guide. Please familiarise yourself with the new strengths and look out for alerts within your prescribing and dispensing systems that draw attention to the change. Roll out of the new formulation within prescribing systems is ongoing. The MAH estimates that stocks of the original formulation will be depleted by 31st January 2026 however, original formulation stock of imported Rybelsus ® may be within supply chains beyond this date.
Patients should make sure they have a sufficient supply of pens to complete their dose before they start injecting. Partially used pens should be stored in the fridge with the needle removed. Patients should not discard the pen until their fourth dose has been taken. The injections can be given in the same body area but should be at least 5cm apart. If needed, a dose increase to 7.2 mg per week (3 injections of 2.4 mg) can be made after a minimum of 4 weeks on 2.4 mg.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) sold under the brand names Ozempic and Rybelsus, prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes; and also as Wegovy, which is indicated for weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction in patients who are overweight or obese. MHRA updates product information regarding the very rare risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in patients taking semaglutide. It’s prescription-only, and selling it without a prescription is illegal in the UK. They have different licensed uses and doses. It’s the active ingredient in both.