Rybelsus Tablets (Semaglutide)

From January 2026, Rybelsus will be supplied in new, lower-strength, bioequivalent formulations. Please read before ordering.

We want to inform you of an important update regarding Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) and how this may affect your current or future prescription from January 2026 onwards.

What’s Changing at a Glance

✔ The medicine stays the same
Rybelsus still contains oral semaglutide

✔ Tablet strengths will look lower
Due to improved absorption

✔ Same clinical effect
New strengths are bioequivalent to previous doses

✔ No dose reduction
Your treatment has not been reduced

✔ New patients start on new formulation
Existing patients will be informed when ordering

➡ Read full details about YOUR NEW RYBELSUS® TABLETS before ordering ›

Rybelsus (semaglutide) tablets are not licensed for weight loss in the UK, as they are only approved for managing type 2 diabetes. Some healthcare providers may prescribe Rybelsus "off-label" for weight management, as it contains the same active ingredient (semaglutide) as Wegovy, an FDA and UK-approved weight-loss medication.

Semaglutide works by affecting areas of the brain that control hunger, which can help reduce appetite and lead to reduced calorie intake. This has led to Rybelsus being used as an option for weight loss.

Please Note:

Ashcroft Pharmacy can prescribe off-label medications like Rybelsus for weight management only under certain circumstances for individual patients. However, we routinely prescribe approved weight loss treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, which are licensed specifically for weight reduction.

Our recommendation is to choose a licensed treatment option for weight loss. Rybelsus should be used when prescribed for its intended purpose of managing type 2 diabetes. Using it off-label for weight loss is not recommended without medical supervision.

Please ensure you consult your doctor before taking any form of weight loss medication.

Rybelsus semaglutide tablets come under a class of drugs called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists. GLP-1 is a natural hormone that is produced in your intestine after you eat your meal.

Rybelsus tablets (oral semaglutide) increase the natural level of incretins, which are naturally produced by your stomach when eating, signalling to the brain that the body has eaten more than it has. It also reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver, whilst also slowing down the rate at which food is digested. This suppresses the user’s appetite, meaning they feel fuller.

1. Reduces Glucagon Levels
   Rybelsus helps lower glucagon release — a hormone that normally increases blood sugar. By reducing glucagon, it prevents excessive glucose production in the liver and helps keep blood sugar levels stable.
2. Boosts Insulin Production: 
   After you eat, semaglutide stimulates the pancreas to release more insulin only when glucose levels are high. This helps move sugar from the bloodstream into your cells for energy, improving blood glucose control.
3. Supports Weight Loss:
   Rybelsus slows stomach emptying and increases feelings of fullness. This helps reduce appetite, lower calorie intake, and support weight loss when combined with healthy eating and exercise.

Dosage and Administration: If prescribed, Rybelsus is started at a dose of 1.5mg for the first 30 days. Having completed the 1.5mg dose over 30 days, dosage is increased to 4mg over the next 30 days, then rising again to 9mg for the next 30 days upon completion.

Initial Dose: 1.5mg, taken once daily for 30 days.

Maintenance Dose: After 30 days, increase to Rybelsus 4mg once daily. If additional glycemic control (or weight loss if used unlicensed) is needed, the dose may be increased to Rybelsus 9mg once daily after another 30 days.

Take Rybelsus on an empty stomach upon waking, with no more than 4 ounces of water. Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other oral medications.

• Do not crush, chew, or half the tablet.
• After taking Rybelsus, wait for 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking any other medicine. It makes Rybelsus absorption better in your body.
• Do not stop taking Rybelsus without your prescriber's consultation, as it may cause a sudden increase in your blood sugar levels.
• If you frequently get symptoms of high blood sugar levels, such as increased urination or thirst, visit your doctor immediately.

If the prescriber prescribes you 9mg of Rybelsus per day, take one tablet of 9mg per day. Do not take two tablets of 4mg, as it will not work.

Rybelsus is not commonly prescribed as a weight loss drug. However, they are sometimes prescribed as part of long-term plans for weight management. 

Semaglutides slow down the rate at which the body digests food, helping the user feel more full and crave food less. This can lead to weight loss as the digestion process of the human body takes more time. 

Please ensure you consult your doctor before taking any form of weight loss medication. 

See the study from Rybelsus below that evidences the links between taking Rybelsus and weight-loss.

Standard Doses (4mg and 9mg): In a 6-month study with 703 adults with type 2 diabetes:

• Those taking 9mg Rybelsus lost an average of 8 pounds (3.6 kg).
• Those on 4mg lost about 5 pounds (2.3 kg).

Sources.

Rybelsus typically takes about 4-8 weeks to reach its full effect on blood sugar control, though some patients may notice initial improvements within the first 1-2 weeks of treatment.

Initially, your prescriber will prescribe a lower dose of 1.5mg once daily for the first month to help your body adjust to the new medicine and reduce the risk of adverse effects.

After one month, your prescriber may increase your Rybelsus dose to 4mg to help lower your blood sugar levels. If necessary, the dose may be further raised to 9mg per day after another 30 days.

The cost of Rybelsus tablets varies depending on the pharmacy, your location, and your insurance plan.

If Rybelsus semaglutide tablets do not suit you, your prescriber will prescribe you some other medicine in place of semaglutide tablets.

The alternatives are:

Wegovy (higher-dose semaglutide injection) – Specifically approved for weight loss.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) – Another injectable option that targets two receptors for enhanced blood sugar and weight control.

More Rybelsus tablet alternatives for weight loss at Ashcroft Pharmacy.

Orlistat- Weight Loss Capsules: OTC drug that is taken 3 times a day with meals. Reduce the amount of fat your body digests and help you lose weight efficiently.

Xenical 120mg Capsules: Xenical (Orlistat) is a weight loss medication that works by blocking the absorption of some of the fat from the food you eat, allowing it to pass through your body instead. Unlike Rybelsus, which influences blood sugar and appetite through hormones, Xenical directly targets fat absorption in the digestive system.

Mysimba Weight Loss Tablets: Mysimba tablets are a prescription weight loss drug that contains bupropion and naltrexone. It comes in the form of a tablet, targets your brain's areas that regulate appetite, and reduces calorie intake.

Saxenda Weight Loss Pen: Saxenda injection contains liraglutide as an active component. GLP-1 (glucagon-like-peptide) agonists. A weekly injection that reduces your appetite and helps you lose weight.

Ensure you store Rybelsus in the original packaging, as this will help protect the medication from light and moisture. This is of critical importance. 

Outside of keeping the medication in the original packaging to protect it, there are no special temperature or storage conditions. Please store the tablets at room temperature and away from moisture and direct light. 

Please refer to this guide for more information on how to store Rybelsus.

As of January 2026, an oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) is still not approved for weight loss in the UK.
It remains authorised only for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, not obesity.

The only semaglutide-based medicine licensed for weight management in the UK continues to be Wegovy, the once-weekly injectable.

There is currently no confirmed or announced MHRA/NICE timeline for approving an oral semaglutide option for weight loss.

• EMC (2024). Rybelsus
• Rybelsus 3mg, Patient Information Leaflet
• https://www.rybelsus.com/
• BNF (2024). Semaglutide
• Rybelsus.com (2023). Rybelsus results
• FDA Approval of Rybelsus (2019): FDA News Release
• OASIS 1 Trial Results (2023): Novo Nordisk Press Release
• Wegovy (injectable semaglutide) for Weight Loss: FDA Approval (2021)
• YOUR NEW RYBELSUS® TABLETS — WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW