Switching from pen to pill: Is the pill right for me?

If you’re currently taking Mounjaro or Wegovy injections and would like to switch to one of the new daily pills (Wegovy or Foundayo), we can help. When used as prescribed, the tablets can deliver similar weight loss results and help you maintain your weight loss progress.

Oral GLP-1 pills like Foundayo and Wegovy may offer an effective alternative option for long-term weight management. For example, if you struggle with side effects, experience discomfort using injections (like getting skin reactions around injection sites), or if you’re considering coming off injectable treatments but still want support to maintain your progress. They can also be easier to travel with as they don’t need to be refrigerated like injections.

How weight loss medicines compare

For maximum effectiveness, the Wegovy pill is taken every morning at the same time on an empty stomach with just a sip of water. After taking the tablet, wait at least 30 minutes before consuming any food, drinks or other medicines.

The Foundayo pill can be taken at any time of the day, with or without food.

Like with the injections, the tablet dose is usually increased every four weeks until you reach a maintenance dose.

Here’s a quick summary of how different weight loss medicines compare when it comes to achieving weight loss. The figures come from different trials, so they aren’t a direct comparison, but they give an idea of how each one performs.

*Trial durations ranged from 16 to 18 months. Average weight loss seen at the highest doses.

Switching for maintenance

After reaching your weight loss goals, finding a treatment that helps you maintain your results can be just as important as losing the weight itself. The recent ATTAIN-MAINTAIN⁽⁵⁾ trial showed that people who switched from Mounjaro or Wegovy injections to Foundayo were able to maintain approximately 75-80% of their weight loss over one year, with far less weight regain than those taking placebo.

These findings suggest that ongoing treatment with an effective GLP-1 medicine may help support long term weight loss maintenance.

Data from the ATTAIN-MAINTAIN⁽⁵⁾ trial evaluating Foundayo for weight loss maintenance after previous treatment with Mounjaro or Wegovy.

Although there are currently no dedicated weight maintenance trials for the Wegovy pills, their similar way of working on the GLP-1 hormone suggests they could also be a suitable option for supporting long-term weight maintenance.

Switching with us

If you want to switch from injections to the tablet, we can help you move to the most appropriate dose depending on your medical history, experience with GLP-1 side effects and whether you’re trying to lose more weight or want to maintain the weight you’ve already lost. You won’t need to start again or take any breaks, but ultimately which treatment and dose is best for you and your goals will be a decision between you and your clinician.

The first few weeks of switching to a daily pill from a weekly injection will feel familiar – most people experience gut-related side effects like nausea or stomach upset. These are usually mild and should clear up within a few weeks. Like with all medicines, severe side effects are possible. Always read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your medicine and speak to your prescriber if you’re concerned about side effects. You can also read more information about the different treatments on our website: Wegovy, Mounjaro and Foundayo.

A guide to switching doses

The table below shows possible doses when you switch from Wegovy or Mounjaro injections to the Wegovy pill or the Foundayo pill. Bear in mind that these are just a guide and a clinical review is needed to work out the most appropriate dose for your weight loss or weight maintenance goals.

*Boots Online Doctor switching regimes based on published average weight loss data. **Foundayo switching based on ATTAIN-MAINTAIN trial. Higher comparable dose switches are possible following a clinical consultation.