Wegovy Injection (Semaglutide)Weight Loss Support in Cramlington
Wegovy is a once-weekly semaglutide injection and one of the most widely researched weight loss medicines in the world, with results published across a major programme of clinical trials.
At Northumbria Way Pharmacy & Clinic in Cramlington, Wegovy is prescribed by our specialist prescribing pharmacist following a free consultation, with ongoing monitoring and face-to-face coaching included in your monthly price. It is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 and above with a weight-related health condition, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased activity.
What Is Wegovy and How Does It Work?
Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a natural hormone released from your gut after eating, which signals to your brain that you are full and helps regulate blood sugar.
As described in its Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC), semaglutide mimics this hormone: it acts on appetite centres in the brain to reduce hunger and cravings, increases feelings of fullness, and slows stomach emptying so meals keep you satisfied for longer. The practical effect is that you naturally eat less, and find it far easier to stick to a reduced-calorie diet.
Semaglutide has also been shown to improve markers of heart and metabolic health. In a separate large trial (SELECT), it reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with overweight or obesity and existing heart disease — one of the reasons weight loss treatment is about far more than the number on the scales.
- GLP-1 receptor agonist — mimics your body's natural fullness hormone
- Reduces hunger, cravings and 'food noise' throughout the day
- Slows stomach emptying so you feel fuller on smaller portions
- Supported by one of the largest evidence bases of any weight loss medicine
The Research and Evidence Behind Wegovy
Wegovy's licence is based on the STEP clinical trial programme, involving more than 4,500 participants. In the pivotal STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, adults taking weekly semaglutide 2.4mg alongside lifestyle support lost an average of around 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks, compared with around 2.4% with placebo.
Around one in three participants lost 20% or more of their body weight. For someone weighing 15 stone, an average 15% loss is over 2 stone. As with all these treatments, progress is gradual: a typical expectation is around half a stone in the first few months as your dose builds up, with continued steady loss at the maintenance dose.
Trials also showed meaningful improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and physical functioning — and the best outcomes came when medication was combined with real dietary and activity changes, which is exactly what our face-to-face coaching supports.
What the Clinical Trials Showed
Sources: STEP 1 (Wilding et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2021), the SELECT cardiovascular outcomes trial and the Wegovy Summary of Product Characteristics. Individual results vary — trial averages are not a guarantee of your own outcome.
Doses and How Treatment Is Built Up
Wegovy is started at a low dose and increased every 4 weeks over about 16 weeks until you reach the full maintenance dose. This gradual build-up gives your body time to adjust and keeps side effects to a minimum. Every dose increase happens after review with our pharmacist.
| Dose / Strength | Typically used | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25mg weekly | Weeks 1–4 | Starting dose to build tolerance |
| 0.5mg weekly | Weeks 5–8 | Gradual increase |
| 1mg weekly | Weeks 9–12 | Gradual increase |
| 1.7mg weekly | Weeks 13–16 | Gradual increase |
| 2.4mg weekly | From week 17 | Full maintenance dose |
If side effects are troublesome, your pharmacist can keep you at a lower dose for longer. The injection is given under the skin of the stomach, thigh or upper arm with a pre-filled pen — we teach you how at your first appointment.
Side Effects and Safety
Like all medicines, Wegovy can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The most common are digestive and tend to occur when starting treatment or increasing the dose, settling as your body adjusts.
Common side effects (usually mild and temporary)
- Nausea (feeling sick) — very common early on, usually improving with time
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Vomiting or indigestion
- Stomach (abdominal) pain, bloating, burping or wind
- Headache, tiredness or dizziness
- Reduced appetite (part of how the medicine works)
- Injection site reactions such as redness or itching
Less common but important — seek advice promptly
- Severe, persistent stomach pain (with or without vomiting) — possible pancreatitis; stop treatment and seek urgent medical help
- Gallstones or gallbladder problems — pain in the upper right stomach, fever or yellowing of the skin/eyes
- Severe dehydration from prolonged vomiting or diarrhoea, which can affect the kidneys — keep drinking fluids
- Low blood sugar, mainly if combined with certain diabetes medicines such as insulin or sulfonylureas
- People with diabetes should be aware of a possible temporary worsening of diabetic eye disease when blood sugar improves rapidly
- Wegovy must not be used in pregnancy or while breastfeeding — tell us if you are planning a pregnancy
This is a summary, not a complete list — full details are in the patient information leaflet and the Wegovy Summary of Product Characteristics, which we review with you. Our team supports you throughout treatment, with practical strategies that make side effects much easier to manage.
How Our Prescribing Pharmacist Keeps You Safe
Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine, and safe, effective use depends on proper clinical oversight. Our independent prescribing pharmacist provides that oversight in person — not through a faceless online portal.
Full suitability assessment
We review your BMI, medical history, medicines and health conditions before prescribing, and confirm Wegovy is the right choice compared with alternatives such as Mounjaro or Wegovy tablets.
Structured dose escalation
We follow the licensed 5-step titration schedule, only moving you up once you're tolerating your current dose, and slowing things down whenever needed.
Injection training
Face-to-face training on using the pen, injection sites, rotation and storage — with the option to have your first dose supervised at the pharmacy.
Ongoing monitoring and follow-up
Regular reviews track your weight, side effects and progress, with blood pressure checks available on site — so problems are caught early and your plan stays on track.
Side effect support
Direct access to our team for advice on nausea, eating patterns and hydration, plus dose adjustments where appropriate.
Whole-person care
Face-to-face coaching on diet, activity and habits — because the medicine works best alongside sustainable lifestyle change, and maintaining your results matters as much as achieving them.
Prices at Northumbria Way Pharmacy
Wegovy injections at Northumbria Way Pharmacy start from £145 per month, with every price including your consultation, prescription, ongoing monitoring and face-to-face coaching. View the full dose-by-dose price list on our weight loss clinic page.
View full Wegovy price listFace-to-face weight-management care in Cramlington
Appointments are available at Northumbria Way Pharmacy & Clinic in Cramlington, with virtual or telephone follow-ups where clinically appropriate. We welcome patients from Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside and surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the STEP 1 trial, adults lost an average of around 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks, with about 1 in 3 losing 20% or more. A realistic early expectation is around half a stone in the first few months while your dose builds up.
Both contain semaglutide, but Ozempic is licensed for type 2 diabetes while Wegovy is licensed specifically for weight management at higher doses. We only prescribe medicines within their licence.
Both contain semaglutide. The injection is once weekly with slightly higher average trial weight loss; the tablet is taken daily on an empty stomach and suits people who prefer to avoid needles. We'll help you choose at your free consultation.
Wegovy has been studied in trials lasting up to two years and in a cardiovascular outcomes trial of over 17,000 people. Like any medicine it has risks, which is why treatment always includes an assessment and ongoing monitoring with our pharmacist.
Yes — Wegovy is in stock at Northumbria Way Pharmacy & Clinic in Cramlington, welcoming patients from Blyth, Bedlington, Seaton Delaval, Ashington, Ponteland, Gosforth, Newcastle and across the North East.
Always. We review everything you take — including diabetes medicines, contraception and new prescriptions — and liaise with your GP where appropriate to keep treatment safe.
Speak to Our Weight Loss Clinic
Your first consultation is free, with no obligation to start treatment. Our prescribing pharmacist will assess your suitability and answer your questions face-to-face.
Book initial consultationBook follow-up consultation