For the first time, there are two GLP-1 weight loss tablets available in the UK: Foundayo and the Wegovy pill. Both are taken once a day, both belong to the GLP-1 family of medicines, and both mean no needles. So which one is right for you?
The honest answer is that it depends on you. The two tablets differ in how you take them, what their trials showed, and what they cost. This guide sets those differences out side by side so you can come to a consultation knowing what to ask. For the full picture on each, see our complete guide to Foundayo in Swansea and our guide to the Wegovy pill.
The short version
The biggest practical difference is the routine. Foundayo can be taken at any time of day, with or without food or water. The Wegovy pill has to be taken first thing on an empty stomach, with a small sip of water, and then you wait before eating or drinking. Both work well in trials, but they have never been tested head to head for weight loss, so neither can be called the better tablet.
Foundayo and the Wegovy Pill at a Glance
The Daily Routine: The Biggest Difference
Semaglutide, the medicine in the Wegovy pill, is not easily absorbed through the stomach. To work properly, the tablet has to be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, with only a small sip of plain water, and you then need to wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else or taking other medicines. For people with a steady morning routine that is very manageable. For shift workers, people who take several medicines in the morning, or anyone who wants breakfast the moment they wake up, it can be a real obstacle.
Foundayo is a different kind of molecule. It is a small, non-peptide medicine that survives stomach acid, so it has none of those rules. You can take it at any time of day, with or without food or water. If you have struggled with the Wegovy pill’s routine, or you know you would, that flexibility is the main reason to look at Foundayo.
How Well Do They Work?
Both tablets have strong trial results. In its main weight loss trial, ATTAIN-1, the highest dose of Foundayo produced an average weight loss of more than 11% of body weight over 72 weeks. In its main trial, OASIS 4, the highest dose of the Wegovy pill, 25mg, produced an average weight loss of around 13.6% over 64 weeks. Both were used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity.
In practice, the tablet that works best is often the one you can take consistently. A medicine with slightly better trial figures does not help if its routine means you keep missing doses.
Side Effects
Because both tablets are GLP-1 medicines, their side effects are similar. The most common are gastrointestinal: nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting and indigestion. They are usually most noticeable early on or after a dose increase, and tend to settle as your body adjusts. Both tablets start on a low dose that is built up gradually to keep side effects to a minimum. Neither is suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and your prescriber will go through your full medical history before you start either one.
Price at Medihub
At the starting dose, the two tablets cost almost the same at Medihub: £109 for Foundayo and £109.99 for the Wegovy pill. The gap opens up at higher doses, where Foundayo runs up to £189 and the Wegovy pill up to £149.99. The full dose-by-dose prices are in our Foundayo guide and our Wegovy pill guide. Your prescriber will confirm the right dose and price for you at your consultation.
Which One Might Suit You?
Foundayo may suit you better if your mornings are unpredictable, you work shifts, you take other medicines first thing, or you simply want a tablet you can take whenever it fits your day. It is also licensed for type 2 diabetes, which matters if that is part of your picture. The Wegovy pill may suit you if you are happy with a fixed morning routine and like the idea of semaglutide, a medicine with a long track record in its injectable form.
If you are already on the Wegovy pill and wondering about a change, our guide to switching to Foundayo explains what to consider first.
Why Choose Medihub
We offer both tablets, so we have no reason to push you towards one or the other. At Medihub you are seen in person by a named Independent Prescriber: Osama Al-Saied at Killay, GPhC number 2222112, and Carwyn Jones at Pontarddulais, both publicly verifiable on the pharmacy regulator’s register. Whichever tablet you choose, you have a real prescriber you can sit down with, and Foundayo patients have a monthly face-to-face review with a blood pressure and weight check.
Both branches offer the same service. Killay on Gower Road, SA2 7BA, serves Killay, Sketty, West Cross and the Gower peninsula. Pontarddulais on St Teilo Street, SA4 8ST, is convenient for Pontarddulais, Gorseinon, Llansamlet and Morriston, and the wider Swansea area.
Not sure which tablet is right for you?
Book a consultation at our Killay or Pontarddulais branch and we will talk through both options with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Foundayo better than the Wegovy pill?
Neither has been shown to be better for weight loss, because there is no trial comparing the two for weight loss. The clearest difference is the routine: Foundayo has no food or water rules, while the Wegovy pill is taken on an empty stomach with a wait before eating.
Do Foundayo and the Wegovy pill contain the same medicine?
No. Foundayo contains orforglipron, made by Eli Lilly. The Wegovy pill contains semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk. Both act on the same GLP-1 pathway that helps control appetite, which is why they work in a similar way.
Can I take Foundayo with breakfast?
Yes. Foundayo can be taken at any time of day, with or without food or water. The Wegovy pill cannot be taken with breakfast, as it needs an empty stomach and a wait of at least 30 minutes before you eat.
Which is cheaper at Medihub?
At the starting dose they are almost the same, at £109 for Foundayo and £109.99 for the Wegovy pill. At higher doses Foundayo costs more, up to £189 compared with £149.99. Foundayo prices include a monthly face-to-face consultation, blood pressure check and weight check, and Wegovy pill prices include your medication and ongoing support from our prescribers.
Can I switch from the Wegovy pill to Foundayo?
You can discuss it with your prescriber, who will decide whether it suits you and plan the change. Please do not stop one tablet and start the other on your own. Our switching guide covers what to think about.
Can I get both tablets in Swansea?
Yes. Medihub Pharmacy offers both Foundayo and the Wegovy pill privately at its Killay and Pontarddulais branches, with a face-to-face assessment. No GP referral is needed to book.
Foundayo and the Wegovy pill are both good options, and the choice between them usually comes down to how each one fits your day. If you would like help deciding, book a consultation at your nearest Swansea branch, or read our complete guide to Foundayo in Swansea.
Reviewed and medically verified by
Osama Al-Saied, Independent Prescriber
GPhC Number: 2222112 | Independent Prescriber
Medihub Pharmacy, Killay and Pontarddulais, Swansea
Verify on the GPhC register