Lauren Carrigher, a 35-year-old mother from Essex, has lost nearly a stone in six weeks after becoming one of the first people in the UK to take the new Wegovy weight-loss pill. Dropping from 15st 7lbs to 14st 7lbs, she says the daily tablet is the only remedy that has successfully moved her stubborn pounds after years of trying failed diets and exercise regimes.
Despite recent medical reports warning that weight-loss tablets could trigger severe complications, including depression and serious kidney damage, the social media influencer reported experiencing no adverse side effects. She is now on track to reach her target weight of 12 stone within a few months and expressed surprise at how effectively the treatment has worked.
"For the first time in a long time, I'm seeing the weight come off," Ms Carrigher said. "The biggest thing I noticed straight away was that I was getting full much quicker. I got about a quarter of the way through my dinner and I couldn't eat any more whereas, normally, I would eat the whole plate and then I'd still want something afterwards."
She added: "There are always going to be pros and cons, but for me it's worked brilliantly so far. I'm eating healthy, I'm eating less and I'm seeing the weight come off. I'm really excited to see what happens over the next few weeks."
Weight gain after medical treatment
Ms Carrigher began putting on weight towards the end of last year after she started taking hormonal medication in September to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The chronic condition, which affects up to five per cent of women of childbearing age, causes severe mood disturbances and emotional distress due to dramatic hormonal swings during the monthly menstrual cycle.
"I started taking the medication in September, and by the Christmas I was two stone heavier," Ms Carrigher explained. Her weight gain prompted her to look into medical slimming options, but she ruled out injectable treatments such as Mounjaro.
She was put off injections by a fear of needles and concerns that weekly shots might interfere with the absorption of her daily PMDD medication. She was also alarmed by accounts from friends who had used GLP-1 agonist injections, noting: "I've got friends who were being sick and spending ages in the bathroom after having the injections."
When an oral alternative became available, Ms Carrigher decided to try it. She registered with online weight management provider Voy, completed a health screening questionnaire, and ordered her first supply. The initial month of pills cost £99, alongside £20 for optional supplementary vitamins.
Pharmacy demand and daily routine
Ms Carrigher began taking the daily tablets on July 11, taking one pill every morning before breakfast. Within three days, she noticed a substantial reduction in her appetite and a decline in abdominal bloating, a problem she had struggled with previously.
"I took a box and a half and lost 12 pounds," she said, explaining that six weeks of treatment had brought noticeable physical changes. "I've had no side effects apart from feeling fuller more quickly. My energy levels have been absolutely fine. Overall I feel really healthy."
Describing her ongoing progress towards her 12-stone goal, she added: "I always carry weight around my stomach and my hips. When I put weight on, my stomach sticks out and I feel really bloated. That's already started to improve. I know everyone reacts differently, but my experience has been really positive."
The Wegovy pill has received regulatory approval for use in the UK and is sold through private retail pharmacies including Superdrug, ASDA, and MedExpress, though it is not yet available through the National Health Service (NHS). On July 6, the day the pill launched, ASDA pharmacy registered 7,000 orders. A similar daily weight-loss tablet called Foundayo, containing the active ingredient orforglipron, launched in private UK pharmacies this month and can be taken with or without food at any time of day.
Expert warnings over higher dosage side effects
Ms Carrigher's smooth transition to oral treatment comes amid warnings from medical experts that slimming pills carry higher single-dose concentrations than weekly injections, potentially triggering more acute digestive issues. Both injections and pills operate as GLP-1 receptor agonists, mimicking a gut hormone that curbs hunger and slows gastric emptying.
Dr Madusha Peiris, a neurogastroenterologist at Queen Mary University of London, warned that rapid dissolution in the stomach creates distinct risks. "The pill may be easier to take, but it does come with its own set of issues," Dr Peiris told the Mail on Sunday. "With jabs, you get a steady release of the drug over seven days. With the pill, however, the drug is released relatively quickly once it dissolves in the stomach."
Dr Peiris noted that while delaying stomach emptying helps patients feel full, excessive slowing can cause persistent bloating, severe nausea, and vomiting. Reports on social media platforms like Reddit reflect these concerns, with several patients describing severe side effects after switching from injections to oral tablets.
One Reddit user reported that after increasing their dosage in the second month, they experienced "debilitating nausea" that required emergency hospital care. "First month on the starting dose completely fine, but after increasing the dose in the second month, I have had two instances of debilitating nausea and one of them I went to the ER because I thought I was dying," the user wrote, adding: "I never had side effects on the shot, so I am going back to the shot."
Another user described the nausea as "unbearable," writing: "I was on the lowest-dose pill for a week and the nausea was debilitating. I could barely breathe and certainly couldn't eat. It was awful. I stopped taking it today. I just can't do it. And I'm still feeling terrible."
Pharmaceutical manufacturer safety response
Responding to concerns raised by medical experts and patients, Wegovy manufacturer Novo Nordisk defended the treatment's safety profile in a statement to The Mail on Sunday. The Danish pharmaceutical firm emphasized that all chronic medications require professional medical oversight to evaluate individual risks and benefits.
"We care deeply about patient safety," Novo Nordisk stated. "Like all medicines, treatments used for chronic conditions can have side effects, and these can vary from person to person. That is why medicines are prescribed by healthcare professionals, who consider the potential benefits and risks for each individual."
The manufacturer added: "Consistent with the available evidence, anxiety and mood disorders are not currently listed on the UK label of side effects for the Wegovy pill."
