Weight loss with pills: the weight loss pill in the Netherlands

By Gijs Bodenstaff · Last reviewed: 21 October 2026

In the Netherlands, weight loss with pills is only possible with a small number of registered medicines, and almost always on prescription from your doctor. On this page you can read which weight loss pills exist in October 2026, the status of the new semaglutide tablet, what is reimbursed and why pills from the chemist are not medicines. You can also read what support alongside a tablet can add.

Transparency: the coaching programme on this page is provided by Overgewicht Nederland B.V. in Amersfoort. If you sign up via the form, we pass your details on to them. Prices according to the provider, reference date 21-10-2026. Read more about this site and the programme.

In brief

Naltrexone/bupropion (Mysimba) and the semaglutide tablet (Wegovy) are available or approved on prescription; orlistat (Alli) can be bought without a prescription (EMA, accessed 21-10-2026).
The semaglutide tablet has been approved in the EU since July 2026; ask your pharmacy or doctor whether it is already available (manufacturer press release, 15-07-2026).
Orforglipron has received a positive opinion from the European medicines committee but has not yet been approved (October 2026).
Naltrexone/bupropion is reimbursed under certain conditions after at least a year of combined lifestyle intervention (GLI); semaglutide for obesity is not (Zorginstituut Nederland, 03-02-2026; Zorgkiezer, 20-10-2026).
Supplements with "GLP-1" in their name are not medicines (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 01-08-2025). No medication is prescribed or sold through this site.

Not advertising: this page is about support. We name active substances. Brand names appear only in brackets so you can recognise them. In the Netherlands, advertising prescription medicines is prohibited. That is why we do not mention prices of medicines or personal stories about kilos lost. Whether a medicine suits you is something you decide together with your GP (huisarts) or specialist.

Which weight loss pills are available in the Netherlands

The range of real weight loss pills is small. There are three medicines you may come across in October 2026, and a fourth that may be on its way. All of them are intended as an addition to eating fewer calories and moving more, not as a replacement for it.

Naltrexone/bupropion (Mysimba). A prolonged-release tablet with two active substances. The dose is built up over four weeks. Prescription only and from age 18 (EMA, accessed 21-10-2026).
Orlistat (Alli). A capsule you take three times a day, just before, during or up to an hour after a meal containing fat. Without a prescription, for adults with a BMI of 28 or higher, and for no longer than 6 months (EMA, 2012).
Semaglutide as a tablet (Wegovy). The first GLP-1 tablet for weight management, once a day. Prescription only (EMA, 22-05-2026).
Orforglipron. A tablet you take once a day. Not yet approved (see below).

Weight loss pills in the Netherlands: form, prescription and status in October 2026. Source: EMA (2012, 22-05-2026, accessed 21-10-2026), manufacturer press release (15-07-2026), PharmaNow (16-10-2026), Zorginstituut Nederland (03-02-2026).
Medicine	Form	Prescription	Status October 2026
Naltrexone/bupropion (Mysimba)	Tablet, 2x a day after build-up	Yes	Approved since 2015; reimbursed under conditions
Orlistat (Alli)	Capsule, 3x a day with a meal	No	Approved; maximum 6 months
Semaglutide tablet (Wegovy)	Tablet, 1x a day, on an empty stomach	Yes	Approved in the EU since July 2026; check availability
Orforglipron	Tablet, 1x a day	Not yet applicable	Positive opinion, not yet approved

Overview of weight loss pills: which weight loss pills are approved, available on prescription or still awaiting a decision in October 2026 — Status of weight loss pills in the Netherlands, October 2026. Source: EMA, manufacturer press release (15-07-2026) and PharmaNow (16-10-2026), reference date 21-10-2026.

Semaglutide for diabetes (Ozempic, Rybelsus) is registered in the Netherlands as a diabetes medicine, not as a weight loss medicine (IGJ via NOS, 18-08-2026). Those medicines therefore do not belong in this list. A broader overview of all routes, from lifestyle programme to surgery, can be found at all forms of medical weight loss.

New weight loss pills: the semaglutide tablet and orforglipron

On 22 May 2026, the semaglutide tablet (Wegovy) received a positive opinion from the EMA, as the first oral GLP-1 for weight management. In July 2026, the European Commission approved the tablet for all EU countries. The manufacturer spoke of a launch in more countries in the second half of 2026, but did not name any countries. We did not find an official Dutch source on its supply on 21 October 2026. In short: approved in the EU since July 2026; ask your pharmacy or doctor whether it is already available.

According to the EMA, you take the tablet once a day on an empty stomach, after at least 8 hours without eating. Then you wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other medication. The most commonly reported side effects are stomach and bowel problems, especially at the start. The medicine is intended for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition.

Orforglipron is a tablet from a different manufacturer, for weight management and type 2 diabetes in adults. In October 2026 the medicine received a positive opinion from the European medicines committee, but it has not yet been approved. The European Commission usually decides within about two months of such an opinion. Do you see or hear about a "waiting list" for one of these pills somewhere? Then be critical. You get a prescription medicine through your doctor, not by signing up. How new medicines fit into GPs' agreements can be read at the NHG agreements on medication for obesity.

Who are weight loss pills for?

The European registration of the prescription tablets names the same group: adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or with a BMI of 27 to 30 and at least one weight-related condition. Think of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or sleep apnoea. Don't know your BMI? With the BMI calculator you will have it within a minute.

The Dutch guideline for overweight and obesity is clear about the role of medication. A medicine is an addition to a combined lifestyle intervention (GLI), not a treatment in itself. Do not start or continue a medicine if a supervised GLI cannot be followed, because weight loss is linked to the number of contact moments (Partnerschap Overgewicht Nederland, 10-07-2023). The NHG guideline (NHG-Standaard) also says that a medicine only comes into the picture after a year of lifestyle treatment with too little result. Want to know whether you are eligible? Read when you are eligible for treatment.

Insurance cover for weight loss pills in 2026

Of the weight loss pills, one is reimbursed from basic health insurance (basisverzekering) in 2026: naltrexone/bupropion (Mysimba). This has been the case since 2022, under certain conditions. You first follow a combined lifestyle intervention (GLI) for at least a year. In addition, you have a BMI of 30 or higher, or from 27 with (a risk of) cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea or osteoarthritis (Zorginstituut Nederland, 03-02-2026). The number of users of reimbursed obesity medicines grew from about 3,800 in 2021 to more than 27,000 in 2024.

Semaglutide is not reimbursed for obesity. The Dutch Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland) discussed reimbursement again on 5 October 2026. An advisory opinion is expected in early 2027, but the timing is uncertain and nothing has been decided (Zorgkiezer, 20-10-2026). Orlistat can be bought without a prescription; the Zorginstituut does not list it among the reimbursed obesity medicines, so ask your insurer what your policy covers. We do not state here what a medicine costs if you pay for it yourself: prices vary and your pharmacy knows the current price. The reimbursed route starts with your GP (huisarts), with the combined lifestyle programme.

GLP-1 supplements and weight loss pills without a prescription

In chemists and online shops you will see pills, powders, drops and patches with "GLP-1" in their name. These are supplements, not medicines. They may not claim to treat a disease. According to experts, they do not come close to the effect of real GLP-1 medicines, and one researcher calls the name misleading (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 01-08-2025). That is why we do not name brands or shops on this site.

Selling real prescription weight loss medicines without a doctor's prescription is not allowed. The IGJ (Health and Youth Care Inspectorate) receives reports about suspicious websites every month and can impose fines or have sites taken offline. Its advice: don't do it (NOS, 19-08-2023). According to the Dutch government (Rijksoverheid), weight loss medicines are among the medicines that are often counterfeited. Reliable online providers are listed by the CIBG on aanbiedersmedicijnen.nl and display the European logo that links to that list (Rijksoverheid, 09-05-2025). Want to understand better why a quick fix from a jar does not exist? Read what obesity is and how common it is.

Side effects of weight loss pills and when they are not suitable

Every medicine can cause side effects. These are the most frequently mentioned per tablet:

Naltrexone/bupropion: very common (1 in 10 or more) nausea, constipation, vomiting and headache (EMA).
Orlistat: mainly bowel problems, such as oily leakage, flatulence with loss of stool, urgency and fatty, soft stools, in more than 1 in 10 users (EMA, 2012).
Semaglutide tablet: mainly stomach and bowel problems, most often at the start (EMA, 22-05-2026).

Naltrexone/bupropion is not suitable in cases including uncontrolled high blood pressure, epilepsy or seizures (including in the past), bipolar disorder, bulimia or anorexia (now or in the past), use of opioids or MAO inhibitors, acute withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines, severe liver impairment and end-stage kidney failure. You also do not use it during pregnancy, if you want to have children or while breastfeeding. You do not use semaglutide during pregnancy or if you want to have children; if you become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately (Apotheek.nl, 15-09-2026).

Your doctor also checks whether a medicine is effective enough. According to the guideline, you stop taking orlistat and naltrexone/bupropion, among others, if you have lost less than 5% after 12 weeks on the highest tolerated dose. The product information for naltrexone/bupropion mentions 16 weeks and an annual reassessment. If you have symptoms, call your GP (huisarts) or pharmacy. How to approach that conversation can be read at help with overweight via your GP.

Weight loss pill or weight loss injection: the difference in use

The difference between a tablet and an injection lies mainly in how often and how you use it. Semaglutide as an injection (Wegovy) is given once a week. As a tablet, you take semaglutide every day, on an empty stomach, followed by half an hour of waiting. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is a weekly injection, liraglutide (Saxenda) a daily injection. You take naltrexone/bupropion twice a day after the build-up, and orlistat three times a day with a meal.

Which form suits you depends on your health, your other medication, your daily routine, side effects and insurance cover. None of these medicines is the better choice for everyone, and you always make the choice with your doctor. Read more about the injections, what they do and what happens after stopping at weight loss with injections.

Support alongside obesity pills

A tablet does not change your habits. What you eat, how you move, how you sleep and how you deal with stress remain your work. And when you stop, it comes down to what you have built up: according to a GP practice that follows the national guidelines, weight and risks increase again if you have changed little about your lifestyle.

Overgewicht Nederland B.V. offers support alongside your treatment. According to the provider, the team is specially trained in support with GLP-1 medication and in PCOS. No medication is prescribed or sold through this site: you get the medicine from your own doctor. In Amersfoort you can also have an REE measurement and an InBody measurement done. An InBody measurement is mainly useful for tracking your own progress, measured under the same conditions. Read more about this approach at support with GLP-1 medication and an InBody measurement in Amersfoort.

What can you discuss? For example your eating pattern, exercise and behaviour, help with coping with side effects in your daily life and a plan for the period after the medication. What you do not get: a prescription, dosage advice or a promise about kilos. With any offer, check whether the support stops after a short starter programme; it is precisely after the medication that you need support.

Cost of support with weight loss pills

That works out at €3.55 per day. According to Overgewicht Nederland B.V., the programme costs €108 per month by direct debit, or €1,295 per year, for 12 months of support. There is also a 15-month research programme for the same amount, with three extensive measurement sessions in Amersfoort. The cost of a medicine is separate from this and goes through your doctor, pharmacy and health insurer.

With doctor, coach and psychologist

Monthly

€3.55 per day

€108 per month

12 months of support
Direct debit, no large lump sum
Total €1,296 over 12 months

Yearly

€3.55 per day

€1,295 in one payment

12 months of support
One payment in advance
Equivalent to €107.92 per month

Research programme

€2.84 per day

€1,295 for 15 months

15 instead of 12 months of support
Three extensive measurement sessions in Amersfoort
Equivalent to €86.33 per month

View the research programme

Amounts according to Overgewicht Nederland B.V., reference date 21-10-2026. The price per day is a conversion (total divided by the number of days in the term); you pay per month or per year. Medication comes on top. You will receive the exact terms, such as the term and cancellation, in writing before you start.

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Weight loss pills: by town within 75 km of Amersfoort

For each town you will find the municipality's figures, the distance to the measurement location in Amersfoort and the questions people there ask.

How Overgewicht Nederland compares with Goodweigh, Wellis and Yazen

How Overgewicht Nederland compares with Goodweigh, Wellis and Yazen
What do you get?	Overgewicht Nederland	Goodweigh	Wellis	Yazen
Consultation with a doctor by phone or video	Yes:	No:	Partly:	Not mentioned:
Gastric balloon as a route	Yes:	Not mentioned:	Not mentioned:	Not mentioned:
Price of the coaching on the site	Yes:	Yes:	Not mentioned:	Yes:
Everything via chat, without phone calls	No:	Yes:	Yes:	Partly:

yes no (according to the provider itself) partly not mentioned. Reference date 22-10-2026. Compare for yourself with the decision aid

Frequently asked questions about weight loss with pills

Which weight loss pills are available in the Netherlands?

There are three: naltrexone/bupropion (Mysimba) on prescription, orlistat (Alli) without a prescription, and the semaglutide tablet (Wegovy) on prescription, which was approved in the EU in July 2026. Orforglipron has received a positive opinion but has not yet been approved. All of these medicines are intended alongside eating fewer calories and moving more. You decide which one suits you together with your doctor.

When will the semaglutide tablet (Wegovy) be available in the Netherlands?

That is not yet officially known. The tablet has been approved in the EU since July 2026; ask your pharmacy or doctor whether it is already available. The manufacturer spoke of a launch in more countries in the second half of 2026, without naming countries. We did not find an official Dutch source on 21 October 2026. It is only available on prescription.

Which weight loss pill is covered by insurance in 2026?

Only naltrexone/bupropion (Mysimba) is reimbursed, and only under certain conditions. You first follow a combined lifestyle intervention (GLI) for at least a year, and you have a BMI of 30 or higher, or from 27 with (a risk of) conditions such as type 2 diabetes or sleep apnoea. Semaglutide is not reimbursed for obesity; an advisory opinion is expected in early 2027. The first year revolves around the GLI that comes before reimbursement.

How much does a weight loss pill cost if you pay for it yourself?

We deliberately do not give amounts for that. Prices vary by medicine and dose, and we were unable to consult an official price source on 21 October 2026. Your pharmacy knows the current price. Also look at insurance cover: naltrexone/bupropion can be reimbursed under certain conditions. Per day, that works out at: €3.55. According to the provider, support from Overgewicht Nederland B.V. costs €108 per month, separate from the medication.

Can a GP prescribe a weight loss pill?

Yes, a GP (huisarts) can prescribe a tablet on prescription if you meet the conditions. According to the NHG guideline (NHG-Standaard), a medicine only comes into the picture after a year of lifestyle treatment with too little result. Your GP looks at your BMI, health conditions, other medication and any wish to have children. Prepare for the appointment with tips for the conversation with your GP.

What are the side effects of weight loss pills?

Stomach and bowel problems are the most common. With naltrexone/bupropion, nausea, constipation, vomiting and headache are very common. Orlistat mainly causes oily stools, urgency and flatulence. The semaglutide tablet mainly causes stomach and bowel problems, especially at the start (EMA). If symptoms persist or you are worried, contact your GP (huisarts) or pharmacy.

Is a weight loss pill better than a weight loss injection?

No, there is no form that is better for everyone. You usually take a tablet daily, sometimes on an empty stomach or several times a day; an injection is given daily or weekly, depending on the medicine. Which form suits you depends on your health, side effects, insurance cover and daily routine. You make that choice with your doctor. No medication is prescribed or sold through this site.

Can a supplement claim to work like a weight loss pill?

No, a supplement is not a medicine and may not claim to treat a disease. According to experts from Harvard, products with "GLP-1" in their name do not come close to the effect of real GLP-1 medicines; one researcher calls the name misleading. We did not find an official Dutch source on this. If you have doubts about a product, ask your pharmacist.

What should you know about orlistat without a prescription?

Orlistat (Alli) is intended for adults with a BMI of 28 or higher, for a maximum of 6 months. You take the capsule three times a day, just before, during or up to an hour after a meal containing fat (EMA). Common side effects affect the bowels. If you use other medication, check with your pharmacist first.

Can you get a weight loss pill if you have type 2 diabetes?

That is possible, but your doctor decides. Type 2 diabetes is one of the conditions that bring the prescription tablets within the registration from a BMI of 27. Please note: semaglutide tablets for diabetes (Rybelsus) are registered as a diabetes medicine, not as a weight loss medicine. If you use diabetes medication, your doctor will pay extra attention to the combination. Also read which treatments for obesity are available.

Can you buy weight loss pills online?

Only from a reliable provider and, apart from orlistat, with a prescription. According to the IGJ (Health and Youth Care Inspectorate), selling without a doctor's prescription is not allowed. Reliable online providers are listed by the CIBG on aanbiedersmedicijnen.nl and display the European logo that links to that list. Weight loss medicines are often counterfeited, so never buy via social media or sites that do not ask for a prescription.

Can you use weight loss pills while breastfeeding?

You do not use naltrexone/bupropion while breastfeeding, nor during pregnancy or if you want to have children (EMA). For semaglutide it is not known whether it passes into breast milk; consult your doctor or pharmacist (Apotheek.nl). According to the agreements between health insurers and the Partnerschap Overgewicht Nederland, obesity medication is not prescribed during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Is a weight loss pill safe?

A registered medicine has been assessed by the EMA, but that does not make it safe for everyone. There are side effects and situations in which you must not use a medicine, such as epilepsy or opioid use with naltrexone/bupropion. That is why a doctor who knows your whole situation should be involved. Pills from an unreliable source may be counterfeit and therefore carry an extra risk.

Why do you need support alongside a weight loss pill?

Because a pill does not change your habits. The guideline sees medication as an addition to a lifestyle programme and links the result to the number of contact moments. Support helps you with eating, exercise, side effects in your daily life and the period after the medication. According to Overgewicht Nederland B.V., the programme lasts 12 months. See what weight loss support involves.

Is the semaglutide tablet the same as the semaglutide injection (Wegovy)?

The active substance is the same, but the way you use it differs. The injection is given once a week. You take the tablet every day on an empty stomach, after at least 8 hours without eating, and then you wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other medication (EMA). Both are available on prescription only and are not reimbursed for obesity.