What to know about weight-loss jabs and NHS pharmacy plans

Yahoo

02-05-2025

NHS patients could be prescribed weight-loss jabs by pharmacies, according to new reports.
Currently, weight-loss injections are only available on the NHS after talks with a specialist and are restricted to those with the highest clinical need.
But reports suggest injections like Mounjaro and Wegovy could be made available after a short consultation with a pharmacist, for the £9.90 cost of an NHS prescription.
At present, the drugs can be bought privately from high street chemists and online pharmacies after an in-person or video consultation with a specialist. A private prescription can cost upwards of £150 a month.
It's estimated more than half a million people are getting injections this way because of the long wait time for specialist NHS clinics. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) previously set out plans for a gradual roll-out of the drugs on the NHS to avoid overwhelming the service, meaning not everyone who is eligible for the medication can access it straight away.
If it goes ahead, the planned government trial would help tackle obesity by allowing more people to get access to injections. However, the reports are still speculative.
The Telegraph states that, "The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is expected to announce plans to try new ways to prescribe and monitor use of the medication." But added that a spokesperson would not confirm the details.
Last month, Jeremy Clarkson, shared some of the challenging side effects of weight-loss jabs revealing Ozempic left him "sick a lot".
Writing in a column for The Sunday Times, the 64-year-old broadcaster said he started taking the weight-loss drug two years ago, but gave up taking it after finding it wasn't having a positive impact on him.
"My body lost the ability to deal with gluttony but once the initial enthusiasm had worn off, my mind still wanted to breakfast on Cadbury Fruit & Nut," he wrote. "This meant I was sick a lot. And after I had vomited, I figured I was empty and could have another bottle and maybe another bar of chocolate too."
The Clarkson's Farm star went on to add "Ozempic turned me into a bulimic version of Henry VIII."
-After swapping Ozempic for another weightloss drug, Mounjaro, which he jokingly called "Muntjac", Clarkson said that while he was yet to lose weight, he felt it was "inevitable" that he would soon.
But Mounjaro also comes with some compromises, with the presenter admitting he is struggling with not being able to enjoy his favourite meals as his appetite has been suppressed.
"You find yourself living a minibar existence," he wrote, joking that a "handful of sunflower seeds" would be enough to keep him full. "That's not living. That's existing."
Weight-loss jabs have become increasingly high-profile after a number of celebrities, like Clarkson, began using Ozempic, which is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, to lose significant amounts of weight.
But there have been some safety concerns after figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) revealed a rise in the number of deaths linked to weight loss and diabetes drugs.
The figures show that of the 82 deaths, 60 were linked to the use of medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro for treating type 2 diabetes, while 22 were linked to using it for weight loss.
Earlier this year, online pharmacies were told they must conduct a proper two-way consultation with patients before prescribing weight loss jabs
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), which regulates pharmacies, said it was responding to concerns relating to the unsafe prescribing and supply of medicines like weight loss jabs online.
Wegovy is the brand name for semaglutide which is licensed and approved for managing obesity. It differs from Ozempic, which is another brand name for semaglutide and is used for treating type 2 diabetes. Ozempic should not be prescribed solely for weight loss.
The NHS began offering Wegovy in September 2023 as an option for weight management in line with guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
It is recommended that the medication be used in tandem with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
You are eligible for Wegovy if you meet the following criteria:
Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 35
One weight-related comorbidity (such as hypertension of cardiovascular disease)
Have a BMI of 30 to 34.9, provided you meet the criteria for referral to specialist weight management services
The Department for Health and Social Care adds: "Wegovy is for those dealing with obesity and weight-related problems, not for people who just want to lose some weight."
Wegovy is taken via an injection once a week. Should you meet the eligibility criteria and are prescribed Wegovy, your healthcare team will give you more information about how to take it and how to inject it.
Mounjaro is approved for weight loss and weight management in adults aged 18 and over who meet the eligibility criteria. It works by regulating a person's appetite so they feel full, making them feel less hungry and experience fewer food cravings.
It is recommended that Mounjaro be used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
You are eligible for Mounjaro if you meet the following criteria:
Have a BMI of at least 30
Have a BMI between 27 to 30, and weight-related problems such as prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart problems
Mounjaro is available as a pre-filled injection pen that is to be injected under the skin of your stomach area, thigh or upper arm. The starting dose is 2.5mg once a week for four weeks, increasing to 5mg once a week.
According to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the dose may then be increased in at least four-week intervals up to the maximum dose of 15mg per week.
Women using oral contraceptives may be advised to consider using a barrier method of contraception, such as a condom or switching to a non-oral contraceptive method for four weeks after starting Mounjaro. This is because Mounjaro may affect the efficacy of the contraceptive pill.
You can get both Wegovy and Mounjaro via a private prescription in the UK. Neither medication is available over the counter from a pharmacy, as you will need to be assessed for suitability before being given a prescription. You should also get ongoing support from the prescriber.
However, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) warned last year of a possible "explosion in the unlicensed sale of medication online" and urged people not to take the risk of buying weight loss injections without proper checks.
The NPA advised patients to speak to their GP about whether they are eligible for and should have a prescription for weight loss drugs. The warning came after the MHRA reported that nearly 50 people were hospitalised after using weight loss drugs last year.
The MHRA said prescription-only medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro are "effective and acceptably safe when used within their licensed indications", adding that there are still "risks associated with their use'.
"When appropriately used in line with the product license, the benefits of these medications outweigh the risks for patients," said the regulatory agency. "However, this benefit-risk balance is positive only for patients within the approved indications for weight management or type 2 diabetes as described in the product information."
Additional reporting by PA
Read more about weight loss:
Who can get new weight-loss jab Mounjaro on the NHS? (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
Alison Hammond reveals why she is 'frightened' of weight loss medications (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
Obesity rates may start falling this year due to weight loss jabs, seller says (Sky News, 4-min read)