Latest news with #MedExpress
Evening Standard
a day ago
- Health
- Evening Standard
Can these secret ingredients really have the same effect on weight loss as Ozempic and Mounjaro?
Mounjaro, which is available on the NHS, is one of the major brands associated with injectable weight loss medication and the most popular in the UK. However, Eli Lilly, the US-based manufacturer of Mounjaro, has announced that it is going to nearly double in price from September 1, to bring it in line with other nations. This is following intervention from President Trump who demanded that other countries stop 'freeloading' off US firms. Since their announcement, it has been reported that Asda Online Doctor has seen a 350 per cent increase in demand, and London MedExpress has experienced a 40 per cent jump in orders. Sales of Ozempic, its cheaper counterpart, have risen by more than 500 per cent since the announcement.
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
Warning as desperate fat jab patients scramble to stock up on Mounjaro before huge price hike
FAT jab users are scrambling to buy Mounjaro before price hikes of more than 50 per cent. Pharmacies reported an influx of phone calls at the weekend as anxious patients tried to stock up. A typical monthly prescription for weight loss injection Mounjaro — medical name tirzepatide — could rise from less than £200 to more than £300 from the start of September. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said: 'Some patients have asked to buy in bulk, which is not possible or safe. "There are alternatives and patients should speak to their local pharmacist.' More than a million people in the UK are estimated to be buying fat jab injections privately. Some 625,000 could now switch to rival drug Wegovy, after its manufacturer Novo Nordisk confirmed on Friday that it will not raise its prices. Dr Sophie Dix, from online pharmacy MedExpress, said: 'Our patients are fearful of being unable to afford treatment.' And Sandeep Dhami, from MW Phillips Chemists in the West Midlands, said: 'Patients are going to pharmacies angry and upset at the price hike. "Those on the highest doses, who will face the highest price hike, are particularly concerned.' Experts called for calm and warned users not to be tempted by sellers on social media. Abdal Alvi, at Simple Online Pharmacy, said: 'Cheap is not cheap when it comes to health.' Boots chemist has said it will review its weight loss services in light of the change. Doc gives advice on how to tackle Mounjaro side effect of excess loose skin 1
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctor reveals the best day to inject weight loss jab to avoid calorific bingeing at the weekend
Blockbuster weight loss jabs relied on by millions of slimmers could be more effective on a certain day of the week, an expert has suggested. More than a million Britons are now injecting themselves weekly with drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy—bought online or through private clinics—lured by promises of rapid results. Known collectively as GLP–1s, the once a week injections can help users lose up to a fifth of their body weight in a year and have upended the obesity treatment playbook. Now, one expert in metabolic medicine has suggested Thursday may be the optimal time to inject the drug to 'control' the urge to binge calories at the weekend. According to Dr Zoe Lees, who specialises in GLP-1s for MedExpress, this is because people 'may notice stronger effects shortly after their injection'. The injections spur weight loss by mimicking the actions of a hormone released in the gut after eating—GLP-1. As well as telling the pancreas to make more insulin, GLP-1 feeds back to the brain and makes us feel full—stopping patients from over-eating. Dr Lees told the Daily Mail: 'While some people may notice stronger effects shortly after their injection, this varies from person to person and is most noticeable early in treatment or when increasing the dose. 'Injecting on a Thursday, for example, might help some people feel more in control during weekend social events. 'However, for others it might increase the chance of side effects disrupting those plans. 'It's all about balance and choosing a day that works for your body and your routine. 'Many people may find it helpful to take their injection ahead of a rest day, such as the evening before a day off or the start of the weekend. 'This gives a buffer to manage any side effects in the early stages of treatment or when moving up a dose. 'Over time, as your body adjusts, these side effects often ease and you may not need to plan around time off as much.' According to the patient information leaflets, tucked inside Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro packaging, the drug should be injected at 'any time of day'. Instead, it advises patients to take it once a week, on the same day each week. Experts have suggested this helps maintain stable levels of the medication in the body. In the UK Ozempic, Mounjaro and similar drugs are supplied in pre-filled injector pens, with doses typically increased gradually under medical supervision. It comes as Mounjaro manufacturer Lilly yesterday revealed it would hike up the price of the drug in the UK from September, costing patients up to an extra £2,704 a year. The pharmaceutical giant also cited clinical research into the effectiveness of the injections, saying it demonstrates its 'value'. The mammoth rise also comes after US President Donald Trump complained that Americans pay more for drugs than other nations, saying they 'subsidise the health care of foreign countries'. But despite patients being eager to take the drugs, the jabs are not without side effects. Users commonly complain of nausea, constipation and diarrhoea after taking the medication. A Mail on Sunday investigation earlier this year also revealed almost 400 Brits had been hospitalised since the rollout of jabs such as Wegovy, Mounjaro and Saxenda. Some doctors also warned they were seeing patients with 'serious, life-threatening complications' including seizures, bowel obstruction and inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis. Under NHS guidelines, only patients who have a body mass index (BMI) of over 35 and at least one weight-related health problem like high blood pressure, or those who have a BMI of 30 to 34.9 and meet the criteria for referral to a specialist weight management service, should be prescribed Wegovy. UK law forbids the sale of such drugs without a prescription from a medical professional.
Daily Mail
05-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Mother-of-two, 49, issues warning after weight loss jabs left her passing BLACK urine and hospitalised: 'I thought I was going to die'
A mother has told how she felt 'lucky to be alive' after a weight loss jab left her hospitalised and suffering black urine. Claire Reed, from Aberdeen in Scotland, was prescribed Mounjaro in March after she was left 'fed up' of not fitting into her clothes properly. The 49-year-old, who was classed as overweight, claimed she only had to fill out a questionnaire provided by online pharmacy MedExpress before she was offered the £200 a month drug. She lost four stone in the first four months, dropping from 15 to 11 stone. But in June, she suddenly began to feel nauseous every time she tried to eat or drink and would faint almost daily. Despite noticing her urine had turned black due to dehydration she refused to tell family and friends she was on the jab over fear of embarrassment. It was only when she fell unconscious in the car, her son and daughter rushed her to hospital and she was immediately put on an IV drip to rehydrate the body. Tirzepatide, the ingredient behind Mounjaro, has long been hailed a game-changer in tackling obesity. Administered weekly, the drug—manufactured by Eli Lilly—is designed to help type 2 diabetes patients control their blood sugar levels or for obese people to lose weight for health purposes Administered weekly, the drug—manufactured by Eli Lilly—is designed to help type 2 diabetes patients control their blood sugar levels or for obese people to lose weight for health purposes. However, the injections, known collectively as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), are known to cause worrying side effects such as pancreatitis—when the pancreas suddenly becomes inflamed—or gastrointestinal issues. The family of drugs known as GLP-1 RAs, originally developed to treat diabetes, are now often being used for weight loss as they were found to suppress a patient's appetite. Recalling her terrifying ordeal, Ms Reed said: 'I was going on holiday to Dubai with my daughter and I was fed up with not fitting in my clothes. I wasn't really that big but that was the motivation to start. 'I ordered them online, I didn't go to the doctor. There were no instructions on how to deal with it, it works for a lot of women quite well. 'I couldn't eat so I was just collapsing because I had no food or water, I wasn't able to process anything in my body. 'I felt very sick and had no appetite. Even on holiday, I couldn't eat. It's not nice going on holiday and not eating because your whole life revolves around food. 'I kept collapsing at the end of the day because when you're not drinking or eating anything your body just shuts down. 'It was always at the end of the day but I didn't say anything, I was embarrassed. 'I was never going to the toilet and when I did my urine was black. I had to force myself to drink water.' She added: 'We were in the car and I was just passing out, going in and out of consciousness, my daughter and son started panicking and they took me straight to the doctor, who referred me to hospital. 'They put me on an IV. I told them I've been taking the jab and they said this could be what it is.' Ms Reed has now vowed never to use the jabs again but is still struggling to eat as she did before starting the medication. 'I'm still not hungry and still not gaining weight. Any food at all makes me feel sick,' she said. 'I was very scared, your body needs food and fluid. I thought I could die, I stopped just now and I've never been like this before, trying to get the jab out of my system. 'The consultant said this is a big problem because the people selling it to you can't see you, they're just asking a quick questionnaire. And then you're left on your own. 'Your appetite won't come back, it's absolutely terrible. I'm so weak and tired all the time. 'There's not enough awareness about the dangers of taking it, everyone wants to lose weight and feel great but there are risks.' MedExpress and Eli Lilly have both been approached for comment. At least half a million NHS patients and some 15million patients in the US are now thought to be using weight-loss jabs, which can help patients lose up to 20 per cent of their body weight in just a few months. And the numbers using them privately are even higher. They have also been shown to significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. However, other reported problems using the jabs include constipation, fatigue, headaches, dizziness and even hair loss. In June, UK medicines watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also revealed it had received more than 560 reports of people developing an inflamed pancreas after taking so-called 'GLP-1' injections since they were first launched. Ten cases proved fatal. Under official guidelines, only patients who have a body mass index (BMI) of over 35 and at least one weight-related health problem like high blood pressure, or those who have a BMI of 30 to 34.9 and meet the criteria for referral to a specialist weight management service, should be prescribed weight loss jabs. In the UK, law forbids the sale of such drugs without a prescription from a medical professional.
Dominion Post
31-07-2025
- Health
- Dominion Post
UPMC cuts ribbon on WV GoHealth Urgent Cares
MORGANTOWN – UPMC has opened 81 urgent care centers across Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and celebrated Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting at its Waynesburg, Pa. Site. Its 23 West Virginia locations are all former MedExpress sites – including the Morgantown UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care at the corner of 705 and Pineview Drive. UPMC also held ribbon-cuttings last week at its Weirton and Charleston urgent cares. The ribbon-cutting ceremony in Waynesburg. Photo courtesy of UPMC. 'The UPMC mission is to serve our communities with outstanding patient care, which is why we are pleased to partner with GoHealth,' said Dr. Donald M. Yealy, chief medical officer and chair of emergency medicine at UPMC. 'UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care will allow us to serve you even better with convenient, flexible access to high-quality health care when and where you need it.' UPMC said its new UPMC-GoHealth partnership 'creates a digital and physical front door to connect patients to care within the robust network of trusted UPMC physicians and specialists. It also brings more ambulatory services, such as primary care, women's health, orthopedics and radiology, closer to communities that need them.' UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care centers provide care for non-life-threatening acute conditions, including flu, fever, earaches, insect bites, sprains, simple fractures, cuts requiring stitches and more for patients ages 6 months and older, UPMC said. The centers will accept most major insurance, including UPMC Health Plan, Highmark, Geisinger, Medicare and Medicaid, and provide self-pay options. In Pennsylvania, the UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care network incorporates former MedExpress, UPMC Urgent Care and UPMC Express Care locations. In announcing Wednesday's ribbon-cutting, UPMC commented regarding its West Virginia presence, 'Going forward, we are exploring plans for future services that will serve defined health needs of these communities.' Its Morgantown UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care is situated between the Vandalia Health Mon Medical Center campus and WVU Medicine's Ruby Memorial Hospital campus. Given that Vandalia and WVU Medicine are existing statewide healthcare systems, The Dominion Post asked UPMC its thoughts on establishing a West Virginia presence. John Reasbeck, Vice President of Community & Ambulatory Care, said, 'UPMC is committed to serving our communities with outstanding health care and the new UPMC-GoHealth partnership further cements that commitment. … If patients need follow-up or specialty care, our clinicians will provide easy referral to UPMC's world class system of specialists. We're also happy to refer patients and provide visit records to any credentialed clinician of their choosing.' We asked Vandalia and WVU Medicine their thoughts on UPMC expanding into West Virginia. David Goldberg, president and CEO of Vandalia Health-Northern Region, and executive vice president of Vandalia Health, said, 'We welcome UPMC Go-Health to the community. MedExpress has had a longstanding and positive presence in our region, faithfully serving our friends and neighbors. We look forward to continuing a collaborative relationship to ensure patients have timely access to care, including our Vandalia Health specialists, and a choice of providers.' WVU Medicine confined its comments to the Waynesburg ribbon-cutting, with a spokesperson saying, 'Since opening a WVU Medicine Urgent Care location adjacent to our Waynesburg clinic several weeks ago, our providers have been seeing dozens of patients every day. We're honored to serve the community with this additional service in Greene County.' MedExpress originated in Morgantown in 2001. Optum, a United Health Group subsidiary, bought MedExpress in 2015. By then, it had expanded to 141 centers in 11 states. The UPMC-GoHealth partnership announced plans to acquire the MedExpress locations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia last October. The Dominion Post reported in August 2023 that MedExpress was eliminating all of its registered nursing positions at all of its medical centers. We asked UPMC it it would be employing registered nurses at its UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care centers, and Reasbeck said no. However he said, 'UPMC-GoHealth Urgent Care has retained existing staff and is hiring more.' UPMC operates more than 40 hospitals and 800 outpatient sites in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland, as well as overseas. UPMC Insurance Services covers more than 4 million members. GoHealth said it partners with health systems to simplify and improve the way patients access high-quality healthcare for non-life-threatening conditions. Its on-demand care platform serves 12 health system partners across 16 states at approximately 400 co-branded neighborhood centers. Todd Latz, CEO of GoHealth, said, 'Today's health care consumers expect frictionless, high-quality health care that fits their lives – care that is convenient, personal and connected. By combining our on-demand care, operational expertise and experience, both in-center and virtually, with the long tradition of UPMC clinical excellence and deep understanding of the local health care landscape, we will make easy access to high-quality care a reality for many more people.'
