Information for patients on new weight loss drug tirzepatide
Current Position:
Recently there has been a lot of media coverage on the use of weight loss injections (Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy) and as it stands the NHS has no formal service to safely prescribe these medications under the obesity license despite the demand. We are also unable to advise patients on privately prescribed weight loss injections. We currently provide these medications for eligible type 2 diabetes patients who are struggling with clinical obesity under diabetes optimisation plans.
The Future:
The NHS has announced that Mounjaro (tirzepatide) will soon be available to help people with obesity, there are also other weight loss injections, such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide). This news has created a lot of interest, and we’ve been getting many questions about it.
Let’s take a closer look at what this means for you and how it could affect GP services.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is a new injection designed to help with weight loss. It works by making you feel full, so you eat less. In trials, people using Mounjaro lost up to 20% of their body weight.
The NHS plans to make this injection available from March 2025 for people who:
Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 35 AND at least one obesity-related health problem, like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease.
However, at first, Mounjaro will only be available to patients in specialist weight-management services. The wider rollout, which may include GP practices, is expected to start later in the year.
When Will It Be Available?
The NHS has a long-term plan to make Mounjaro widely available. However, this will take time – possibly up to 12 years – to ensure services can manage the demand.
From March 2025, the injection will be offered to those with the highest medical need, via weight management services. Over the next three years, about 220,000 people are expected to benefit from it.
For now, GP practices like ours are waiting for further guidance on how and when this injection will become available for more patients.
What We Offer Right Now
At Kenyon Medical Centres, we know how important weight management is for your health. While Mounjaro is not yet available through our surgery, we can support you with information on NHS programs that focus on healthy weight management more information is here or contact us via contact us on the home page.