New – Weight Loss Management Injection Service

Are you struggling to lose weight? Would you like to try weight loss injections or tablets, but you’re not sure how to use them?

VSM Pharmacy will launch a new weight management service on the 12th of May for people who want to buy weight loss injections and have the jab, or the tablets administered at the clinic.

We’ll talk to you about your weight loss goals and your lifestyle. This is so that we can recommend which injection will be suitable for your needs. You’ll also be send a comprehensive pack. The pack contains advice on how to follow a healthy diet, your approach to weight loss and healthy physical activity.

Your Weight Loss Choices

VSM Pharmacy will offer the following medicines to help you on your weight loss journey:

Wegovy

Wegovy is the brand name for semaglutide which is an approved medicine to help manage weight loss alongside a healthy diet and some physical activity. The injection is administered once a week and comes in the form of an injector pen.

The injection works by reducing hunger pangs, making you feel fuller after you’ve eaten and reduces your craving for high-fat foods.

In 2021 The New England Journal of Medicine published a study which showed that people who used Wegovy for 15 months as well as following a calorie- reduced diet and doing some exercise lost 15% of their body weight. These were compared to a group who also followed a healthy diet and did exercise but only had placebo injections. This group only lost 2.4% of their body weight.

Mounjaro

Mounjaro is the brand name for Tirzepatide and like Wegovy, it has been approved for use as a weight loss medicine. You will need to follow a reduced-calorie diet and do some exercise while having the injections.

This medication works by reducing hunger pangs and making you feel fuller for longer. A study of Tirzepatide was also published in the New England Journal of Medicine and concluded that people who used tirzepatide once a week sustained a reduction in body weight.

Saxenda

Saxenda is the brand name for Liraglutide. It too is a medicine that helps you lose weight by reducing your appetite and making you feel full for longer. The difference between Saxenda and other weight loss injections is that you take Saxenda once a day, rather than once a week.

Liraglutide was also subject to clinical trials and a study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine which demonstrated that people using Saxenda lost a considerable amount of body weight in comparison to those who didn’t have the injection.

Xenical

Xenical is the brand name for Orlistat and comes in tablet form. You take one 120mg 3 times a day.  The tablets work by reducing the fat absorbed in your body, but to avoid side-effects, you will need to avoid eating high fat foods.

The idea is that you take Xenical and over time you should lose your cravings for high-fat foods and improve your eating habits. This NHS leaflet tells you what you can and can’t eat while taking Xenical.

A clinical trial published in the Lancet confirmed that Orlistat promotes significant weight loss in obese patients.

Does Weight Loss Medication Have Side-Effects?

Yes. There are side effects from using injections or tablets for weight loss. The most common side-effects are:

• Diarrhoea
• Bloating
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Constipation

Most side-effects settle down in time. Some people may experience serious side-effects such as kidney or gallbladder problems, drug induced pancreatitis, or depression.

The risks of serious side-effects are higher when the medication is bought from unregulated sellers who can often be found online. It is important to buy your injections from a GPhC registered pharmacy. VSM Pharmacy has its registration logo and registration number on its website.   

How VSM Pharmacy Can Help You

Using the weight loss service will mean you can talk to a pharmacist about your weight loss goals and tell them about any medical conditions you might have.

Not everyone can use injections for weight loss. For example, if you are living with diabetes or pancreatitis then weight loss injections aren’t recommended. For more information you can give us a call on 01276 21002 or pop in to the pharmacy for a chat.