In September 2023 Mounjaro was approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a weight loss drug and just over a year later in December 2024 it was recommended for use on the NHS for people who had a BMI of at least 30kg/m2 and were living with additional medical conditions related to obesity such as:
Those who don’t qualify for NHS treatment are able to buy Mounjaro from a Pharmacy or online.
The drug works by making you feel fuller even though you are eating less therefore reducing your appetite. The injection contains the ingredient tirzepatide which is also used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Tirzepatide is a man-made version of a natural hormone which helps the body release insulin from the pancreas and helps to control hunger and the feeling of being full after a meal.
Currently, it is estimated that around 1.5 million people in the UK are on weight loss medication with more than half of them using Mounjaro.
However, like all medications, there are side effects to using Mounjaro. Not everyone will be affected, but many people report having the most common side effects when they first start the injections which are:
Other side effects which are less common include:
Another side effect which, according to Mounjaro’s patient information leaflet, is uncommon, is a condition called pancreatitis. This condition has recently been highlighted due to increased reports sent in to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) through their Yellow Card Scheme.Â
The Yellow Card Scheme is an initiative run by the MHRA which encourages the voluntary reporting of any problems experienced with medicines, vaccines or medical devices. If the organisation feels there is a need to carry out further investigation into the product, they will do so.
In July an investigation was launched into whether an individual’s genetics can increase the risk of developing pancreatitis while using GLP-1 drugs. These include weight loss medications such as Mounjaro, Wegovey and Saxenda.
The investigation is ongoing. People who have had bad reactions to weight loss drugs are being asked to report to the Yellow Card scheme. Those who report are then being asked to take part in a study to look at whether certain people are at a higher genetic risk of becoming ill with pancreatitis while using weight loss jabs.
A severe pain in the centre of your stomach that has developed suddenly could be a symptom of pancreatitis. Other symptoms include feeling sick or vomiting, a fever, a swollen, tender stomach and breathing rapidly or a fast heartbeat. If you are using weight loss injections and you suddenly develop severe stomach pain, see your doctor or call NHS 111.
Yes, the weight loss injections have been officially approved. Side effects tend to be manageable for many people. The common side-effects of diarrhoea, constipation or vomiting appear to disappear after a few weeks. Some people don’t get side-effects at all.
You can read Mounjaro user reviews on the drugs.com website. It has an average rating of 8.5 out of 10 with 79% of reviewers (482 in total) reporting a positive experience and 6% reporting a negative experience.
If you want to purchase Mounjaro with support from the pharmacy, you can join our weight loss clinic. We give you advice and tips about healthy eating and getting more exercise as well as providing your once-a-week injection.Â
To book an appointment call the pharmacy on 01276 21002, pop in and see us if you’re passing, or have a look at our price list on our weight loss clinic page and book an appointment online.
If you’re interested in losing weight by using weight management injections such us Wegovy or Mounjaro, our new service will help you. Read our latest article to find out more about weight loss medication and how we can help you.
The cost of Mounjaro is set to rise considerably. If you use Mountjaro and you are thinking about swapping to Wegovy our latest blog tells you more about each medication and how it will help your weight loss journey.
