Medication

Mounjaro is also a once-weekly injection. The active ingredient is the medicine tirzepatide. It is also a GLP-1 based drug but it also works on the GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptors. It is manufactured by Eli Lilly.

Wegovy is a once-weekly injection. The active ingredient is the medicine semaglutide and it is a GLP-1 based drug. That is because it works on GLP-1 hormone receptors. It is the same active ingredient as is in Ozempic. It is manufactured by Novo Nordisk.

Yes, like all medications, Wegovy and Mounjaro can cause side effects, though not everyone experiences them. Common effects include nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, headache, fatigue, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort. Side effects are often more noticeable during titration and commonly improve over time.

It is understandable that people are sometimes wary of new medications. The first thing to say is that GLP-1s are not new. While they have only recently been licensed for use in weight loss, this group of medications has been used by diabetic patients for many years. The first one was licensed in 2005, so they have been around for over 20 years. The first trials of semaglutide, the active drug in Wegovy, were in 2008. All medications that are licensed have to go through extensive, in depth trials and studies before they are approved to be prescribed to the public.

No, they are prescription-only. Patients need to meet eligibility criteria and complete the online consultation, which is reviewed by a prescriber.

We have been surprised and saddened by some of the resistance patients have encountered from doctors, friends and family about the new medications. There is still a lot of stigma around obesity and some view these injections as cheating, as though those who are overweight need to be punished and to suffer in their pursuit of a healthy weight. Yet we do not apply this logic to other problems people have. No one says the same about nicotine replacement therapy for smokers, for example. Being on weight loss medication is not a quick fix. Patients still need to put in effort and work on ensuring long term change to their relationship with food. No one should feel shamed or made to feel guilty for trying to improve their health and wellbeing, however they choose to do it.