Best Weight Loss Injections

Weight loss injections have become a popular prescription-only treatment option for people who need an effective and medically supervised weight management programme.

Weight loss injections contain active ingredients that act like naturally produced digestive hormones to curb appetite and regulate blood sugar levels. However, choosing the right injection depends on several factors including personal circumstances, medical history, and eligibility criteria.

In the UK, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and liraglutide (generic Saxenda) are the available weight loss injections, while Ozempic is licensed for the management of type 2 diabetes. Each of these injections works in a unique way to support weight loss and can be obtained with a private prescription from services like Superdrug Online Doctor.

In this article, we’ll discuss what weight loss injections are, how they work and compare their side effects and cost to help you choose the right treatment for you.

This table compares the different weight loss injections available in the UK, including their active ingredient and how they work.

Weight loss injections are self-injectable medications that are delivered through pre-filled pens into the upper arm, thigh, or stomach.

They work as an appetite suppressant by mimicking a naturally produced hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). When you eat, GLP-1 is released, making you feel fuller so you’re less likely to overeat.

Mounjaro also mimics another hormone, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) which influences your metabolism and controls energy balance.

Wegovy and Mounjaro are injected at the same time every week, whereas Saxenda/liraglutide is injected once daily at the same time.

With each type of weight loss injection, you’ll begin with a low dose which will gradually increase until you reach a maintenance dose. This helps your body get used to the new medication and reduces the risk of side effects. Most people start to lose weight within the first few weeks of treatment, even as they are titrating up to the highest doses.

Mounjaro

The active ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide, which works by mimicking the GLP-1 and GIP hormones resulting in:

• slowed digestion
• reduced hunger
• fewer food cravings
• regulated energy balance
• increased insulin production

Mounjaro is available in 6 doses ranging from 2.5mg up to the maintenance dose of 15mg. The dosing schedule starts at 2.5mg and increases by 2.5mg every 4 weeks until you reach the most comfortable maintenance dose for you. Most people tend to stick to 5mg, 10mg, or 15mg. which is the highest maintenance dose.

Mounjaro is self-injected once a week and you can lose up to 22.5% of your starting body weight when using the highest maintenance dose of 15mg per week for 72 weeks. If you have been unable to lose at least 5% of your initial body weight within 6 months of using your chosen maintenance dose, your doctor may advise you to stop treatment.

Mounjaro is available from Superdrug Online Doctor with prices starting from £215.00 for weight loss. It is also available in the UK to treat type 2 diabetes but we do not prescribe it for this.

Wegovy

Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone that reduces hunger, increases a feeling of fullness, and slows gastric emptying.

It is a self-injectable medicine that is used once a week, starting at the lowest Wegovy dosage of 0.25mg per week, increasing every 4 weeks up to the highest maintenance dose of 2.4mg per week.

Clinical trials have shown that Wegovy can help people lose up to 15% of their starting body weight when they take the weekly 2.4mg maintenance dose for 68 weeks. Many people notice they lose weight within the first 3 months of starting treatment.

Wegovy is safe for long-term use and your doctor will assess how long you will need to use it for based on your progress, side effects, and weight loss targets.

If you have not lost at least 5% of your starting body weight within 6 months of taking the maintenance dose, your doctor may advise you to stop using Wegovy.

Wegovy is available for weight loss with a private prescription from Superdrug Online Doctor, with prices starting at £195.00. Unlike Ozempic which also contains semaglutide, Wegovy is not approved to treat type 2 diabetes.

Saxenda and liraglutide

Liraglutide is a once-daily weight loss injection which contains the active ingredient liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that controls appetite and increases feelings of fullness, which can lead to reduced calorie consumption and contributes to weight loss.

The starting liraglutide dose is 0.6mg per day which increases weekly by 0.6mg up to the maximum maintenance dose of 3.0mg per day. Most people will reach the maintenance dose by week 5 of their treatment.

Research shows that using liraglutide results in an average 8% reduction in body weight over 56 weeks using the maintenance dose of 3.0mg per day. Liraglutide is suitable for long-term use for weight management if it is effective and well-tolerated.

Saxenda is currently long-term out of stock but liraglutide (the generic version of Saxenda) is now approved for weight loss in the UK. Liraglutide works in exactly the same way that Saxenda does – the only difference is the price, packaging and name.

Ozempic

Like Wegovy, Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide but it is not approved for weight loss in the UK. Instead, Ozempic is a licensed treatment for type 2 diabetes.

It works in the same way as Wegovy in that it suppresses your appetite, slows the movement of food through the stomach, and regulates blood glucose and insulin levels, but is only licensed to treat diabetes.

Ozempic is a once-weekly injection where the starting dose is 0.25mg per week, increasing every 4 weeks until your blood sugars are well controlled. The highest maintenance dose is 1.0mg per week but not everyone will need to take this dose if a lower dose works well. 1.0mg is the highest dose of semaglutide approved for diabetes management in the UK and is not likely to provide as effective results as Wegovy’s maintenance dose of 2.4mg.

Ozempic is not available for weight loss in the UK, but Wegovy or liraglutide is a suitable alternative that you can request from Superdrug Online Doctor. Some private services may provide Ozempic off-label, although the NHS has requested a stop to this so that diabetes medications are not understocked for people who need them.

Each weight loss injection can cause a variety of side effects, commonly: feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, and stomach discomfort. The likelihood that you will develop side effects will depend on which injection you use and how your body reacts to the active ingredient.

The side effects of the common weight loss injections available in the UK are compared in this table.

For all weight loss injections, side effects will be worse when you first start treatment as it will take a little while for your body to get used to the medication. In most cases, the side effects will go away on their own and can be managed in the meantime. That is why you can stay at a lower dose for longer if you need to and stick to a lower maintenance dose. You can always try to increase your dose later when you feel more comfortable taking the medication.

Here’s a table comparing the cost of Mounjaro, Wegovy, and liraglutide for weight loss in the UK according to their doses.

These prices are according to Superdrug Online Doctor.

Currently, Wegovy is the only weight loss injection available on the NHS in England, Wales, and Scotland for weight loss, but you must meet specific criteria to obtain a prescription.

To qualify for Wegovy, you will need to have at least 1 weight-related medical condition and a BMI of:

• at least 35 kg/m2 or
• over 30 kg/m2 and a weight-related health condition such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes, or heart problems

Saxenda was available before it became long-term out of stock and liraglutide will be available in the future, although there are still some stock issues with it being such an in-demand medication.

Mounjaro will be available on the NHS in the future if the tirzepatide proposal is accepted, however, final guidance has not been released on this yet. If the proposal is accepted, it’ll first be released to people with a BMI of more than 40kg/m2 and at least 3 specific weight-related problems, including:

• high blood pressure
• obstructive sleep apnoea
• cardiovascular disease
• dyslipidaemia (abnormal fat levels called lipids in the bloodstream)

How to get NHS weight loss injections

Weight loss injections are usually prescribed by a specialist weight management service for up to 2 years, so your GP will need to refer you. There are some GPs being trained to prescribe weight loss injections, so check in with your GP practice or local pharmacy to see if this is available in your area and if you meet the requirements.

If you are successfully referred and offered weight loss injections on the NHS, you will only need to pay the prescription price, currently £9.90 per item, unless you are entitled to free prescriptions.

The requirements of eligibility to get weight loss injections privately are a little different, so even if you are not eligible on the NHS this does not mean you cannot receive the weight loss treatment you feel is right for you. At Superdrug Online Doctor, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and liraglutide (generic Saxenda), are approved for weight management in adults:

• with obesity, which is a BMI greater than or equal to 30, or
• with a BMI of at least 27 and one or more weight-related conditions

Patient reviews for each weight loss injection from Drugs.com are shown below:

Mounjaro has an average user rating of 8.6/10 with a total of 1038 reviews. For weight loss specifically, it had an average user rating of 8.9/10. 80% of people reported a positive experience of using Mounjaro as a weight loss medication with only 7% reporting a negative experience.

Wegovy has an average overall user rating of 7.4 out of 10 from a total of 397 reviews. 64% of people who have used Wegovy for weight loss report a positive experience while 18% report a negative experience.

Saxenda (liraglutide) has an average user rating of 7.5/10 from 1444 patient reviews. 67% of people reported having a positive Saxenda experience, while 15% had a negative one.

Weight loss injections are a popular, safe, and effective weight loss treatment. You’ll need to meet specific criteria which differ between the NHS and private prescriptions offered by regulated online doctor services like Superdrug Online Doctor.

However, weight loss injections may not be suitable for everyone particularly when it comes to cost, needle phobias, or the potential side effects. Superdrug Online Doctor can support you on your weight loss journey offering Mounjaro, Wegovy, or liraglutide (generic Saxenda) as weight loss treatments, but we also provide doctor support, weight loss trackers, and food diaries.

Are weight loss injections safe?

Yes, weight loss injections are considered safe if you obtain them from reputable and regulated sources as you must be reviewed by a doctor or prescriber first. If you buy weight loss injections from unregulated sources, there is a risk to your health because they may be fake or contain dangerous ingredients.

When you buy from trusted and regulated sources like Superdrug Online Doctor you can be sure that the medications have been proven to be safe and effective in clinical trials, and that you are buying the real thing.

What is the strongest weight loss injection?

Each of the weight loss injections available in the UK contains different active ingredients and in different dosages. However, because of its dual action in mimicking 2 hormones, GIP and GLP-1, Mounjaro is considered to be the most effective weight loss injection because you can lose up to 22.5% of your initial body weight when taking the highest maintenance dose.

What happens when you stop taking weight loss injections?

If you stop your weight loss injection treatment, you’ll notice that your appetite will return which can cause weight gain. Therefore, it is important that you take steps to change your lifestyle when using weight loss injections, such as eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting regular exercise, to help keep the weight off once you stop your medication.

How old do you need to be to buy weight loss injections?

To buy weight loss injections from Superdrug Online Doctor you will need to be at least 18 years old.

Should you buy weight loss injections online?

Yes, but you should only buy them through trusted and regulated online doctor services like Superdrug Online Doctor.