Prescription weight loss treatments

There are several prescription weight loss treatments available, depending on what you prefer and what is suitable for you. These work to help you achieve your weight loss goals. You can get prescription weight loss treatments in a tablet or an injectable pen from Superdrug Online Doctor. 

Weight loss injections

Weight loss injections are a prescription weight loss treatment that can help you lose weight. We currently provide Saxenda, which is an injectable prefilled pen. Soon, we will also be providing Wegovy, which is an injectable prefilled pen that works in a similar way to Saxenda.

Saxenda

Saxenda is an injectable weight loss pen that contains the active ingredient liraglutide. It works by making you feel less hungry. This helps you to eat less and lose weight. 

Saxenda is taken once a day, and it should start working within 1 to 2 days. You can expect to see results within a few weeks of taking it. 

Wegovy

Wegovy is an injectable weight loss medication for overweight adults or adults with obesity.  It is taken once a week and works by mimicking a hormone that targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite. It makes you feel more full from less food to help you lose weight. 

Wegovy will be available soon and you can register your interest in this treatment here.

Weight loss tablets

Weight loss tablets can also be used to lose weight. Superdrug Online Doctor currently has 3 tablets: orlistat, Xenical, and Mysimba.

Orlistat

Orlistat is a weight loss tablet that changes how your body digests fat, meaning you do not absorb some of the fat from your meals. It works best when you eat low fat meals and spread your daily fat intake over 3 meals.

Orlistat can be taken up to 3 times a day and only with meals that contain fat. When you start taking orlistat, it should take around 24 to 48 hours to work. You should see weight loss results within 2 weeks of taking it. 

Xenical

Xenical is a branded version of orlistat. This means it works the same way to change how your body digests fat. It should also be taken up to 3 times daily, with meals containing fat. Xenical should start to work within 24 to 48 hours of taking it. You should start to see weight loss results within 2 weeks of treatment. 

Mysimba

Mysimba is a weight loss tablet that makes you feel less hungry. This means it can help you to control your food intake, as it can stop food cravings and make you feel fuller.

When you take Mysimba, you will start on a lower dose that will be increased gradually. Mysimba should start to work within 1 to 2 days of taking it.

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How to get prescription weight loss treatment

Can I buy weight loss treatment online?

Yes, but you should only get prescription weight loss treatment through trusted sellers like Superdrug Online Doctor. Ordering weight loss treatment through our website is easy. Simply answer a few questions about your health, which a doctor will review. They will then make sure that the treatment is suitable for you before prescribing. If a treatment is not suitable, we may be able to offer an alternative.

Your weight loss treatment will be sent to your home in discreet packaging. If you have any further questions or need advice about your weight loss treatment, you can message an online doctor through your account at any time, for free. 

Can I buy weight loss treatment over the counter?

Can I get weight loss treatment on the NHS?

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Weight loss treatment side effects

Each weight loss treatment has slightly different side effects because it contains a different active ingredient. These typically go away within a few days of taking it but can last longer. You can speak to your doctor if the side effects bother you a lot or do not go away. 

The most common side effects that you are likely to get with most weight loss treatments include:

• abdominal pain
• diarrhoea or constipation
• headache
• feeling sick or being sick
• taste changes
• feeling tired

For a full list of side effects, check your medication packet. 

It’s important to remember that everyone experiences side effects differently, and that there are also side effects from losing weight quickly. You may notice changes to your skin, such as stretch marks, or changes to the regularity of your period.

How long do side effects last?

Most side effects should go away within a week of taking the medication, but this is different for everybody. Weight loss medications like Saxenda or Mysimba are taken at a lower dose that will be increased over time. This can reduce really common side effects like nausea or vomiting. 

What to do if you get side effects

If you get side effects, treat them at home if you can. For common side effects like nausea and vomiting, try sticking to smaller meals that are not oily, greasy, spicy, or fatty. Drink plenty of water and rest. You can also take over the counter painkillers like paracetamol if you have a headache.

For orlistat and Xenical, a common side effect is oily or fatty stools and an increased need to use the toilet. Eating less fat and spreading this evenly over the day can reduce side effects. If you get side effects that do not go away, your doctor may reduce your dose until your body gets used to the medication. Most weight loss treatment side effects will go away naturally. 

If you get serious side effects like an allergic reaction, you need to call 999 or go to A&E straight away. 

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Who is prescription weight loss treatment for?

For prescription weight loss treatment, you need to have a BMI of over 30 or over 27 or 28 with certain other medical problems, but this depends on the medication. Certain medical conditions or medications could interact with prescription weight loss treatment, making it less effective or unsafe. You should always speak to a doctor before taking weight loss treatment. 

Do you need a certain BMI to get weight loss treatment?

Yes, you need to have a certain BMI to use weight loss treatment. This is because weight loss treatment may not be effective or safe unless you are overweight or obese. Usually, you need to have a BMI of over 27 or 28, depending on the weight loss treatment. You should also have a certain medical condition that affects your weight, such as diabetes. 

If you have a BMI of over 30, you can get weight loss treatment even if you do not have a medical condition that affects your weight. 

If you're unsure of your BMI, the NHS has a calculator you can use to check yours.

Contraindications

Certain medical conditions may mean weight loss treatment is not suitable for you. This depends on the weight loss treatment that you want to use. You should speak to a doctor before taking any weight loss medication, especially if you have:

• liver or kidney problems
• IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)
• thyroid disease
• problems with your heart
• epilepsy or a history of seizures
• anxiety or another mental health condition
• problems absorbing nutrients, which is called chronic malabsorption syndrome

Weight loss treatment is not suitable for anyone under 18 or if you are breastfeeding or pregnant. You should never take weight loss treatment if you are allergic to any ingredients in the medication. 

Medication that can interact with weight loss treatment

Some medications can interact with weight loss treatment, making it not work as it should. This could be unsafe. Speak to your doctor if you take any other medications, especially:

• epilepsy medication
• treatment for HIV
• mental health treatment
• heart medication, such as amiodarone
• blood thinners, like warfarin
• hypothyroidism treatment, such as iodine salts
• diabetic treatment
• Parkinson’s disease medication, especially monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• opiates
• steroids
• malaria treatment
• treatment for infections, such as antibiotics
• asthma treatment, such as theophylline

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What other weight loss treatments are there?

Prescription weight loss treatment can be used to lose weight, but you should still exercise regularly and eat a healthy and balanced diet. Some people may be able to get weight loss surgery, but this is rare.

Exercise

Exercise can help with weight loss as you burn up calories by being active. When you eat food, energy is stored in your body as fat. If you eat more food than the energy you expend, you will gain weight. Your body needs physical activity to burn the energy from your food. It can also help to prevent and manage some medication conditions, like diabetes. This will help you lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.

According to the NHS, you should do around 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise every week. This could be things like dancing, cycling, and power walking. You can also do 75 minutes of higher intensity exercise, like running and circuit training. The best way to use exercise for weight loss is by combining moderate and high intensity exercise.

You should also work on your balance and strength at least twice a week. This could involve using weights or doing activities like tai chi and yoga.

Diet

Your diet is important when trying to lose weight. The NHS advises reducing your calorie intake by 600 calories every day. For women, this means having no more than 1400 calories a day or 1900 calories for men. To achieve a healthy and balanced diet, you should increase the amount of healthy foods you eat. This includes:

• fruits
• vegetables
• healthy fats like avocado
• wholegrains
• nuts
• beans
• natural yoghurt

• sugary food and drinks, like sweets and chocolate
• high fat foods, especially ones containing saturated fat
• oily or fried foods
• crisps
• white bread
• alcohol

To achieve a healthy and balanced diet, you should have lots of fruit and vegetables, some protein sources like meat, fish, and eggs, some dairy foods, some whole grain foods like rice and potatoes, and minimal amounts of fatty and sugary foods. 

Surgery

Weight loss surgery can help you lose weight, but this is usually a last resort. Surgery is for people who have struggled to lose weight with other treatment methods. The most common types of weight loss surgery include:

Gastric band - a band that goes around your stomach, which reduces the amount of food you need to eat before you feel full

Gastric bypass - your stomach is joined to your small intestine, so your body absorbs fewer calories from food, and you feel fuller with less food
Sleeve gastrectomy - part of your stomach is removed, which also reduces the amount of food you can eat

These surgeries can help you lose weight as your stomach is smaller, so you feel fuller from less food. This makes it easier to eat less and lower your calorie intake. However, you will still need to eat healthily to get your nutrition.
You may be suitable for weight loss surgery if you are fit enough to get weight loss surgery and if you:

• are severely obese with a BMI of over 40
• are obese with a BMI over 35 and have certain medical conditions

You may be able to get surgery straight away if your BMI is over 50. Like any surgery, there are some risks involved, but it is usually safe if your doctor has recommended it. Weight loss surgery is not suitable for everyone, and you may not be able to get it on the NHS.

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Sources

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