Can I get Zepbound in the UK?

Monday, April 15, 2024

The short answer is yes and no… Zepbound is the US brand name for Tirzepatide used for weigh loss. In the UK, Tirzepetide for weight loss is a product called Mounjaro.

Both medications contain the active ingredient Tirzepatide and are equally effective for weight loss. However, their brand names are different based on the location where they are sold, this is not unusual with medicines.

Zepbound was approved for weight loss in the US by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in October 2023. Tirzepatide reduces appetite, making you feel less hungry. This can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight.

Buy Mounjaro (Zepbound) online

You can buy Mounjaro weight loss injections online from Oxford Online Pharmacy with a doctor's prescription. This is the UK version of Zepbound.

How to buy Mounjaro in the UK

Complete our medical consultation. This allows our doctors to check that Mounjaro injections are safe and appropriate for you.
Select your preferred strength and quantity to add to your basket before completing checkout.
One of our UK-registered doctors will review your order and prescribe your preferred treatment if appropriate. Occasionally we need extra information and will contact you via our confidential message centre.
Your order will be packaged and posted from our pharmacy via our tracked delivery service.

How do Tirzepatide injections work?

Researchers originally developed Tirzepatide injections to help treat type 2 diabetes by mimicking the hormones GIP and GLP-1. It helps produce insulin, lowers blood sugar levels, and slows digestion to avoid blood sugar spikes after eating. Tirzepatide also reduces appetite making you feel less hungry, causing individuals to consume a lower calorie intake and potentially lose weight.

Unlike the other weight loss pens on the market which only work in 1 way, this weight loss medication works in 2 different ways to help reach your long-term weight loss goals:

Slow down the emptying of your stomach so you will feel fuller for longer.
Reduces your appetite, so you will consume fewer calories.

Tirzepatide injections, available only under the brand names Mounjaro in the UK should be injected once weekly.

Complete a consultation to order Mounjaro

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Who can use Mounjaro?

Mounjaro injections for weight loss can be used by adult patients with a BMI of 30 or more (obesity), as well as those with a body mass index BMI over 27 (overweight) who also have weight-related health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, prediabetes, or heart problems.

Mounjaro shouldn’t be used if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the medicine.

You should not use this medicine if you are or plan to become pregnant as it may affect your unborn child.

UK Mounjaro injection

Mounjaro is produced by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. These weight loss injections are gradually increased in the following strengths: 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg and 15 mg per 0.5ml injections.

Mounjaro Tirzepatide works to help promote weight loss by acting as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. This medicine should be used alongside healthy eating habits and regular exercise.

Mounjaro could help you lose 5% - 20% of your body weight.

Other weight loss injections in the UK

Like Mounjaro known as Zepbound in the US, we also stock Wegovy weight loss injections.

Wegovy is also a GLP-1 inhibitor and works by reducing your appetite. Wegovy is a once-weekly injection for weight loss and works in a similar way to Mounjaro.

Clinical trials have shown that with Wegovy (Ozempic) you should expect to see a weight loss of 10-15% of your starting body weight, compared to a 15-20% weight loss expected with Monjaro (Zepbound).

How to inject Mounjaro

Always take any medicine as directed by your doctor or pharmacist, for the full list of instructions you can refer to the Mounjaro Instructions for use leaflet.

To inject Mounjaro follow these steps:

You can choose to inject this medicine into your tummy, thigh or upper arm. Rotate the injection site weekly, using the same area but different spots within it. This helps prevent tissue damage.
Turn the dose knob until it stops and the “1” icon is shown in the dose window. The “1” icon is equal to a full 0.6 ml dose.
Insert the needle into your skin.
Inject the medicine by pushing the dose knob in until it stops then slowly count to 5 while holding the dose knob. The “0” icon must be shown in the dose window before removing the needle.
Pull the needle out of your skin. A drop of medicine on the needle tip is normal. It will not affect your dose.
Confirm the “0” icon is in the dose window. If you see the “0” icon in the window, you have received the full dose. If you do not see the “0” icon in the dose window, insert the needle back into your skin and finish your injection. Do not redial the dose. If you still do not think you received the full dose, do not start over or repeat the injection.

Mounjaro side effects

Just like any medication, Mounjaro injections may lead to side effects, although not everybody experiences them.

The most commonly reported Mounjaro side effects include:

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Symptoms may include headache, drowsiness, weakness, and sweating. Your doctor will advise you on managing low blood sugar.
Nausea
Diarrhoea
Vomiting (this gets better over time)
Constipation

These side effects should disappear after the first few weeks of treatment with Mounjaro.

You may experience these side effects as you gradually increase your dose. If the side effects persist and are becoming unbearable, you can get in touch with a member of our team who will be able to advise you of your options.

Other weight loss treatments

Aside from weight loss injectable pens there are other weight management aids available in the form of tablets and capsules:

Orlistat

This medicine is a generic medicine containing the active ingredient Orlistat. Orlistat is one of the most popular weight loss aids. It works by binding 30% of the fat you eat and expelling it in your stools.

The most common side effects of Orlistat are diarrhoea and nausea but these effects shouldn’t last more than the first few weeks.

Other brands containing Orlistat as an active ingredient are Xenical, a prescription online medicine and the over-the-counter brands Orlos and Alli.

Orlistat and Xenical capsules contain 120 mg of Orlistat whereas Orlos and Alli are half of the strength and contain only 60 mg.

Head over to our weight loss page for more about the different weight loss aids we offer.

Mysimba

Mysimba tablets work in a similar way to Mounjaro as it works by reducing the appetite to make you feel fuller for longer. Mysimba contains the active ingredients Bupropion and Naltrexone and is available in tablet form.