What is the best injection for weight loss?

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

If you struggle to lose weight with diet and exercise alone, you may wonder what weight loss help is available. Many try meal replacement shakes and fad diets to lose weight but to no avail. Weight loss tablets such as Orlistat have been available to buy from pharmacies for a while now, this popular weight loss drug helps bind up to 30% of the fat you eat and then it leaves your body through your bowel movements. Even though weight loss tablets have become a popular go-to treatment for losing weight, the introduction of weight loss injections has seen their popularity shifting, but why is that?

Weight loss injections are a revolutionary treatment to the market, they work by suppressing your appetite and making you feel fuller for longer, so in turn, you will consume fewer calories leading to weight loss. Weight loss injections have seen an extensive following worldwide with many celebrity endorsements due to their success. If you are considering giving weight loss injections a go, you should continue reading this informed article.

Weight loss injections: an overview

In this article, we will explore the differences between the available injections for weight loss UK so you can make the best decision for your needs.

What are weight loss injections UK?

The first weight loss injections were first introduced in the UK in 2021 and since then, other types and brands have become available to buy in the UK.

Weight loss injections are used as an aid to help people who meet certain criteria lose weight, they work alongside healthy eating and exercise.

These weight loss injections come as pens with a needle on the end which is injected under the skin into your stomach, thigh or upper arm. The needles are tiny and many report the injection process to be easy and painless.

Are weight loss injections safe?

All weight loss injections that are sold by legitimate healthcare providers are licenced for weight loss use by the MHRA (Health and Medicines Regulatory Agency) in the UK. This means the weight loss injections have passed any necessary testing and clinical trials to be deemed safe and effective for human use.

One consideration when starting weight loss injections is that you may experience side effects, this is the same case for any medicine. Side effects are listed clearly on the patient information leaflet and you should familiarise yourself with them before starting a new treatment.

The most commonly reported side effects with weight loss injections are stomach-related which includes nausea and diarrhoea.

Do weight loss injections work?

Weight loss injections have a great success rate, however, the amount of weight you can lose differs depending on the type of treatment you use, we will go into more detail on expected weight loss for each pen below.

How much are weight loss injections?

Weight loss injections in the UK cost in the region of £150 - £300 per month.

The price of weight loss injections varies and depends on the strength you require and where you are buying them from.

At Oxford Online Pharmacy we have the most competitive prices for our weight loss treatments and we are constantly checking the prices against other competitors to ensure we are offering you the best prices possible.

The different weight loss injections

Now, we will look at the available weight loss aids such as Mounjaro UK and Wegovy UK. We will also explore more about Saxenda UK and whether you can get Ozempic for weight loss.

Wegovy weight loss pens

The Wegovy UK release date was in September 2023 and these Wegovy weight loss injections have been a popular option for many since.

Wegovy is available to adults aged 18-74 if their BMI (Body mass index) is over 30. Those who have weight-related health conditions such as diabetes could qualify if their BMI is over 27.

How does Wegovy work?

Wegovy contains the active ingredient Semaglutide which works by suppressing your appetite and reducing hunger.

According to clinical trials you can expect to lose between 5-15% of your starting body weight with Wegovy. 1

Wegovy dose

One Wegovy dose should be injected on the same day each week.

Wegovy injections come in the following doses; 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and 2.5mg.

The Wegovy dosing schedule is as follows:

Month 1: Start Wegovy at a dose of 0.25 mg once a week
Month 2: you can increase your weekly dose to 0.5 mg
Month 3: You can increase your weekly dose to 1 mg
Month 4: you can increase your weekly dose to 1.7 mg
Month 5 onward: you can increase your weekly dose to the full dose of 2.4 mg

The maintenance dosage of Wegovy in adults is either 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg once weekly.

Wegovy first month results

When you start using weight loss injections Wegovy UK you will start on the lowest dose of semaglutide which is 0.25mg. This is done so your body can get used to the medication and it should also minimise any unwanted side effects.

While people do experience a change in appetite and weight loss within the first month, others may not experience this until they increase their dose, this differs from person to person.

How long does Wegovy take to work?

Wegovy starts working straight away, however, for some it can take up to two weeks to notice changes in appetite.

Wegovy side effects

The most common side effects of Wegovy injections are:

Nausea
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Constipation
Decreased appetite
Indigestion
Stomach Pain

Wegovy reviews

If you would like to know what people are saying about this medicine you can read Wegovy reviews here.

Where to buy Wegovy online

Buy Wegovy UK online from Oxford Online Pharmacy through the online doctor's service.

Simply head over to the Wegovy product page to learn more.

Wegovy UK price

Wegovy price starts from £168.99 per pen and each pen contains 4 week’s worth of treatment. The Wegovy cost may increase the higher the strength of the treatment, you can find a list of prices on the Wegovy product page.

How do our prices compare to Boots Wegovy?

Wegovy Boots Pharmacy cost - Prices start from £199.00*

Wegovy Oxford Online Pharmacy cost - Prices start from £168.99*

Mounjaro weight loss pens

The Mounjaro UK release date was at the end of 2023 and these Mounjaro pens are the most recent weight loss injection to be introduced to the UK market.

Mounjaro is available to adults aged 18-74 if their BMI (Body mass index) is over 30. Those who have weight-related health conditions such as diabetes could qualify if their BMI is over 27.

How does Mounjaro work?

Mounjaro contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, it works to help you lose weight by reducing your appetite and making you feel fuller for longer.

Mounjaro is a highly effective weight loss treatment and can help you lose 15% - 20% of your starting body weight.

How long does Mounjaro take to work?

Like Wegovy, Mounjaro starts to work straight away however, it can take up to 2 weeks to notice the effects of the medicine starting to work.

Mounjaro doses

There are 6 different doses of Mounjaro and the dosing schedule is as follows:

2.5 mg: For the first 4 weeks
5 mg: For at least 4 weeks; can be used as a maintenance dose
7.5 mg: For at least 4 weeks
10 mg: For at least 4 weeks; can be used as a maintenance dose
12.5 mg: For at least 4 weeks
15 mg: For at least 4 weeks; this is the maximum maintenance dose

Mounjaro maintenance doses are only the 5mg, 10mg and 15mg injections.

How to use Mounjaro kwikpen

You use Mounjaro pretty much the same way you do Wegovy injections. Mounjaro should be injected once weekly on the same day each week. One pen lasts 4 weeks.

How to inject Mounjaro

For step-by-step instructions on how Mounjaro is injected, you can refer to the injection instructions on the Mounjaro patient information leaflet.

Mounjaro side effects

The most common side effects associated with the Mounjaro injection are:

Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Constipation
Decreased appetite
Nausea
Indigestion
Stomach Pain

Side effects are more common when increasing the dose but often improve with continued use of the medication.

How long does Mounjaro side effects last?

Normally it is quite common to experience side effects as you increase your doses, these side effects are often mild and shouldn’t last longer than a few weeks.

Where to buy Mounjaro online?

Mounjaro injections are available to buy from Oxford Online Pharmacy through the online doctor's service. Head over to the Mounjaro product page to start your free consultation which will be assessed by the GMC registered doctors.

How much is the Mounjaro Kwikpen in the UK?

Mounjaro prices start from £148.99 per pen and each pen contains 4 weeks worth of treatment. The Mounjaro cost will increase the higher the strength of the treatment, you can find a list of prices on the Mounjaro product page.

How do our prices compare to Mounjaro weight loss injections Boots Pharmacy?

Mounjaro Boots cost - Prices start from £219.00*

Mounjaro Oxford Online Pharmacy cost - Prices start from £148.99

Saxenda weight loss injections

The Saxenda pen was the first weight loss injection sold in the UK. Saxenda injections contain the active ingredient liraglutide and the active ingredient works similarly to Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) as it works by reducing your appetite and making you feel fuller for longer.

According to clinical trials with Saxenda UK you can expect to lose between 5 - 10% of your starting body weight.

Can you buy Saxenda online?

You can’t order Saxenda online anymore as the manufacturer has stopped producing this medicine. This has been since the introduction of the new weight loss injections Wegovy and Mounjaro, both of which are more effective at weight loss than Saxenda. Therefore as a result of these new weight loss injections, there is no longer a need for Saxenda. 2

Is Saxenda in stock?

No, Saxenda is not in stock and it is unlikely you will find any more Saxenda in stock at pharmacies in the UK. If you are looking for an alternative weight loss injection you should consider Wegovy or Mounjaro.

Ozempic injections UK

How to get Ozempic for weight loss?

Many people misunderstand that Ozempic is an injection for weight loss and diabetes but this isn’t the case. Ozempic is only licenced as a diabetes medication and it’s not intended for weight loss use.

Are there weight loss injections like Ozempic?

Wegovy is the alternative to Ozempic for weight loss. So, you may be wondering, is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?

Well, while Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, they have different licences. Wegovy is only licenced for weight loss and Ozempic is only licenced for diabetes control.

How does Ozempic work?

Ozempic is a medication designed for adults with type 2 diabetes to help improve blood sugar levels when combined with diet and exercise.

While Ozempic is primarily for diabetes management, it may also aid in weight loss as a side effect. Adults with type 2 diabetes using Ozempic have experienced weight loss of up to 14 pounds.3

How to get Ozempic UK

Semaglutide (Ozempic) is only available on the NHS for treating type 2 diabetes. To qualify, you must be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and need extra assistance in managing your blood sugar levels. Your doctor will likely prescribe other treatments initially, such as metformin, along with diet and lifestyle modifications.

To conclude

Have you made a decision yet on which is the best weight loss injection? Here is a quick summary:

Mounjaro and Wegovy are the only weight loss injections available to buy in the UK.
You can lose more weight with Mounjaro (up to 20%) compared to Wegovy(up to 15%).
Mounjaro’s starting price is cheaper than Wegovy's.
Mounjaro and Wegovy have similar side effects.
Saxenda is no longer available as the supplier has stopped manufacturing it.
Ozempic is not available to buy for weight loss, it is only intended for diabetic use.

For more information on the comparison of these weight loss injections you can refer to our dedicated blog articles:

Weight loss injections near me

Weight loss injections are easily accessible anywhere in the country and could be delivered to your door as soon as the next day. Weight loss injections can be purchased online through the many registered online pharmacies.

Take a look at the Oxford Online Pharmacy weight loss category page to buy weight loss injections now.

References

Weight Loss Outcomes Associated With Semaglutide Treatment for Patients With Overweight or Obesity - PMC
Saxenda® Support Program | Saxenda® (liraglutide) injection 3mg
Ozempic For Weight Loss: Is It Safe? What Experts Say, Forbes

*The prices in this article are as of 02.07.24 and are subject to change.