PRESCRIPTION WEIGHT LOSS TREATMENT FACTS

We can currently prescribe Mounjaro, Saxenda, Orlistat or Xenical to help you lose weight.

Mounjaro, Wegovy and Saxenda work by helping you feel fuller for longer. They are all self-injected medicines. Mounjaro and Wegovy only need to be injected once a week, whereas Saxenda is injected daily. Find out more on our dedicated pages for Mounjaro, Wegovy and Saxenda.

Orlistat and Xenical both work by helping your body get rid of the extra fat in your diet.

While you’re taking any of these medicines, you also need to make changes to your diet and habits around activity, sleep and relaxation in order to lose weight and keep it off long term.

If you’re prescribed Mounjaro, Wegovy or Saxenda, you’ll need to inject the medicine just under the skin. You’ll probably find this is easier than you first think. Mounjaro and Wegovy should be injected once a week, on the same day and at around the same time. Saxenda should be injected once a day, at around the same time. Best injection sites are your tummy area (abdomen), the front of your thighs or your upper arm. Mounjaro, Wegovy and Saxenda need to be stored in the fridge before first use. Once you start using the Mounjaro or Saxenda pen, you can keep it for 30 days (or 6 weeks for Wegovy) either at room temperature (2 to 30°C) or in a fridge (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze.

Orlistat and Xenical are capsule medicines. You take a single capsule with water, immediately before or up to one hour after a main meal. You can take your prescribed treatment up to three times a day. If you miss a meal, or have a meal that does not contain fat, you should not take Orlistat or Xenical at that time.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a new drug in the UK so its effects are being closely monitored, but it’s similar to Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide). Common side effects of these medicines are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation, heartburn and headache. There can also be an increased risk of gallstones. Uncommonly, there is a risk of pancreatitis, and rarely, allergic reactions. For more information on these side effects, see our Mounjaro, Wegovy and Saxenda side effects page.

There are also some common side effects with Orlistat or Xenical that are caused by the extra fat being passed out through your stool. These include abdominal pain, oily diarrhoea, the urgent need to use the toilet, wind, and anal leakage. When used with the recommended low fat approach to your meals, these side effects can be reduced. There can also be headaches and increased anxiety.

For the full information on a medicine’s side effects and how to take it, it’s important to read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your medicine.

Please tell us which other medicines you’re taking — whether they’re prescription or medicines you’ve bought without a prescription. We need to know so that we can prescribe treatment, if it’s suitable for you. If you’re taking certain medicines or living with certain medical conditions, this service might not be suitable for you.

We currently prescribe Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda, Orlistat and Xenical.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is the newest weight loss treatment we prescribe and works similarly to Wegovy and Saxenda. It’s an injection you give yourself once a week that helps to reduce hunger and aid weight loss alongside healthy lifestyle changes like a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. In clinical trials, patients experienced significant weight loss. Find out more about Mounjaro.

Other medicines you might have heard of include Ozempic and Rybelsus. These are currently licensed to treat type 2 diabetes. These treatments have the same active ingredient as Wegovy (semaglutide) and are sometimes prescribed off-label to support weight loss. We aren’t currently offering these treatments. Due to supply shortages these medicines should be prioritised for diabetes treatment.

There are things you can do to manage your weight without medicine. Improving your diet and increasing your activity can both help with weight loss and help you to live a healthier, happier life.

At Boots Online Doctor, we don’t just stop with medicine. Check out our free online webinars where our Lifestyle Medicine team offers expert advice on weight loss. We also have a free 10-week weight loss programme filled with helpful videos and articles to support you achieve a healthier, happier weight. Other support resources to help you reach and maintain your weight loss goals, including a dedicated lifestyle hub, are coming soon.