Tirzepatide

Order a Tirzepatide Pen for Weight Loss

When available, you will be able to request to buy Tirzepatide weight loss injections in the UK, online, from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. This is a prescription weight loss treatment which will be available as the brand drug Mounjaro.

It is not yet known when Tirzepatide will be available in the UK. Wegovy is from the same family of drug, and is licensed for weight loss use in the UK.

What is Tirzepatide?

Tirzepatide is a weight loss drug from a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists.  This class of drug has become critical in helping people manage their weight. It is used for people with a body mass index (BMI) over 30. 

Tirzepatide can also be used for people with a BMI over 27 and are also been diagnosed with another weight-related medical issue. Such as;

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes type 2
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• High cholesterol

How does it work?

Tirzepatide is from a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists. GLP-1 helps regulate hunger and is released by the intestines after a meal. 

Tirzepatide is similar to GLP-1, and so regulates appetite causing you to feel fuller and less hungry. This can lead to a feeling of fullness more quickly. As a result, you eat less, and can lose weight more easily. Focussing on eating a reduced-calorie diet will further enhance the benefits of this drug.

Is it for me?

Tirzepatide should only be used to help with weight loss if you have already tried and failed to lose weight through exercise and diet alone. It is not currently available to buy in the UK, however there are other GLP-1 drugs which are availble. These incude Saxenda, Wegovy and Ozempic.

How effective is it?

When using Tirzepatide for weight loss, trials have shown you can expect to lose a around 15-20% of your initial body weight. 

Dose

Tirzepatide comes as an injectable pen.  The usual injection sites will be the upper arm, upper thigh or abdomen. It is injected once weekly.

The recommended starting dosage is 2.5 mg for four weeks. Doses are then increased in 2.5 mg increments every four weeks, as tolerated, up to a maximum of 15 mg once weekly.

If you find the side effects problematic as the dosage increases (for two weeks or more), you should discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist. 

Alternatives

The preferred and safest method of losing weight is via a healthy diet and increased physical exercise.

The NHS offers a 12-week weight loss plan for patients.

Further information from the NHS is available for exercise and diets.

Other GLP-1 drugs available in the UK as an alternative to Tirzepatide include

• Wegovy
• Saxenda
• Ozempic

There are also more weight loss pills available from our weight loss service, such as Orlistat. These work by preventing fat absorbotion from the gut. 

Summary

Side effects

The most common side effects with Tirzepatide affect the digestive system. These can include things like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation. Most patients should see these effects subside after a few days.

Other common side effects include:

• Dizziness
• Insomnia
• Feeling weak or tired
• Injection site reactions such as bruising, pain or a rash

Warnings

Interactions with other medicines

Some medicines can interact with Tirzepatide such as:

• Other GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Victoza
• Blood thinning medication, such as warfarin
• Sulfonylureas, insulin and other Anti-diabetic medications

Other conditions and Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide can be dangerous in certain conditions so it is especially important to mention if you have:

• Aged 75 years or older
• Pancreatitis
• Heart failure
• Severe renal (kidney)  or hepatic (liver) disease

Author

	Name	Hywel McGlinchy
	Role	Clinical Pharmacist
	Qual.	Masters of Pharmacy
	About	Hywel started with Simple Online Pharmacy in 2020. He's responsible for helping author and review accurate site content. He also works with our GPs to make sure all aspects of patient safety are covered.