Weight loss medication

23.6.25 NICE’s recommendation on tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) for the management of obesity.

Frequently asked questions about Mounjaro prescribing

Information on weight loss medication

Weight-loss medication (such as Wegovy or Mounjaro) can only be prescribed by a consultant-led service should it be appropriate and only if you meet the Kent and Medway criteria for these medicines.

Orlistat, which works by preventing fat being absorbed by your body, is available but is also only available to patients meeting certain criteria. Your healthcare professional will discuss the benefit and limitations of this medicine with you.

While some weight-loss drugs are now available in specific circumstances, medication should only be offered where appropriate. While these drugs are approved as safe, medication is not entirely free of risk.

Please do not request this medication from the practice as we cannot prescribe this medication.

Fake weight loss pen warning

There have been reports of unsafe fake weight loss pens being sold online.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is warning the public not to buy pre-filled pens claiming to contain Ozempic (semaglutide) or Saxenda (liraglutide) but to consult a healthcare professional qualified to prescribe medicines and obtain a prescription.

You should not purchase any prescription medicine through the internet unless it is through a pharmacy.

Find further information at GOV.UK