A complete list of weight loss injections licensed in the UK

Which injections are on the UK list for weight loss, and are any missing from it?

The short answer: two injections are actively prescribed for weight management in the UK right now. Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, is made by Eli Lilly and delivered via a once-weekly KwikPen. It activates both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors (two gut hormones involved in appetite regulation and blood-sugar control) making it the only dual-agonist option licensed here. Semaglutide, sold as Wegovy, is made by Novo Nordisk and also given as a once-weekly injection. It targets the GLP-1 receptor alone.

Saxenda (liraglutide, also by Novo Nordisk) is a third injectable with a UK weight-management licence. It predates Wegovy and requires a daily injection rather than weekly. Because its average trial results sit below those of the newer medicines, it is prescribed less frequently, though it remains an option for some patients.

A name that comes up often is Ozempic. Ozempic is also semaglutide, but it is licensed for type 2 diabetes in the UK, not for weight management. Prescribing it for weight loss would be off-label. Similarly, Zepbound (the US brand of tirzepatide) does not exist as a UK product; in the UK, tirzepatide is Mounjaro. If the terminology has been confusing, you can browse the names of all weight loss injections and find out what each brand actually refers to. You can also read more about the names of weight loss injections and what each brand actually refers to if the terminology has been confusing.

There are no other injections currently licensed for weight management in the UK, and if you want a full picture, our page covering the complete list of weight loss injections sets out every option with a UK licence. Peptide injections sold online without a prescription sit outside the licensed medicines framework entirely, and the MHRA has warned that counterfeit and unlicensed weight-loss pens have caused serious harm. The legal route is always through a prescriber.

How do these injections work, and is one meaningfully better than the other?

Both Mounjaro and Wegovy slow the rate at which food leaves the stomach and act on appetite centres in the brain, which together reduce how much most people feel like eating. The difference is in how many receptors each medicine engages.

In clinical trials, tirzepatide produced average body-weight reductions of around 20–21% over 72 weeks at the highest dose, as reported in the SURMOUNT-1 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Semaglutide 2.4mg produced an average of around 15% over 68 weeks in the STEP 1 trial. A 2025 head-to-head study, SURMOUNT-5, compared the two directly in adults with obesity and found tirzepatide produced greater average weight reduction. The gap is real, though individual results vary considerably.

Semaglutide 2.4mg is now available in a higher 7.2mg dose (approved by the MHRA in early 2026) and trial data at that dose reported around 20.7% average loss over 72 weeks, which narrows the gap between the two medicines. Which dose or medicine suits any given person depends on their health history, tolerability and the prescriber's clinical judgement, not a league table.

If you want a side-by-side look at how these options are used in practice, our page covering all the weight loss injections available in the UK covers the practical differences in more detail, and the weight loss injections overview covers the practical differences in more detail.

Who are these injections licensed for in the UK?

Both Mounjaro and Wegovy share a broadly similar eligibility threshold. The licensed indication covers adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or adults with a BMI of 27 to 29.9 who also have at least one weight-related condition, things like high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Lower BMI thresholds apply for some ethnic backgrounds under UK clinical guidance.

Neither medicine is licensed for anyone under 18. Both carry a Black Triangle (▼) symbol in the UK, meaning they are subject to additional monitoring by the MHRA as relatively new medicines. They are not recommended during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, or when trying to conceive.

The NICE appraisal of tirzepatide (TA1026) sets out specific NHS eligibility criteria, which are stricter than the licensed indication, particularly regarding BMI thresholds and the number of qualifying conditions. Private prescribing follows the licensed indication, and a prescriber still assesses the full clinical picture before issuing a prescription. BMI alone is never the only factor considered.

For a broader sense of what the consultation considers, our guide to what all the weight loss injections are explains how each option fits the eligibility picture, and the weight loss treatment overview explains how clinical eligibility is assessed in practice.

What are the common side effects, and do they differ between injections?

The side-effect profile is similar across all GLP-1 and dual-agonist medicines. Nausea is the most commonly reported effect, particularly in the first few weeks or after a dose increase. Vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion and fatigue are also common. Most people find these effects settle as the body adjusts, though the experience varies.

The most important safety signal to know about is pancreatitis. Severe, persistent stomach pain (especially pain that spreads towards the back) warrants urgent medical attention. This applies to all GLP-1 medicines. The MHRA highlighted this as a known but infrequent risk in a Drug Safety Update issued in January 2026; any patient on these medicines should be aware of it.

Injection-site reactions are possible with any subcutaneous injection. Rotating the injection site (between the abdomen, thigh and upper arm) helps reduce localised irritation. Changing the needle before each injection matters too; a fresh needle delivers a cleaner, more comfortable injection every time. If you want to make that easier, needles in a 100-pack are available directly from our pharmacy.

Anyone on these medicines should report unexpected side effects through the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme. It is free, takes a few minutes, and contributes to the ongoing safety monitoring that protects future patients.

If you have questions about a specific situation (a planned operation, starting another medicine, or a family history of thyroid conditions) the right place to raise them is with a prescriber. Our frequently asked questions cover some of the common ones, and our prescribers are available for aftercare seven days a week. When you are ready to find out which option fits your circumstances, you can check your eligibility with a free consultation.