How do I take weight loss medicine?
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 30ºc) or in a fridge (2ºc to 8ºc). Do not freeze.
Orlistat and Xensica 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 Xensical at that time.
What medicines can help me manage my weight?
We can currently prescribe Mounjaro, Saxenda, Orlistat or Xenical to help you lose weight.
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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.
What are the side effects
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a new drug in the UK, so its effects are being closely monitored, but it’s similar to Weovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (lraglutide). 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.
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 appoach to your meals, these side ffects can be 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.
How long does it take to lose weight with weight loss treatment?
If you take your treatment as recommended with a healthy food plan, you can expect to lose at least 5% of your body weight over three to six months. It’s important to remember that although these medicines can help, changing your lifestyle and eating habits is what will sustain a healthy weight long term.