True monthly cost of Ozempic in the UK after celebrities like Jeremy Clarkson used drug for weight loss
There are a number of famous faces in the UK who've tried Ozempic and other appetite-suppressing drugs in the hopes of losing some weight.
Among their number is Jeremy Clarkson, who recently wrote how the drug didn't really work for him as all it did was make him feel unwell, and he actually ended up gaining weight.
He explained that he's had better results since switching over to a new drug, so even if Ozempic is the name you think of when you think of weight loss drugs, it's not going to be for everyone.
People in the UK trying to get it may also have a hard time since it's not something you can just buy across the counter.
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Brits can't just stroll into a pharmacy and ask for a carton of the establishment's finest Ozempic, as it has to be prescribed by a doctor.
It's only available on the NHS for type 2 diabetes, which is what the drug was originally manufactured for, so if you don't pay for your prescriptions and are eligible then you can get it for free.
If you do have to pay for prescriptions, then it'll be the usual rate of £9.90 per item.
That's not the case for everyone else, however, as doctors can prescribe Ozempic for weight loss as an off-licence treatment.
What that essentially means is that while Ozempic is licensed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, doctors can prescribe it for weight loss if they judge it to be an appropriate form of treatment.
However, if you're not diabetic and your doctor prescribes you Ozempic for weight loss, they can't give you an NHS prescription so you'll have to pay full price for it.
Looking at the full price of drugs compared to what it'd set you back on the NHS may be one of the quickest ways to kindle some appreciation for the health service.
According to Professor Franklin Joseph, depending on your dose and provider you could be expecting to spend between £149 and £180 a month on a regular supply of Ozempic.
The health benefits for many people taking it are demonstrable, though the drug does come with some side effects and some of the people who've taken it have ended up finding it ineffective.
There are, of course, several alternatives including Wegovy and Mounjaro, the drug Jeremy Clarkson has since switched onto.
You can get Wegovy on the NHS, while Mounjaro is also being rolled out.
Essentially, if you're going to be prescribed a weight loss drug in the UK, it's seems unlikely that it's going to be Ozempic.
Joe Harker