Strict rules revealed as GPs start to prescribe weight loss drug Mounjaro from today

Starting today (Monday 23 June), GPs in the UK will officially be able to prescribe the GLP-1 medication Mounjaro for weight loss purposes.

Despite all the controversies surrounding the drugs, which have been confirmed to cause a significant amount of side effects including nausea and diarrhoea, they have become incredibly popular online in recent months as people seek a way of losing weight quickly, seemingly without the need for exercise or diet.

However, the celebrities who have become known for using it, such as Jeremy Clarkson and Amy Schumer, are unlikely to have qualified under the strict rules GPs are set to enforce, before handing out a prescription for Mounjaro in the UK.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is a dual-action GLP-1 drug which works to mimic two of the hormones inside the human body.

It mimics two hormones - glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) - which help to stabilise the body's blood sugar levels and reduce our appetite.

The drug has become a popular alternative to Ozempic (Getty Stock)

Those who take the drug then are able to feel fuller for longer after meals, which therefore encourages them to eat a lot less and shed weight quickly.

Who is eligible for a Mounjaro prescription in the UK?

Although a lot of people online are seemingly seeking out the drug in online pharmacies, where it is far easier to get a prescription, some eligible patients will now be able to visit their local GP to secure it.

However, a patient must be experiencing several health conditions which are a consequence of their weight, for GPs to even consider handing it out.

Prescriptions are set to be rare for now (Getty Stock)

According to NHS England, the first group of patients who will be able to get the jab from their GP or a community clinic, will be those with a BMI of 40 or over, or 37.5 if they come from a minority ethnic background.

They must also be suffering from four out of five of the following conditions: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and vascular disease, high cholesterol and obstructive sleep apnoea.

Will all GPs be offering Mounjaro?

Even in the case where you qualify for the drug, there is seemingly no guarantee that every GP will be prescribing it.

Crayford Town Surgery in Kent said: “We do not prescribe weight loss jabs so please do not ask.”

Fairhill Medical Practice in Kingston, South West London, added: “Once we are able to prescribe, they will be offered to those with the highest medical need only.”

While Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “NHS provision won’t meet demand straight away.

“In reality, many GPs lack the bandwidth to deliver the level of support needed.

“We expect that many people will continue seeking it privately.”