Prescription Weight Management Treatment Information

Weight Loss Wales offers clinician-led assessment and treatment for adults living with overweight or obesity. Several prescription treatment options are available. The most appropriate treatment will depend on your medical history, current medicines, previous treatment, preferences and your clinician’s assessment.

Prescription medicines are not suitable for everyone. Treatment is only prescribed following an appropriate clinical consultation and where the prescriber considers it safe and suitable for you.

Foundayo contains orforglipron and is a once-daily tablet used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight loss and weight maintenance in eligible adults.

It is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above, or a BMI of 27 to below 30 kg/m² where there is at least one weight-related health condition.

Treatment starts at 0.8 mg once daily for 30 days, increasing to 2.5 mg. Further increases may be made at intervals of at least 30 days through 5.5 mg, 9 mg, 14.5 mg and, where appropriate, a maximum of 17.2 mg daily.

Foundayo can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. The tablet should be swallowed whole.

Common side effects include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation, indigestion and abdominal discomfort. These effects are often more noticeable when treatment is started or the dose is increased.

Important but less common risks include pancreatitis, serious allergic reactions, gallbladder problems, severe gastrointestinal problems and dehydration. Tell your clinician if you have previously had pancreatitis, severe gastroparesis, gallbladder problems, significant kidney problems, diabetic eye disease or if you are having an operation requiring anaesthesia.

Foundayo should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. It should be stopped at least 3 weeks before a planned pregnancy. Orforglipron may reduce the effectiveness of oral hormonal contraception, so additional barrier or non-oral contraception should be considered for 30 days after starting treatment and for 30 days after each dose increase. 

Official Patient Information Leaflet:
Foundayo Patient Information Leaflet – electronic Medicines Compendium (emc)

Wegovy tablets contain semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight loss and weight maintenance in eligible adults.

They are licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above, or a BMI of 27 to below 30 kg/m² with at least one weight-related health problem.

Treatment starts at 1.5 mg once daily. The dose is normally increased monthly to 4 mg, then 9 mg, with a recommended maintenance dose of 25 mg once daily.

Wegovy tablets need to be taken differently from most tablets. They should be taken on an empty stomach after fasting for at least 8 hours, swallowed whole with a small amount of water, and you should then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines.

Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal discomfort. Gastrointestinal side effects are particularly common during dose escalation.

Important risks include pancreatitis, dehydration, gallbladder problems, complications relating to delayed stomach emptying and changes in vision. People with diabetes taking insulin or a sulfonylurea may have an increased risk of hypoglycaemia.

Wegovy should not be used during pregnancy. Semaglutide should be stopped at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy. Wegovy tablets should not be used while breastfeeding. 

Official Patient Information Leaflet:
Wegovy Tablets Patient Information Leaflet – electronic Medicines Compendium (emc)

Wegovy injection contains semaglutide and is given once weekly alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

For weight management it is licensed for eligible adults with obesity or overweight with associated weight-related health problems.

Treatment normally starts at 0.25 mg once weekly and is gradually increased over approximately 16 weeks through 0.5 mg, 1 mg and 1.7 mg to 2.4 mg once weekly.

For adults with obesity, if clinically appropriate, the current UK licence also allows an increase to 7.2 mg once weekly after at least four weeks at 2.4 mg. The 7.2 mg dose is administered as three 2.4 mg injections on the same day. The appropriate maintenance dose is determined by your prescriber. 

Wegovy is injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.

Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal discomfort. Other possible effects include indigestion, reflux, bloating, gallstones, dizziness and injection-site reactions.

Important risks include pancreatitis, dehydration, gallbladder problems, severe gastrointestinal problems and changes in vision. Tell your clinician if you have diabetes and diabetic eye disease, a history of pancreatitis, significant gastroparesis or if you are due to have surgery requiring anaesthesia.

Wegovy should not be used during pregnancy and should be stopped at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy. It should not be used while breastfeeding. 

Official Patient Information Leaflet:
Wegovy FlexTouch Injection Patient Information Leaflet – electronic Medicines Compendium (emc)

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide and is a once-weekly injection used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight loss and weight maintenance in eligible adults.

It is licensed for adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above, or a BMI of 27 to below 30 kg/m² with at least one weight-related health condition.

Treatment starts at 2.5 mg once weekly for four weeks, followed by 5 mg once weekly. If clinically appropriate, the dose can subsequently be increased in 2.5 mg steps after at least four weeks at each dose. Adult maintenance doses are 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg once weekly, with a maximum dose of 15 mg once weekly. 

Mounjaro is injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.

Common side effects include nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation and abdominal pain. These symptoms are particularly common when treatment starts and often reduce over time.

Important risks include pancreatitis, serious allergic reactions, dehydration and problems associated with delayed stomach emptying. Tell your clinician if you have previously had pancreatitis, severe gastroparesis, diabetic eye disease or if you are due to have surgery requiring anaesthesia.

Mounjaro should not be used during pregnancy. Women using an oral contraceptive for weight management should consider an additional barrier method or a non-oral contraceptive method for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro and for 4 weeks after each dose increase. If you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, this should be discussed with your clinician. 

Official Patient Information Leaflet:
Mounjaro KwikPen Patient Information Leaflet – electronic Medicines Compendium (emc)

All of these medicines are prescription-only medicines. They are not suitable for everyone and treatment will only be prescribed following an individual clinical assessment.

Seek urgent medical attention if you develop severe and persistent abdominal pain, particularly pain spreading to the back; significant difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat; severe or persistent vomiting with dehydration; or sudden or significant changes in vision.

If you develop new or concerning symptoms while receiving treatment, contact Weight Loss Wales or another appropriate healthcare professional.

The information on this page is a shortened guide and does not replace the manufacturer's Patient Information Leaflet. You should read the full PIL supplied with your medicine before starting treatment and whenever your medicine or dose changes.