How much do weight-loss injections cost in the UK?

Private weight-loss medication in the UK typically costs around £100–£350 a month depending on the medicine and your dose. WeightMedsCompare lists current monthly prices side by side, along with what each price includes.

Who is eligible for weight-loss medication?

Private prescribing usually follows the licensed basis: a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related condition. Lower thresholds apply for some ethnic groups. NHS criteria are generally higher. A registered prescriber makes the final decision.

What is the difference between Mounjaro, Wegovy and Saxenda?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are weekly injections; Saxenda (liraglutide) is daily. They differ in how they act, their side-effect profiles and their price. Individual results vary and suitability is decided by a prescriber.

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Yes. Rankings are not paid. Some outbound links are affiliate links and some providers can pay for a clearly-labelled Sponsored placement, but this never changes the organic order. See our funding and disclosure pages for details.

How much does Mounjaro cost in the UK?

The lowest published price we track is £60 a month, across 60 UK providers. Prices vary with your dose and what is included — always check the provider's own site before you buy.

How is Mounjaro taken?

Weekly injection — Tirzepatide is a once-weekly injection that activates two gut-hormone receptors (GIP and GLP-1). It reduces appetite and slows stomach emptying, so you feel full sooner and for longer. It's licensed in the UK for weight management alongside diet and exercise.

Who can prescribe Mounjaro in the UK?

Only a registered UK prescriber (a doctor, pharmacist prescriber or nurse prescriber) can prescribe it, usually through a CQC-registered clinic or GPhC-registered pharmacy. They will check your BMI, health history and current medicines first.

Am I eligible for Mounjaro?

Private prescribing usually follows the licensed basis: BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related condition. Lower thresholds apply for some ethnic groups. NHS criteria are generally higher. A prescriber makes the final decision.

How much does Wegovy cost in the UK?

The lowest published price we track is £79 a month, across 33 UK providers. Prices vary with your dose and what is included — always check the provider's own site before you buy.

Weekly injection — Semaglutide is a once-weekly injection that mimics the gut hormone GLP-1, reducing appetite and how much you eat. It's licensed in the UK for weight management alongside diet and physical activity.

Who can prescribe Wegovy in the UK?

Only a registered UK prescriber (a doctor, pharmacist prescriber or nurse prescriber) can prescribe it, usually through a CQC-registered clinic or GPhC-registered pharmacy. They will check your BMI, health history and current medicines first.

Am I eligible for Wegovy?

Private prescribing usually follows the licensed basis: BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related condition. Lower thresholds apply for some ethnic groups. NHS criteria are generally higher. A prescriber makes the final decision.

How much does Saxenda cost in the UK?

The lowest published price we track is £53 a month, across 6 UK providers. Prices vary with your dose and what is included — always check the provider's own site before you buy.

How is Saxenda taken?

Daily injection — Liraglutide is a once-daily injection that mimics GLP-1 to reduce appetite. It's an older weight-management medicine, taken daily rather than weekly.

Who can prescribe Saxenda in the UK?

Only a registered UK prescriber (a doctor, pharmacist prescriber or nurse prescriber) can prescribe it, usually through a CQC-registered clinic or GPhC-registered pharmacy. They will check your BMI, health history and current medicines first.

Am I eligible for Saxenda?

Private prescribing usually follows the licensed basis: BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related condition. Lower thresholds apply for some ethnic groups. NHS criteria are generally higher. A prescriber makes the final decision.

How much does oral GLP-1 (emerging) cost in the UK?

The lowest published price we track is £24.99 a month, across 18 UK providers. Prices vary with your dose and what is included — always check the provider's own site before you buy.

How is oral GLP-1 (emerging) taken?

Tablet — Oral GLP-1 medicines are tablet forms of GLP-1 treatment — no injection needed. Higher-dose oral semaglutide for weight loss is emerging in the UK, while lower-dose oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) is currently licensed for type 2 diabetes. Availability and licensing are changing — a prescriber will confirm what's suitable.

Who can prescribe oral GLP-1 (emerging) in the UK?

Only a registered UK prescriber (a doctor, pharmacist prescriber or nurse prescriber) can prescribe it, usually through a CQC-registered clinic or GPhC-registered pharmacy. They will check your BMI, health history and current medicines first.

Am I eligible for oral GLP-1 (emerging)?

Private prescribing usually follows the licensed basis: BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related condition. Lower thresholds apply for some ethnic groups. NHS criteria are generally higher. A prescriber makes the final decision.

Why is the same medicine cheaper at one provider than another?

Mostly because of what's bundled and how they price. A low headline figure may exclude the consultation, needles or delivery, or be a first-month offer; a higher figure may include coaching, monitoring and support. Compare the total monthly cost for the same medicine and dose, including any extras.

Are generic weight-loss injections cheaper than branded ones?

Often, yes. As patents expire, generic versions (for example generic liraglutide) are entering the UK market alongside branded products like Saxenda, usually at a lower price. Branded and generic versions of the same molecule can sit side by side at different prices — many people still choose the branded product, and both require a prescription.

Does health insurance cover weight-loss injections?

Rarely for private self-pay weight management, and cover varies by policy. Most people accessing weight-loss injections privately pay out of pocket. Always check your specific policy before assuming it's covered.

Can I get Mounjaro or Wegovy free on the NHS?

Sometimes. Since June 2026, your own GP can prescribe Mounjaro (tirzepatide) on the NHS if you have a BMI of 35 or more plus at least four qualifying conditions — and not every practice has opted in. Wegovy (semaglutide) remains available only through NHS specialist weight-management services, which have long waits and aren't open to new referrals everywhere. Most people still don't meet the NHS thresholds, and you'd pay the standard prescription charge unless you're exempt.

Why are the private BMI rules lower than the NHS ones?

They reflect different things. The NHS thresholds are NICE's rules for NHS-funded specialist treatment; the private thresholds follow the medicines' UK licence (BMI 30+, or 27+ with a weight-related condition). They're not contradictory — just two different bases.

Is buying weight-loss injections privately safe and legal?

Yes, when you use a regulated UK provider — a prescriber registered with the CQC and a pharmacy registered with the GPhC. Avoid anyone selling prescription medicines without a proper consultation. A comparison site like this one shows regulatory status so you can check before you buy.

Can I get weight-loss injections on the NHS?

Sometimes. Since 23 June 2026 your own GP can prescribe Mounjaro (tirzepatide) on the NHS if you have a BMI of 35 or more plus at least four of five qualifying conditions — and not every practice has opted in. Wegovy is available only through NHS specialist weight-management services, which have long waits. Most people don't meet the NHS thresholds and are treated privately instead. If there's any chance you qualify, ask your GP first — it costs nothing.

How do I get weight-loss injections on the NHS?

Start with a GP appointment — every NHS route begins there. Your GP can either prescribe Mounjaro directly (if you meet the BMI-35-plus-four-conditions criteria and the practice has opted in), or refer you to an NHS specialist weight-management service (the only NHS route to Wegovy). Some areas also offer a GP referral to an NHS-contracted digital service. Every NHS prescription includes a lifestyle-support programme.

Who qualifies for weight-loss injections on the NHS?

For GP-prescribed Mounjaro: a BMI of 35 or more plus at least four of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obstructive sleep apnoea or abnormal blood fats (about 2.5 lower for some ethnic backgrounds). For a specialist service: a BMI of 35 or more with one weight-related condition, or 30–34.9 with a condition and referral criteria. A clinician makes the final decision. Private eligibility is broader — the UK licence allows BMI 30+, or 27+ with a weight-related condition.

Are weight-loss injections safe?

When prescribed and supervised by a regulated UK prescriber, GLP-1 weight-loss injections are licensed medicines with a well-studied safety profile. Like all medicines they have side effects — commonly nausea and digestive symptoms — and they aren't suitable for everyone, which is why a prescriber checks your health history first. The safety risk comes from unregulated sellers: only use a prescriber registered with the CQC and a pharmacy registered with the GPhC.

Are the rules the same in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Not exactly. The criteria above apply to NHS England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own pathways (for example through the Scottish Medicines Consortium and local health boards), so availability, thresholds and waits can differ. Check with your GP or local health board for the position where you live.

My BMI is just under 30 — can I still be prescribed?

Possibly, if you have a weight-related health condition (which lowers the threshold to 27), or if an adjusted threshold applies to your background. If your BMI is in the healthy range, weight-loss medication isn't appropriate. A prescriber makes the final decision after assessing you.

Does my ethnicity really change the BMI threshold?

UK guidance recommends a lower BMI threshold (by about 2.5) for several ethnic backgrounds because health risks can begin at a lower weight. Providers who apply this may consider you from a lower BMI. It's genuinely part of the guidance, not a marketing gimmick.

Is the matcher's result a diagnosis or a decision?

No. Our matcher gives an indication of whether you'd usually meet the criteria, to help you find suitable providers. It isn't a clinical decision — the prescriber you choose assesses you properly and decides.

Should I just pick the cheapest provider?

Not on the headline price alone. Compare the total monthly cost including extras, and weigh it against regulation, support and reliable supply. The cheapest 'from' price can become the dearest once add-ons and a supply gap are factored in.

Is it safe to buy weight-loss injections online?

It can be, from a regulated UK provider that runs a proper clinical consultation, is CQC-registered for prescribing and GPhC-registered for dispensing. Avoid unregulated sellers, compounded or unlicensed products, and anyone skipping the consultation.

How do I check a provider is properly registered?

Pharmacies are listed on the GPhC register and prescribing services on the CQC register — both are free to search. On this site we show regulatory status on each provider so you can check before choosing.

Which weight-loss injection should I choose?

That is a clinical decision for a registered prescriber, based on your health history, other medicines and how you tolerate treatment. We do not rank medicines by effectiveness. What we can help with is comparing what UK providers charge and what is included.

Is a generic version as good as the branded one?

A licensed generic contains the same active medicine as its branded equivalent and is held to the same regulatory standards, usually at a lower price. Branded and generic versions of the same molecule can both be prescribed; some people prefer the branded product. Your prescriber can advise.

Can I switch from one to another?

People do switch — for cost, supply, side effects or effectiveness — but it should be done with a prescriber's guidance, not by stopping and starting on your own. Our switch information can help you compare options if you're considering a change.

Decision

7 min readUpdated July 2026

Mounjaro vs Wegovy vs Saxenda: how the weight-loss injections compare

The three main weight-loss injections work in related but different ways, are dosed differently, and vary in what clinical trials have shown. Here's how they compare.

How they work

All three are injections that act on gut hormone pathways to reduce appetite. Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are GLP-1 receptor agonists. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) acts on two pathways (GIP as well as GLP-1). An oral GLP-1 option (a tablet) is also emerging. Which is suitable depends on your circumstances and is a decision for your prescriber.

Dosing

Mounjaro and Wegovy are weekly injections; Saxenda is a daily injection. All are started at a low dose and increased gradually over weeks (titration) to reduce side effects, which is part of why the monthly price rises as your dose goes up.

How they differ

These are different medicines with different active ingredients, dosing schedules and licensed uses. We do not publish outcome figures or compare how well they work — that is a clinical judgement. A registered prescriber will discuss the evidence for each option with you and decide what is appropriate.

Cost and availability

Prices vary by provider and dose (see our comparison), and supply can fluctuate — Wegovy and Mounjaro have both had periods of limited availability, and Saxenda is increasingly supplied as a generic. It's worth comparing current prices and checking stock before you commit, and re-checking over time as prices move.

Considering weight-loss medication? Before paying privately, our 60-second NHS eligibility check shows whether an NHS route could be open to you — it runs entirely on your device.

Frequently asked

Which weight-loss injection should I choose?: That is a clinical decision for a registered prescriber, based on your health history, other medicines and how you tolerate treatment. We do not rank medicines by effectiveness. What we can help with is comparing what UK providers charge and what is included.
Is a generic version as good as the branded one?: A licensed generic contains the same active medicine as its branded equivalent and is held to the same regulatory standards, usually at a lower price. Branded and generic versions of the same molecule can both be prescribed; some people prefer the branded product. Your prescriber can advise.
Can I switch from one to another?: People do switch — for cost, supply, side effects or effectiveness — but it should be done with a prescriber's guidance, not by stopping and starting on your own. Our switch information can help you compare options if you're considering a change.

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