To want to get weight loss injections on the NHS?

[BrumMama]

Please share any experiences you have had - I am especially wondering what the timescale is between approaching GP and actually beginning injections.

I am 99% sure I meet the criteria (high BMI and cholesterol) but I have struggled with eating disorders in the past (bulimia and restrictive eating) will this rule me out?

Despite having a good understanding of nutrition I just can’t shift the huge weight I have gained in eating disorders recovery. Thinking this might quiet the food noise in my brain and offer a solution?

I believe you have to be referred by GP to their weight management programme and, around here, that’s a 2yr minimum wait 😯

@BrumMama , I think it is currently about 3 years. 😔

People with eating disorders won’t be prescribe it privately if they declare it.

What’s your BMI and what area do you live in? I’d be surprised if your GP was willing to prescribe given your ED history tbh though.

Wow. Not something that’s going to be in my near future then!

Incredibly difficult to get via the nhs unless you are happy to wait as you will be put through every hoop they have before prescribing minimum 2-3 year wait.

My GP has advised approx 3 years on average but for everyone entitled it will roll out over 12 years!

There is no funding for this in our area, you only get it if are diabetic.

You can get it online if you pay. Barely any hoops to jump through. I wouldn't advise it though given your ED history.

Wow! What a waiting time. Perhaps see a private GP or dietitian to guide you on use with a previous history of eating disorders? Mounjaro has been brilliant for calming my food noise but I have no history of ED.

I know someone that is severely obese with multiple problems in their legs. Still didn't qualify for it on the nhs.

You have to evidence trying other things first. My gp wanted me to go to the practice for weekly weigh ins. I have 3 dc and work! I’m now paying privately for the jabs and have lost just over 2st since November.

I agree with others you are unlikely to get it on the NHS without a long wait, if at all.

Some online companies won't supply if any history of eating issues. I know one person with a previous ED who is on it but she gets it through a local private medical weight loss clinic who supervise her closely (she has to go to the clinic to be weighed in person every month and have a face-to-face consultation with their prescriber).

the nhs will not be prescribing it for people with ED as it’s strongly advised against

and the nhs won’t roll the injections out while so many people are buying it privately

Does anyone have experience of the actual costs going private?

I was obese with extremely high cholesterol but couldn’t get prescribed on NHS.

What sort of eating disorder did you have?

Bulimia/purging disorder/restrictive eating. It sort of changed and morphed between the 3 over a number of years.

£142 for 4 weeks. I've got a referral offer of 25% off for me and any friend I refer. A friend referred me. The same supplier does a different jab £10 pm cheaper.

Sorry to butt into your thread, OP, but why can’t people with ED use WLJ? I’ve been thinking about starting but have suffered with binge eating disorder n the past.

There are loads of discount codes on here - so much so that there is a dedicated board for them. Although you will no doubt get lots of people spamming you with codes now so you won't need to go looking.

I paid £109 for my first pen - they go up to £200ish for the highest dose.

OP, if it’s mounjaro you’re referring to, the price ranges depending on the dosage. 2.5mg is about £130 for me, 5mg is about £150 then it goes up further as the dosage increases. That’s for four weeks.

Generally you need to buy needles and alcohol swabs, and a sharps box but some providers do a starter pack with all those things.

I suspect you won’t be given it though, given your history of ED. You do (in my experience) still need to provide your GP details to the company who then send your GP a notification.

I asked my GP for it (my BMI is 39.8) but I don't qualify. They could give me otlistat tablets but no injections.

I've bought mine privately and am about to start it this weekend. I paid £180 for my first one

Then honestly I don’t recommend the injections and I don’t think you will be prescribed.

@SuperTrooper14 I am not sure if you would be OK with binge eating disorder, but anything around restricting intake is going to be really problematic.

But I thought the whole point of them was that they shut down the urge to binge. This is the first time I’ve ever heard about EDs being an issue.

I am on the MJ 5ml dose just now for 4 weeks worth it was £140.