Mounjaro on NHS?

[oa81]

Hi, so I’ve been on the waiting list for weight management services for nearly a year now, tried calorie counting, slimming world, fasting diets, everything but struggle losing weight. I’ve started Mounjaro 3 weeks ago and have lost 11.5lb which is amazing!! (I do have alot to lose) I’m just wondering if I finally get my weight mgt appointment, can they then prescribe for you on the NHS? I’m paying at the moment and not sure how long I’ll be able to afford it for as I go up the doses

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They will prescribe medications if you meet a day of criteria - certain BMI, other health issues

It’s recently been approved and for people with a bmi over forty, as in a couple of weeks ago, there maybe a need also for other issues like blood pressure etc , so depends on your weight.

So my BMI was 37, I also have a diagnosis of sleep apnoea and IIH, so losing weight would massively benefit my symptoms for these conditions!

@TheBoldHelper thanks! do you know if they accept a BMI lower than 40 with other weight related conditions? As this is why I was referred into weight mgt

Unlikely that those will qualify you at the moment unfortunately, it's mostly those with type 2 diabetes

No you won’t qualify op, it needs to be 40 and above.

I had a BMI over 50 and high cholesterol and had to self fund

Very very rare for nhs to prescribe it for weight loss unless diabetic

People find a way to find the money for it if they really want it - like with anything

Plus as will be buying less food so that will be a less expense towards it

I have an appointment with the GP to discuss the injections soon. I'm overweight with type 2 diabetes and hypertension 🤞

I think maybe people don’t realise it’s now approved for the nhs to prescribe to patients for weight loss happened a couple of weeks ago. So it can be prescribed but it’s bmi 40

If you’ve already started it and your weight is dropping it will be quite a bit lower than 40 by the time of your appointment so unlikely you’ll qualify.

I don’t think so, you can google and read the NICE paper just released,

there is a cut off point, it will be due to cost.

OP you could maybe try Oviva, they seem to be doing tier 3 but online, unsure if BMI 35 or 40 for the injections though. It is wegovy though not mounjaro.

https://oviva.com/uk/en/

Tbh I don't think it would've worked for me to get it free on the NHS. I find making that commitment myself is what is driving me. I'm also saving more than the cost of the injection from not drinking or eating any rubbish, and eating much smaller quantities. I wish they would reduce the price rather than making it free.

I’ll look into this, thank you!

I’m happy paying for it for now, I’m just thinking longer term if I have to stay on a maintenance dose, it’s a big financial commitment. Although hoping this will just give me the boost I need to maintain it on my own. How long have you been on yours for?

I've been on it for just over four months now and I've lost 33 lbs. Yes, it's a big financial commitment and I really hope that eventually there's a really reasonable maintenance cost. I hope you didn't mind my saying I thought we should pay, it's just I've found if I have to pay, I actually stick to something!

Oh no not at all don’t worry! I have two little ones so I always feel guilty spending anything on myself. I’ve got enough saved away to carry on until the end of January so hoping i can get a decent amount in that time 🤞🏻

I'm the same OP I have enough till about end of Jan, I just asked GPs to refer me to Oviva via an e-consult, see if they do. They give you wegovy though so I guess if that doesn't work out I will go back to paying for mounjaro. I thought I best get the referral in place now, as if I leave it later I might not qualify under the BMI range but then (thinking optimistically)

It's a shame they are not rolling out the mounjaro through the tier 3 you'd think that would be possible but it seems not. Anyway all the best with it.

I really don't want to pay after January, either. I'm taking mine every 9 days and getting a fifth dose, which makes it cheaper. I don't notice any difference in taking it every 9 days instead of 7. I keep it in the fridge so although the notes say use within 30 days, I haven't noticed any difference in taking it within 35 days. #rebel

I think I need to inject whey 7 days as it seems to have worn off by then.

Sometimes I can feel it's wearing off, but my belief is that I'm going to have to live without it at some point. I don't want to stop taking it and be unable to cope. I'd rather struggle with hunger and manage my diet more carefully on those days, practising for when I stop altogether.

I know what you mean. I wondered about e.g. in a similar way, just talking half a dose of 2.5 from a 5mg pen, making it last longer that way. I'll see.

I would love this I'm over40. I think I'm over 50 😳.
I think our tier 3 doesn't do injections and I'm too scared of an operation.

I'm so worried about the effect it's all having on me and can't afford to pay privately.

Also... Doesn't everyone put it back on when they stop???

@SageBlossomBunny no, it's not true that everyone puts all the weight back on when they stop. Some put a lot of weight back on, some maintain or only put a small amount on, some people even lose a bit more weight. It depends on many factors, but it's something that you know you will need to consider when you get to that point. The time it takes to lose the weight gives you time to have a plan for how to maintain, and to embed lifestyle changes and habits. Also, the risk of weight regain is exactly the same as any other weight loss approach, where at least using Mounjaro means (for most) effective weight loss that isn't an absolute daily struggle against hunger.

I started when my BMI was basically 50, it's now 39.2 and falling.

Have you had a look at the lists of suppliers and checked what the cheapest option is?