Prescribers that do free consultations

[Usedphone]

Maybe I'm looking for a unicorn, but because I'm a borderline case, I'm looking for a prescriber that prescribes with lower BMIs as long as you're certain ethnicities (which I am), and that ideally doesn't ask for photos, but most importantly that they do a free consultation, rather than paying upfront to then get refunded.

All the prescribers I have used ask for photos and also take payment first.
These are…
Medexpress
zava
IQ doctor

prescribes with lower BMIs as long as you're certain ethnicities (which I am)
All the prescribers do as long as it's 27+ bmi

ideally doesn't ask for photos
Most (if not all) prescribers ask for photos.

most importantly that they do a free consultation
Most of them offer free consultation by emailing or ringing them and asking to speak to a pharmacist or have one ring you back. One that specifically offers video consultation has a booking waiting list and is paid for (which isn't what you want).

You can find the list of registered prescribers here www.monj.co.uk

If your borderline case is outside the prescribing guidelines, I'm not sure it will be easy to find a prescriber and in that case, yes you're probably looking for a unicorn trying to get all 3 (or 4?) requests in one pharmacy.

I actually tried with a couple with my BMI and I got a blank NO.

I tried Oushk via email and told me I had to pay.

Senpen looks promising BUT they want me to pay.

I think all will expect you to commit and place an order before looking into your online consultation and approving. If you answer the online consultation questions honestly it will tell you during the process if you are not eligible. If there is anything in the consultation they are concerned about any decent provider will talk to you at that point rather than just reject.

Understandably they don't have oodles of spare (and free) pharmacist time available for everyone who is eligible and wants a chat first before committing. If you do not get approved because you do not meet the criteria you will get your money back.

What is your bmi op?

and they all want you to pay really. You could email and ask.

i think you’ll struggle to find a provider who doesn’t ask for photos. They have to do this to be able to prove some level of due diligence before prescribing. Why don’t you want to share photos @Usedphone ?

As for providers, I’m with Voy and they have a very thorough intake form which will tell you if it’s an outright rejection (before you pay). If it looks like you qualify, they ask you to pay, send your application to the clinician for final sign off, and only then do they ask for photos

That's my BMI (which classifies me as obese) but by " looks" I look smaller

I don't understand. 27 is not obese. That image is blurry. Does it say 27 or 37?

With 37 you can get MJ. With 27 only with certain comorbid conditions. It's quite clear. Also if you cannot afford the one-off consultation I am not sure you are ging to be able to afford the ongoing cost?

It says 27.7 and the NHS BMI calculator asks you for ethnicity, which can change the boundary of where "obese" starts. You can qualify for WLI with a BMI over 27 with being one of those ethnicities.

At 27 you can get it but only if you have certain conditions.

The pic is clear for me, 27.7

could they be questioning ethnicity, which is I think Chinese, Asian, black African, African Caribbean, or Middle Eastern. As that can be a difficult one, can you maybe add notes?

No, also for certain ethinicities.

I guess they could question my ethnicity? I'm a mix of various things including ME.

That could be rhe issue to be honest, and why they are declining.

No idea. My first name is ME sounding and my surname is clearly not British.

The other thing is that nobody seems to ask about activity levels (but maybe it's irrelevant).

I'm not sure how activity levels would be relevant? Unless you mean that body composition might be different as a result, so your BMI is higher because you do a lot of weight training, or something?

I don’t think activity levels are relevant to be fair.

Partially yes.

Follow up question is it only an appetite suppressant?

I've counted my cals for today (pretty average day) and the total will be below/around 1200. I don't go hungry nor think about food all day.

Appetite suppression is only one function, Mounjaro also regulates your blood sugar, makes you feel fuller more quickly, and increases your insulin sensitivity, among other things. Have you got any underlying conditions that have caused weight gain or are making it harder to lose weight, OP? (e.g. PCOS, Thyroid Issues etc?)

@Usedphone I hope you don't mind this question, but if you are eating a calorie deficit easily and don't feel hungry and don't think about food all the time, why is it that you want to use weight loss injections to lose weight? It doesn't seem immediately obvious that you would need them?

I have hypothyroidism but in theory it's under control. I take 100mg of levothyroxine every day.

In an ideal world, I just want to go back to 60kg (like in that photo, and still considered overweight according to my ethnicity anyway!) but I don't seem to be able to shift those 10kg.

I can temporarily go down to 67.5kg, but it always looks more like a blip than anything else.

If you believe you are eligible I think the only way with online prescribers is to commit by ordering/paying, you'll be flagged up as not a straightforward consultation and they should discuss with you. They will know that some ethnicities should be accepted due to the way they store more visceral fat which will not always be as apparent in a photo, but make sure your photo clearly shows your physique - you will need to send in figure hugging top and bottom clothed (avoid black/dark colours as difficult to see in photos), full length photos with your order.

Picking one of the smaller pharmacies might help you receive a individual patient approach rather than a tick box and direct no. If they don't take your mixed ethnicity into account, or don't accept you for whatever reason they will give you a refund.

Another alternative is find a local private prescribing pharmacy/weight loss clinic who does face to face consultations where they can take your height and weight, you can state your case and why you are eligible in more detail for your first prescription (will cost more). Once you have your first pen you will then have "proof" you have been prescribed before and will be more likely to be accepted by online pharmacies as an existing user.

I've looked for local pharmacies but none of them are prescribing it (the joys of the West Country!)

I'm happy to pay say £20/30 for the consultation and then order , than the playing around with my funds. I don't like it, so if that's the way it goes, I might end up not getting it at all.

I do prefer a more personalised approach.

I was on orlistat for many many years and it also did zero to my weight loss.

@Usedphone Asda, Boots and Superdrug are offering MJ and Wegovy? You could also try one of the smaller online ones like Farmeci or The Family Chemist.

I don't think that they are trying to play around with your funds btw, more likely that all have their intake processes structured in a way that guarantees they can collect all the information they need in an efficient way, to due the checks they need to do to meet the prescribing guidelines.