New rules for Pharmacy's

[Flufy]

I don't agree at all with this. I started on Mounjaro 3 months ago. Before starting I would drink at least 10 units of alcohol daily and binge on takeaways, my fav in the day would be 2xBig mac meals, a quarter pounder and some nuggets twice a week. My blood pressure was 149 Sys / 83 Dia, I had some form of sleep apnea. I'm a worrier and easily stressed.
So 3 months on and I've got my BMI down to 24, my BP is 108 Sys / 71 Dia, I sleep like a log. I had one takeaway and it was a small kebab, only just finished it. I don't drink anymore. managed 3 beers in two months. I am also much more relaxed and let the world do its thing without stressing. Side effects I get tired the day after an injection and I had constipation for the first two months but am back regularly now. So for me, Mounjaro has been a life changer. I think I look great, whole new wardrobe. It's much cheaper for me to buy it than all the money I've spent on booze and food. But more importantly, I feel much more healthy. So as far as I'm concerned if I want to buy this I should be able to I'm not asking for handouts, this is my choice. Sorry to rant but it has been a game changer for me and it will push people to buy from less reputable sources.

I agree and disagree 😂

I have a lipid disorder which causes high triglycerides and cholesterol. my bmi was 27-28 so I was able to be prescribed it but afaik they never checked my medication.

I have never had coaching, questions, but had my injection turn up every month. I was even able to order from someone else to stock up a bit and all I did was show a photo of my last pen box.

so all in all although I have been responsible (apart from the stocking up?) I just can't quite believe it really and my sensible head says it's not right at all but my waistband and liver say it's fantastic!

Yes true, the options are there for help, but I've just followed the rules and done my own thing. But it worked and I feel the same, fantastic.

I’m not concerned because I have told the truth and have nothing to hide. They can have as many photos and videos as they like and they can contact my GP to confirm my medical history.

There may be additional costs but that has yet to be decided.

As long as people aren’t lying about their BMI and medical history then there won’t be a problem in getting a prescription.

But that's my issue, I now have a healthy BMI and lifestyle. So technically I won't be able to get my next batch. If I can't get my next dose, I'll be back boozing and eating before I know it. I'd understand if it was NHS, but if I pay it should be my choice.

I think it makes total sense. The General Pharmaceutical Council say they have seen too many cases of medicines being supplied inappropriately online and putting people at risk”.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/feb/04/uk-online-pharmacies-rules-wegovy-mounjaro-ozempic

@Flufy has your provider told you that this is what they will be doing in response to the GPhC updated guidance yesterday? I don't think that guidance is intended to interrupt an existing relationship with a customer. The BMI guidance is about your starting BMI, not your current one. We all have to continue taking the medication whilst our BMI is under 30 (or 27) in order to get to a healthy BMI. I know your BMI is 24 but it would be reasonable to lower that a little and even to continue to take a lower dose in order to avoid regain.

I think you’re confused and have misunderstood. Mounjaro is approved for life time usage, there is no change to the regulations. There is no suggestion it now can’t be used for maintenance,

I am unsure why you think you can’t get it now, unless you lied in the first place, then you can continue to get it as normal.

I don't think they are saying you wouldn't be prescribed it, pharmacies are still offering maintenance. What they are trying to do is tighten up restrictions to avoid prescribing to otherwise healthy people who want to lose 10lb for summer. Or people with eating disorders who are lying about their height and weight to be prescribed a drug that could be lethal for them.

I think the biggest 'risk' to those already taking it is that the price may well go up to enable pharmacies to meet this new criteria

For me it is much more than just weight loss, it has changed my life. Last year I went to the doctor's 18 times, since starting Mounjaro in Oct 24 I haven't been once, not had any colds/flu and feel wonderful. More importantly, I'm not drinking and eating myself to death. Looking at the figures 500,000 people in the UK are on these drugs, with 274 hospitalized. That's 0.05% I think it's nanny-state nonsense.

Maybe, I use Zava when I've reordered I always have to put in my current BMI and weight which is now classed as healthy. I have taken the new rules that if you are of a healthy weight you can get it. Hopefully, you are right and I can still get the maintenance dose. I can't really explain how much I would dread going back to drinking and eating so much.

I don’t know if Zava offer maintence. Not all do. There are multiple threads on it.but there is absolutely no suggestion from thr pharmaceutical council they are asking the mhra to change the prescribing approvals or not making it available for lifetime.

That’s not what that is.

This is about ensuring those prescribed in the first place fit the criteria.and they don’t have anorexics etc trying to abuse the drugs.

Does anyone know what the bmi rules are? I now have a bmi of 30.1 and I was really hoping to get down to 27. I have pcos and this is the only thing that’s ever worked even slightly for me. I’m terrified of getting it rejected because I’m now 30.1.

It should be clear on the website you are ordering from. The prescribing criteria approved by the MHRA is a BMI of over 30, or a BMI of 27 or over if you have at least one weight related health condition, or a BMI of 27 or over if you are one of a list of specific ethnicities.

Your BMI is over 30, so you can be prescribed, assuming no other issues or contraindications. You can continue to take Mounjaro until your BMI is in the healthy range for your ethnicity, and some pharmacies will continue to prescribe as a maintenance dose as long as your weight doesn't fall too low.

Drugs are classified as 'Prescription Only' on the basis of risk and abuse potential and taking into consideration the manufacturers level of responsibility (and testingand evidencefor safe use). These drugs, like many other drugs, are considered to require oversight by a prescriber in order to be used safely.

Just because you think you using them responsibly and they are benefiting your overall health, doesn't mean that everyone else will use them appropriately. Should you (or anyone else) also be allowed to buy sleeping tablets, painkillers, antibiotics to use as you wish?

Whoever is prescribing the drug, whether it's your GP or an online GP, nurse or pharmacist, they are taking professional responsibility for the drug being used in accordance with the manufacturers license agreement with the MHRA, or they are taking greater professional risk by using them outside the license. Why shouldn't the prescribers protect themselves, by seeking assurance that patients aren't making false claims in order to access them?

Lying to obtain them is the same as lying to obtain any other prescription medicine.

@AltitudeCheck
Not strictly true - It's very common for medicine to be prescribed off label. I mean let's be honest, these drugs were developed for people with diabetes. Weight loss just seems to be a by product and people started to prescribe them off label for weight loss.

I could buy as many painkillers as I want, most countries in the world allow you to buy melatonin off the shelf but in the UK it is prescription only. Why?

I could go and get a nose job or liposuction that i don't need tomorrow and that's fine but if i want to take a weight loss injection i'd have to jump through several hoops?

All this is, is the pharmacy watchdog reacting to the media (they mention this in their statement) and reacting to the union that represents local pharmacies because - Money.

None of this has anything to do with patient safety, it's all about money.
Watch the cost of the drugs rise significantly now. Who does that help?

That’s also not true, it isn’t a by product, these drugs were 15 years in testing for weight loss. It’s like saying rhe fact they are now in final trials foe cardiovascular and kidney disease is a by product, it isn’t. And plenty of drugs have multiple licences and approvals

Pharmacies not pharmacy’s😊

@missingthemidlands the 30 bmi rule is to START the medication. All pharmacies will continue to prescribe until you are in the healthy range at the minimum and many will allow you to continue to at least 23 bmi (some lower). Those who offer ongoing maintenance will prescribe long term to help you stay at your healthy weight.

@Flufyyou have evidence of previous prescriptions so Zava are not suddenly going to cut you off. I have had several emails today from different pharmacies about the new regulations and they have all said that nothing will change for now and they will notify customers if and when they need to bring in anything like video calls/ more photos etc. If you have a history with a pharmacy and evidence you have been taking MJ, you will still be able to order.

I would recommend looking into Zava’s views on maintenance if you want to stay on long term though as many do not offer it. Other options are Oushk, Pharmulous, Cloud and Simple.

This is the recent email I received from pharmacy 2 U. I ordered my first batch from them in October and have been switching suppliers every month to whoever is cheapest.

There has been some media coverage today regarding new guidance for online consultations for weight loss medicines.

We wanted to reassure you that Pharmacy2U’s weight loss programmes are compliant with General Pharmaceutical Council guidance (the UK’s regulatory body for pharmacy), and our prescribing service is also regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

If you’re currently taking part in our weight loss programme, your treatment and next consultation will continue as normal so you can confidently and safely continue your weight loss journey, with our team of clinicians.

@Lighterlilly Eli Lilly only started safety trials on Mounjaro in 2019. All of these drugs were approved for diabetes and later repurposed to include weight loss.

Certain Semaglutide containing brands like Ozempic, are still only approved in the UK for the treatment of diabetes. It still hasn't been licensed for weight loss.

Wegovy is semaglutide and is approved in the UK for weight loss. And also to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.

If it was all about money @cakesandcandles they'd be pushing for less regulation (so they could sell more) not trying to enforce the existing recommendations and potentially restricting the number of customers.

Prescribers are being pressured into off label prescribing for a patient they have never seen or spoken to, without access to of their any medical records on the basis of an online questionnaire (that from a quick read of the forums is often populated with false information) and quite rightly imo the regulator is trying make companies take steps to stop that practice.

It's not "off label". Mounjaro and Wegovy are approved for weight loss.

The model of online questionnaire and patient provided details is the same for a long list of medications that you can get an online prescription for. Prescribers aren't being pressured into prescribing, it's a business decision and nearly all pharmacies follow the guidelines appropriately.

Wegovy is the same as ozempic, it’s the same drug, wegovy is approved, ozempic is the us.