Instead of ‘I won’t be able to afford it’ why are people not considering Wegovy

[chowmeinz]

Just curious as I have read so many posts about how awful the price hike is - I agree. But, this doesn’t have to be the end for people who are not be able to keep going on MJ, lots will be able to try Wegovy if they haven’t already used it and decided it’s not for them.

I know it’s scary just now, I use MJ and will have to rework things once we know the pricing to see if I can still afford it but my next thought has always been ‘if not I will try Wegovy’

Lets not all be defeated before trying the other option.

Well no one is actually able to make a decision until the prices go up in September and we can take stock and see what we can afford. Everyone on this thread is giving you all the reasons people are hoping to stay on MJ. Some people will conclude they absolutely can’t afford it and some might then decide to try Wegovy. Some won’t for all the previous reasons given (not working for what they want it for, the side effects and lack of effectiveness that they’ve heard about not making it seem worth trying.)

Plus there really doesn’t seem any guarantee it will be cheaper. The highest dose of Wegovy at the moment is around £300 I think? That could be what the highest dose of Mounjaro costs. We don’t know yet but it doesn’t seem like it’ll be much different.

Actually, looks from iGovy comparison site that the highest dose of Wegovy ranges from £200-300. That’s still more than most people have been paying for Mounjaro. So it’s not really a cheaper option for anyone priced out.

I’ve been on Wegovy for a year and now on max dose. It’s £253 per month. The doses are different so it’s 2.4mg for max dose.

Wegovy has been great. I did notice that my provider in its monthly renewal questionnaire asks if I am happy with Wegovy or want to swap to Mounjaro. If I did it says I need a month break.

Not sure why I was recommended Wegovy in the first place. BMI of 30.5 to start and no health issues. Now about 27 BMI and still losing although very slowly. Maybe 2lb a month. Was thinking of trying Mounjaro but guess that won’t be an option now!

What legal case do you imagine anyone could bring? No private company has a legal obligation to provide goods at a price you find agreeable.

I was on wegovy before MJ and had much worse side effects, so for me it’s not a great choice to return to

Greed? Companies are in business to create products that they can sell at a profit!

Is Mounjuro free on the NHS, to obese people with diabetes?
If someone is paying for it, why?
Are there negative health implications?

It's available on the NHS (so not free, but at the standard prescription cost) for people with a BMI over 40 and at least 4 out of 5 specific weight related health conditions. It can be prescribed privately (at a much higher cost) to anyone with a BMI over 30 (or 27 from certain ethnicities).

@PeopleWatching17 people with T2 diabetes might also be prescribed Mounjaro via the NHS if their blood sugars are not well controlled already with two other medications. They wouldn’t necessarily also be overweight or obese.

“Are their negative health implications?” It’s a medication, like any other, so on balance it produces a better outcome for people who are obese than not taking it. Like me for example, I had a BMI of 50 when I started taking Mounjaro, via a private prescription. My BMI is now 28 and I am significantly more healthy than when I started.

I’m paying for it because 9 months ago I felt like I would rather be dead than continue the life I had. I was out running this morning. The NHS didn’t prescribe for obesity back then, they do now but the criteria is set very high. Diabetics who have been prescribed have not been prescribed it for being obese, in fact they are not all obese. They have been prescribed it becsue it will help their condition where other medications have failed.

Yes there are health implications. The vast majority of them are positive. If you really want to know, you could look that up.

@Icanttakethisanymoreits not ‘goods’ as such but medication and people have been issued a warning by the prescribers that it is going to go up in price imminently, but users of mounjaro do not have any clarity yet. This is irresponsible in itself as it is creating anxiety and panic. Obesity is complex and it is intertwined with psychological health. This is a drug not a handbag, hardly call it ‘goods’. This concerns peoples physical and emotional health. The prescribers need to safeguard the existing users of mounjaro by raising the price in a staggered way or keeping it close to its current rate, to give those who will need to stop, due to lack of funds, time to seek medical guidance and decide on their options. Clarity for those currently prescribed is needed ASAP.
It’s highlighting that big pharma do not give a fuck about people, so I hope everyone is taking notice.

Did you mean to respond to me?

@Icanttakethisanymore yes

My niece qualifies, they recently found a benign tumour on her pituitary gland, after 3 months of being undetected (consultant left, her case wasn't picked by new consultant - complete balls up by St Georges) her diabetes clinic at Kings took over her care and she qualified for free Mounjaro. Only thing is that she has to have monthly blood tests and collect to prescription up in person from Kings ( she lives near Gatwick).

She lost 1 stone and 6 lb in the first month.

It's certainly helped her blood sugar levels 👍

I'm confused, yes what

I think if people had side effects starting mounjaro which have since settled down they may be hesitant to switch in case it takes a while to get used to. Of people I know on Wegovy they seem to get more side effects than mounjaro and it is supposed to be less effective, so I won't be looking to swap. Luckily I am 26kg down since February, I have 3 more doses of 5mg and two 7.5mg pens that have just arrived, so by the time I have done those I think I will be pretty much where I want to be or close enough to continue on my own, so will hopefully avoid the price hike, but i know others will find the news disappointing as it really is a great help to lose weight, for me taking away that food noise and cravings has been life changing to losing weight.

I’m sure this has been posted already.

My understanding is it’s trump related and the manufacturer has increased the U.K. cost to subsidise the USA cost

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/08/15/business/eli-lilly-mounjaro-price-rises-uk

it does feel a massive fuck you to the uk market.