Is Mounjaro available in the UK?

If you’re ready to lose weight, chances are you’ve done your research. You’ll know to ditch the fast food, prioritise sleep, focus on getting those daily steps in and eating a balanced diet. But as anyone who has set out on a weight loss journey can attest, sometimes you need additional support.

When it comes to weight loss tools, you’d likely be familiar with names like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro for their influence on appetite and blood glucose levels.

While Ozempic is licensed for diabetes treatment here in the UK, medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro are used for weight management and is helping people to change their lives and improve their health.

Suppose you’re not familiar with Mounjaro (tirzepatide). In that case, know that the drug has come to be hailed as a powerful weight loss medication as it serves two functions: a GLP-1 receptor agonist and a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) mimetic.

It might sound like a mouthful, but it basically means the drug works to lower blood sugar levels, decrease appetite, and prevent fat from being stored in the liver or pancreas. 

So, is it hard to get Mounjaro in the UK? And if so, where is it available? Let's dive in.

How does Mounjaro work?

Mounjaro is the brand name for the active ingredient tirzepatide and is manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. Unlike drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, it's the first medication that imitates 2 different hormones that can reduce blood sugar: GLP-1 and GIP.

These hormones are produced by specialised cells in your large and small intestines. After eating a meal, your body releases these hormones to combat rising levels of blood glucose. Both GLP-1 and GIP act on the pancreas to increase insulin production, which lowers blood sugar.

It’s thought that being unable to regulate glucose levels after meals is a cause of type 2 diabetes, which is why these medications have come to be prescribed for those with the condition, alongside diet and regular exercise. With a once-weekly injection, Mounjaro can help people with type 2 diabetes control and manage high blood sugar levels. 

GLP-1 also increases the time it takes to empty the stomach, meaning your blood sugar levels are less likely to spike. As a result, people taking Mounjaro report feeling fuller for longer, which can also help with weight loss due to reduced appetite. It also helps fat cells 'absorb' more excess energy, preventing fat from being stored in the liver or pancreas.

GLP-1 and GIP are produced naturally in the body, but their effects only last around 2 minutes. Instead, tirzepatide has modified the structure of the hormones so that they degrade slowly, lasting around 5 days.

As a result, Mounjaro only needs to be administered via weekly injection and patients typically start on a 2.5mg dose once per week for 4 weeks.

According to a 2022 clinical trial of over 2,500 adults with a BMI of 27 or higher, over the course of 72 weeks, participants lose between 15% and nearly 21% of their body weight. Participants who took a higher dose of Mounjaro lost more weight [1].

It’s believed that as your body adjusts to the weekly injection, you have greater control in sticking to a diet and making the lifestyle changes required for sustainable weight loss.

Want to see real results? Explore Mounjaro before and after transformations.

Are there any side effects when taking Mounjaro?

Like any drug, there are side effects and each person will respond to the drug differently. For Mounjaro, the most common side effects reported are nausea, diarrhoea, a decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation and indigestion due to the medication’s impact on the digestive system [2].

Mounjaro also comes with a boxed warning, which refers to the most serious warning the FDA offers. They suggest using Mounjaro may increase your risk of developing thyroid cancer. For those with a family member or history of any kind of thyroid cancer, doctors are unlikely to prescribe the medication.

For those who suffer eye problems related to high blood sugar, like the condition of diabetic retinopathy, it's suggested that using Mounjaro could make it worse. The risk is higher when starting the medication and when the dose is increased.

Is Mounjaro available for weight loss?

Yes, it is. Mounjaro, with it's GLP-1 and GIP combination, is a medication option, alongside Wegovy, which is a GLP-1 medication, in the Juniper Programme. You can access weight loss medication tailored to your health and goals — never one-size-fits-all. Our app helps you track progress, connect with your care team, adjust medication as needed, and access expert support. You'll also get structured tools to build lasting habits and ongoing care.

Is Mounjaro available on the NHS?

Yes, Mounjaro is available on the NHS for weight loss and can now be obtained at GP surgeries in England. Previously, only Wegovy and Saxeda were available on the NHS, however these could only be accessed with a referral to an NHS specialist weight management service.  

It’s important to note that while GPs can now prescribe Mounjaro, access is extremely limited and the eligibility criteria is incredibly strict. As such, officials are asking people to not approach their GPs about the weight loss medication unless they meet the following criteria:

Year 1

• BMI ≥ 40 (or ≥ 37.5 for some ethnic groups)
• 4 or more weight-related comorbidities (e.g. type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea)‍

‍Year 2

• BMI 35 to 39.9
• Still require 4 or more co-morbidities‍

‍‍Year 3

• BMI ≥ 40
• 3 or more co-morbidities

This staged approach will reach 220,000 patients across the first 3 years. A full rollout is planned over 8 further years, eventually covering patients with BMI ≥ 35 and at least one comorbidity.

How to know if Mounjaro is right for your weight loss journey

For many, weight loss medications like Mounjaro can be life-changing — especially if they've attempted to lose weight through diet and lifestyle changes, to no avail.

It's also important to note that not all weight loss drugs are created equal. One person may experience zero side effects when starting Mounjaro, while others might be better suited to Wegovy.

Mounjaro vs Wegovy

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are considered the gold standard when it comes to aiding weight loss efforts. Thus far, the two medications haven't been directly compared to each other in medical trials.

It's long been thought that Mounjaro leads to more significant weight loss outcomes than Wegovy but with recent research, that is changing.

In clinical trials, patients on the highest possible dose of Wegovy lost up to 20.7% of their body weight, compared to 20.9% with Mounjaro at its highest dose — showing that both can be highly effective when used consistently and with the right support [4][5]. With Juniper, Wegovy is delivered as part of a complete programme that includes expert care, coaching, and tracking tools — to help you get the most from your treatment.

This higher dose of Wegovy isn’t available just yet, but it’s expected to launch in the UK soon.

Can you switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy?

From 1 September 2025, Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro (tirzepatide), will increase its UK list price to align with other developed countries. This nationwide change applies to providers including pharmacies, private clinics, and digital platforms.

In response, we’ve lowered the price of our Wegovy programme by 25%, and we’re making it easier for patients to switch without starting over, so that effective treatment remains within reach for as many people as possible.

So, if you've been wondering if you can switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy, the good news is that it's both safe and straightforward.

When making the switch, Juniper patients don’t need to restart at the lowest dose. If clinically appropriate, they can continue at a higher dose aligned with recent treatment history. We also only require a 7-day gap between your last Mounjaro dose and your first Wegovy dose — unlike most providers, who require 28 days.

At Juniper, we make that switch seamless and fully supported — so you can protect your progress without paying more than you need to. Our clinical switching protocol is is simple and safe:

• ‍Review — Your clinician assesses your treatment history and dose tolerance.‍
• Match — If eligible, you start on an equivalent high dose to avoid losing progress.‍
• Transition — Only a 7-day window is required between your last Mounjaro dose and your first Wegovy dose (most providers require 28 days).‍
• Support — Pharmacist check-ins, dose adjustments, and lifestyle guidance keep you on track.

Start your Wegovy switch today →