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Prescriber-led weight and diabetes care · UK

Mounjaro (tirzepatide), done properly.

See indicative pricing
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Indicative pricing

What Mounjaro costs privately in the UK.

Indicative ranges from our partner prescribers and pharmacies. Insurance rarely covers weight-management prescribing - expect to self-pay.

In short

A typical private month on Mounjaro: £150–£320 for the pen, plus a £50–£120 monthly review.

Item Indicative range
Initial private consultation £150–£300
Mounjaro 2.5 mg pen (starter, monthly) £150–£220
Mounjaro 5 mg pen (monthly) £170–£240
Mounjaro 7.5–10 mg pen (monthly) £200–£280
Mounjaro 12.5–15 mg pen (monthly) £240–£320
Follow-up review + prescription £50–£120

Prices vary by pharmacy and by prescriber. Higher doses cost more, so budget for the full titration path if you plan to reach 12.5–15 mg. NHS access follows NICE TA924 (T2DM) and TA1026 (obesity - phased rollout to 2027).

The problem

The right prescriber, the right dose, the right honesty.

The Mounjaro market is now full of click-to-buy pharmacies. Most patients need something quieter and more careful - a proper prescriber, a proper titration, and a proper long-term plan.

  • Not sure it is right for you?

    A structured lifestyle programme, an alternative agent, or bariatric surgery may fit better. We say so before you commit.

  • Worried about side effects?

    A slow, patient titration with monthly review reduces nausea and GI trouble far more than a quick pharmacy escalation.

  • Want it done properly?

    A GMC- or GPhC-registered prescriber, baseline bloods, and honest counselling about what happens if you ever stop.

Who it suits

When Mounjaro is the right choice.

The clinical situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than a call to your prescriber.

  • Type 2 diabetes, HbA1c ≥ 58 mmol/mol

    When metformin (± an SGLT2 inhibitor) has not brought HbA1c to target - NICE TA924, particularly if BMI ≥ 35.

  • Obesity, BMI ≥ 35 with a comorbidity

    NICE TA1026 supports use with a weight-related condition - hypertension, sleep apnoea, dyslipidaemia, osteoarthritis.

  • Obesity, BMI ≥ 40 without comorbidity

    Class III obesity qualifies without a weight-related condition. NHS access is phased; private access is widely available.

  • Failed lifestyle-only weight loss

    Structured diet, exercise and behaviour change tried and not enough. Mounjaro is an adjunct, not a substitute, for those changes.

  • Bariatric surgery declined or unsuitable

    Where surgery is not the right step yet - or ever - an incretin agent can be a serious alternative for the right patient.

  • Weight regain after semaglutide

    Some patients respond better to tirzepatide than to semaglutide. A switch, at a considered dose, is reasonable.

  • T2DM with obesity - a dual win

    The one clinical scenario where NICE support is strongest: HbA1c reduction of 2–2.5 % alongside 5–25 % weight loss.

  • Red flag: severe abdominal pain

    Sudden, severe abdominal pain radiating to the back after starting Mounjaro is a possible pancreatitis - stop and go to A&E.

Comparators

Mounjaro is not the only option.

What each option on the table actually involves - and which fits which patient.

  • Mounjaro (tirzepatide) - weekly SC

    A dual GIP + GLP-1 receptor agonist. The most effective of the licensed incretin agents in head-to-head and trial data.

  • Wegovy / Ozempic (semaglutide)

    GLP-1 only, weekly injection. Effective, widely used - slightly less weight loss than tirzepatide in comparative data.

  • Saxenda (liraglutide)

    A daily GLP-1 injection. Older, less potent, and rarely first-line now that weekly agents are available.

  • Rybelsus (oral semaglutide)

    A daily tablet - licensed for type 2 diabetes only, not obesity. Less potent than the injectables.

  • Gastric sleeve (bariatric surgery)

    A more durable long-term result than medication, but a bigger step. Reserved for BMI ≥ 40, or ≥ 35 with comorbidity.

  • Gastric bypass (bariatric surgery)

    The classic weight-loss operation. Best long-term data for both weight and diabetes remission.

  • Gastric balloon

    A temporary, non-surgical option lasting 6–12 months. A bridge or trial, not a long-term solution.

  • Structured lifestyle programme

    Diet, activity and behaviour change alone - the foundation everything else is built on, and required alongside any medication.

Safety and side effects

What to expect - honestly.

Mounjaro is a well-studied medicine but not a light one. The things worth planning are the GI settling-in, the rare-but-serious signals, and the honest conversation about what happens if you ever stop.

  • Nausea in roughly one in three

    The commonest side effect, worst in the first weeks of each dose step. Slow titration, small meals and hydration help. Usually settles.

  • Diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation

    Common GI effects - plan meals carefully, avoid fatty or very large portions, and tell your prescriber if severe or persistent.

  • Pancreatitis - rare, but serious

    Severe upper-abdominal pain radiating to the back is a red flag. Stop the medication and seek urgent medical care the same day.

  • Gallstones and gallbladder disease

    Rapid weight loss of any kind increases the risk of gallstones. Right-upper-abdominal pain after fatty food needs review.

  • Hypoglycaemia if combined with insulin

    On its own, Mounjaro rarely causes lows. Combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea, doses of those drugs often need reducing.

  • Diabetic retinopathy watch

    Rapid glucose lowering can transiently worsen retinopathy. If you have type 2 diabetes, keep annual eye screening up to date.

  • Not for pregnancy

    Stop Mounjaro at least two months before trying to conceive. It is not licensed in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

  • Thyroid contraindications

    Do not use if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, or MEN 2 - an animal-study signal, taken seriously.

  • Rebound weight regain on stopping

    SURMOUNT-4 showed roughly two-thirds of the weight comes back within 12 months of discontinuation. This is a long-term treatment.

Reading your prescriber’s note

Your treatment note in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever prescriber you see, the note you receive after each review keeps to the same shape.

A UK prescriber reviewing a patient’s Mounjaro treatment notes

A quiet reminder

Prescribing language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.

If you would like us to talk you through the note before your next review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and baseline

    Why Mounjaro was chosen - T2DM, obesity, or both - with starting weight, BMI, HbA1c and blood pressure recorded on day one.

  2. 02 Technique

    Dose schedule and titration plan

    Starting dose (2.5 mg weekly), planned step-ups every four weeks, target dose, and the tolerability thresholds that would slow things down.

  3. 03 Findings

    Response, tolerability and safety bloods

    Weight change, waist, blood pressure, HbA1c and safety bloods at each review - plus any side effects and how they were managed.

  4. 04 Impression

    Long-term plan and maintenance strategy

    Read this first: what dose you settle on, how long you continue, and the diet-and-activity plan that keeps the weight off if you ever stop.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Weight-management prescribing is rarely covered by private medical insurance.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about Mounjaro.

Quick answers on efficacy, cost, comparators, side effects, and what happens if you stop.

  • What is Mounjaro and how does it work?

    Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a once-weekly injection that activates both the GIP and GLP-1 gut-hormone receptors. It boosts glucose-dependent insulin, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying and reduces appetite - which lowers HbA1c in type 2 diabetes and produces substantial weight loss.

  • How much weight will I actually lose on Mounjaro?

    In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, average weight loss on 15 mg at 72 weeks was around 22.5 %, versus about 2 % on placebo. Real-world results are more variable - expect 10–20 % of starting weight over a year if you tolerate the higher doses and combine it with diet and activity.

  • Is Mounjaro available on the NHS?

    For type 2 diabetes, yes - under NICE TA924 when HbA1c is ≥ 58 mmol/mol and BMI ≥ 35 (or an insulin-avoidance case). For obesity, NICE TA1026 supports use, but the NHS rollout is phased to 2027 and currently prioritises BMI ≥ 40 with four or more obesity-related conditions. Private access is widely available now.

  • How much does Mounjaro cost privately in the UK?

    Roughly £150–£220 a month for the 2.5 mg starter dose, £170–£280 for the mid-range 5–10 mg doses, and £240–£320 for 12.5–15 mg. A prescriber consultation is usually £150–£300 to start, then £50–£120 per monthly review. Insurance rarely covers weight-loss prescribing.

  • Mounjaro vs Ozempic / Wegovy - which is better?

    Both are excellent. In head-to-head and trial data, tirzepatide (Mounjaro) tends to produce slightly greater weight loss and HbA1c reduction than semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy), likely because it hits two gut-hormone receptors rather than one. Tolerability is broadly similar. Cost and availability often decide.

  • Mounjaro or bariatric surgery?

    Surgery - sleeve or bypass - gives more durable long-term weight loss, especially at higher BMIs, and stronger diabetes-remission rates. Mounjaro is reversible, needs continued use to maintain the weight loss, and avoids an operation. For BMI ≥ 40 with comorbidities we always discuss both.

  • What side effects should I expect?

    Nausea, decreased appetite, diarrhoea, constipation and mild indigestion are common, especially in the first weeks of each dose step. Slow titration reduces them. Rare but serious risks include pancreatitis, gallstones and - if combined with insulin or a sulfonylurea - hypoglycaemia. Severe abdominal pain is a stop-and-go-to-A&E symptom.

  • What happens if I stop Mounjaro?

    Most people regain weight. In SURMOUNT-4, patients who stopped tirzepatide regained roughly two-thirds of the weight they had lost within 12 months. Think of it like a blood-pressure or cholesterol medication - a long-term treatment concept, not a short course.

  • Can I take Mounjaro for weight loss if I don’t have diabetes?

    Yes - if your BMI is ≥ 30 with a weight-related condition (or ≥ 35 without), you meet the private-prescribing threshold most clinicians use, aligned with NICE TA1026. A prescriber will still assess your overall risk profile, medications and expectations before starting.

  • When should I not take Mounjaro?

    Avoid it in type 1 diabetes, pregnancy or breastfeeding, severe gastroparesis, severe hepatic impairment, and if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2. Any history of pancreatitis needs a careful risk discussion first.

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