A Beginner's Guide to Zepbound Weight Loss Injections in the UK

In One Sentence: Zepbound is a highly effective weight loss injection sold in the United States, but people in the UK can access the exact same medicine under the brand name Mounjaro.

Losing weight can be a difficult journey, but modern medicine offers new ways to help. You may have seen news about a very successful weight loss injection called Zepbound. Many people are asking how they can get this treatment in the United Kingdom. This guide will explain exactly what this medicine is, how it works, and how you can safely find the UK equivalent.

Key Takeaways

Can I get Zepbound in the UK?

No, the name Zepbound is only used in America. However, the exact same medicine is licensed and available in the UK as Mounjaro.

What is the active ingredient?

The medicine inside the injection is called tirzepatide. It works by copying natural hormones in your body to stop you from feeling hungry.

How do I know if I am eligible?

You usually need to have a Body Mass Index of 30 or higher, or a score of 27 with a weight-related health condition like high blood pressure.

What is Zepbound and how does it work?

Zepbound is a weekly prescription injection that helps adults lose weight by using an active ingredient called tirzepatide. It works by copying two natural hormones in your gut, known as GLP-1 and GIP.

• Landmark research published in The New England Journal of Medicine [1], proved how tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Zepbound and Mounjaro) works as a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist to regulate appetite and fat metabolism.

These hormones tell your brain that you are full and slow down how fast your stomach empties food.

Because your stomach empties slower, you feel full for a much longer time after eating a meal. By tricking your brain into thinking you have already eaten enough, the medicine drastically reduces your appetite and stops food cravings. It was originally created by a company called Eli Lilly to treat type 2 diabetes before doctors realised how well it worked for weight loss.

Is Zepbound licensed in the UK?

No, Zepbound is not licensed to be sold in the UK. The company that makes it uses the brand name Zepbound only in the United States. However, the exact same company sells the exact same medicine in the UK under the brand name Mounjaro.

This means if you want Zepbound, you simply need to ask a doctor about Mounjaro. They are completely identical. To be prescribed Mounjaro in the UK, you must complete a health check with a doctor to ensure it is safe for your body. You also need to combine the medicine with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

What is the correct dosage schedule?

You will start by taking a low dose of 2.5mg once a week for four weeks. This low starting dose allows your body to get used to the medicine safely. After four weeks, your doctor can slowly increase your dose if needed.

The maximum dose you can eventually reach is 15mg. You take the medicine using a simple, small injection pen. You inject it just under the skin of your stomach, the front of your thighs, or the back of your upper arms. It is important to inject the medicine on the same day every week.

How much weight can you lose with tirzepatide?

A 72-week clinical trial involving tirzepatide showed that people taking the highest dose of tirzepatide can lose over 20 percent of their starting body weight [2]. Even on lower doses, patients see very successful results. A healthy diet and active lifestyle are required to see these numbers [3].

• 5mg dose: Patients lost an average of 15 percent of their body weight.

• 10mg dose: Patients lost an average of 19.5 percent of their body weight.

• 15mg dose: Patients lost an average of 20.9 percent of their body weight.

What are the side effects of this weight loss injection?

The most common side effects are feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation. Because the medicine changes how your stomach digests food, your tummy might feel upset when you first start taking it or when you move up to a higher dose.

Studies show that most side effects are mild and fade away as your body adapts to the treatment [4]. Less common side effects include feeling tired, hair loss, heartburn, or redness where you injected the pen. You must not use this medicine if you are pregnant, or if you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer.

What are the best Zepbound alternatives in the UK?

The best and most direct alternative to Zepbound in the UK is Mounjaro, as it contains the identical active ingredient. If tirzepatide is not suitable for you, there are other safe, licensed prescription options available such as Wegovy [5], Saxenda [6], Orlistat [7], and Mysimba, which a healthcare professional can discuss with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mounjaro exactly the same as Zepbound?

Yes. Both medicines are made by Eli Lilly and both contain tirzepatide. They are the exact same medicine, just sold under different names in different countries.

Can I buy Mounjaro online in the UK?

Yes. You can buy Mounjaro from responsible online prescription services like UK Meds. You must fill out a medical questionnaire and complete a FitXpress scan first so a qualified doctor can review your health and approve the prescription.

Do I have to diet while taking weight loss injections?

Yes. The injections will reduce your hunger, but you still need to eat healthy foods and move your body to get the best and safest weight loss results.

Final Thoughts From Our Clinical Team

'It is easy to get confused by the different brand names you see online. If you are reading about the amazing results of Zepbound in America, you can find peace of mind knowing the exact same highly effective tirzepatide treatment is available here in the UK as Mounjaro. We always encourage patients to complete a thorough health consultation with our partner doctors to ensure this is the safest and most effective step for their weight management journey.'

Medically Reviewed by:
Dr. Alexis Missick MBChB. MRCGP
GMC Reference no: 7151419
LinkedIn
Website

Sources

[1] Nauck MA, D'Alessio DA. Tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor co-agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes with unmatched effectiveness regrading glycaemic control and body weight reduction. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2022 Sep 1;21(1):169. doi: 10.1186/s12933-022-01604-7. PMID: 36050763; PMCID: PMC9438179.

[2] Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, Wharton S, Connery L, Alves B, Kiyosue A, Zhang S, Liu B, Bunck MC, Stefanski A; SURMOUNT-1 Investigators. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jul 21;387(3):205-216. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038. Epub 2022 Jun 4. PMID: 35658024.

[3] Wadden, T.A., Chao, A.M., Machineni, S. et al. Tirzepatide after intensive lifestyle intervention in adults with overweight or obesity: the SURMOUNT-3 phase 3 trial. Nat Med 29, 2909–2918 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02597-w

[4] Aronne LJ, Sattar N, Horn DB, et al. Continued Treatment With Tirzepatide for Maintenance of Weight Reduction in Adults With Obesity: The SURMOUNT-4 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2024;331(1):38–48. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.24945

[5] Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, Davies M, Van Gaal LF, Lingvay I, McGowan BM, Rosenstock J, Tran MTD, Wadden TA, Wharton S, Yokote K, Zeuthen N, Kushner RF; STEP 1 Study Group. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021 Mar 18;384(11):989-1002. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183. Epub 2021 Feb 10. PMID: 33567185.

[6] Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K, Greenway F, Halpern A, Krempf M, Lau DC, le Roux CW, Violante Ortiz R, Jensen CB, Wilding JP; SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes NN8022-1839 Study Group. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management. N Engl J Med. 2015 Jul 2;373(1):11-22. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1411892. PMID: 26132939.

[7] Padwal R, Li SK, Lau DC. Long-term pharmacotherapy for obesity and overweight. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;2003(3):CD004094. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004094.pub2. PMID: 15266516; PMCID: PMC8078201.