How does GLP-1/GIP work?
Wegovy® and Mounjaro® works by suppressing the appetite and regulating food intake. The active ingredient, semaglutide or tirzepatide, mimics the action of the hormone that’s involved in regulating appetite. This means you feel fuller for longer and less hungry. This can help you to eat less and hopefully lose weight.
It works best when it’s taken at the same time as making lifestyle changes (healthier diet and increased exercise). In fact, around 85% of users lost at least 5% of their weight, compared to just 40% losing 5% when no lifestyle changes were made.
How effective is GLP-1/GIP?
When Wegovy® or Mounjaro® is combined with a reduced calorie diet and increased exercise, a 68 week study has shown that:
- Around 85% of people lost more than 5% of their body weight
- 66% of people lost more than 10% of their body weight
- 48% of people lost more than 15% of their body weight
- 30% of people lost more than 20% of their body weight
This compares to just 60% of people losing 5% of their weight when taking Saxenda® along with a reduced calorie diet and physical activity counselling.
Taking Wegovy® or Mounjaro®
You inject Wegovy® and Mounjaro® just once a week into your tummy, thigh or upper arm.
Wegovy® and Mounjaro®injections come in a variety of dosages. Depending on where you are in your Wegovy® or Mounjaro®journey, you will need to take a different dosage.
The dosage is upped gradually to make sure you cope with any potential side effects until you get to a sustained dose, this process is known as titration.
If all goes to plan and you can tolerate the treatment, the dosing schedule will be as follows:
- Weeks 1-4: 0.25mg weekly (Wegovy®) or 2.5mg (Mounjaro®)
- Weeks 5-8: 0.5mg weekly (Wegovy®) or 5mg (Mounjaro®)
- Weeks 9-12: 1mg weekly (Wegovy®) or 7.5mg (Mounjaro®)
- Weeks 13-16: 1.7mg weekly (Wegovy®) or 10mg (Mounjaro®)
- Weeks 17 onwards: 2.4mg weekly (Wegovy®) or 12.5mg (Mounjaro®)
- Onwards 15mg (Mounjaro®)
Although, the time line above is not exclusive as we generally keep our patients on 1mg (Wegovy®) or 10mg (Mounjaro®) for a few months before we move onto the higher pens.
Who qualifies for GLP-1?
Wegovy® or Mounjaro®can be used by adults aged 18-75 who have:
- A BMI of 30 or above
- A BMI of 27 or above and you have a weight-related health condition such as:
- Asthma
- Cardiovascular disease
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Fatty liver disease
- Gallbladder disease
- High Blood Pressure
- History of certain cancers
- Osteoarthritis or gout
- PCOS
- Sleep apnoea
You won’t be able to take Wegovy® or Mounjaro® if you:
- Are over 75
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have liver, kidney or heart failure, an eating disorder or pancreatitis
- Are taking insulin, sulphonylureas or other weight loss drugs that work in the same way as Wegovy®, e.g. Victoza, Ozempic, Saxenda.
Wegovy® or Mounjaro® Injection potential side effects
Like all medications, some people might feel some side effects from taking Wegovy® or Mounjaro®. It’s thought that more than one in 10 people might experience headaches, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, tummy ache or nausea.
Some people might also experience dizzy spells, indigestion and bloating among other symptoms. Find out more by reading the Wegovy® 'patient information leaflet' here or Mounjaro® 'patient information leaflet' here.