Mounjaro for Weight Loss and What Help is there for You To Lose Weight

WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATION (Mounjaro) is currently not available for NHS prescription in Greater Manchester by GPs.

We are receiving many requests to prescribe weight loss injections (eg Tirzepatide also known as Mounjaro). Greater Manchester ICB (the organisation responsible for overseeing NHS funding for practices in Tameside) has issued instructions that this medication cannot be prescribed for weight loss by GPs currently. The website link below gives more information, including who may be eligible for this medication in the future.

The initial cohort of patients eligible for Mounjaro will be patients over 18 years old with a Body Mass Index (BMI) more than 50 and having 4 out of the following 5 conditions – high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia), diabetes, cardiovascular disease and sleep apnoea

please ensure the surgery has your latest height, weight, blood pressure, smoking and alcohol status

We do recognise that this is a frustrating situation for many patients, and booking an appointment to speak about this will not change the outcome.

The decision not to prescribe is NOT taken by the GPs / practitioners at the surgery – they have to follow the guidelines in place.

There are a number of our patients receiving Mounjaro (or similar ) for their diabetes management – this is allowed on the NHS and will continue.

What support is available now?

While tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) is not yet available, there are still many ways to get support:

1. Your GP, Practice Nurse or Pharmacist
   • If you are worried about your weight and not sure what to do then please speak to your doctor, nurse or practice pharmacist about what we can do to help you besides offering weight loss injections. Please sign up for access to your GP electronic health records and understanding so that you can check when you last had your weight, height and blood pressure checked and also read what advice your doctor or nurse have given you over the years about looking after your health and wellbeing.
2. Be Well Tameside
   • Be Well Tameside is a free service for those who live, work, volunteer or have a GP in the borough. The service offers range of health and wellbeing support, advice on a range of day-to-day lifestyle issues areas including helping with weight loss as well as food, nutrition and dietary advice, increasing physical activity, stopping smoking, cutting alcohol, dental advice and free NHS health checks. They provide one to one appointments, regular contact and support and practical tips and can also offer telephone and video consultations as well. Get in touch to make an appointment or for more information: Tel: 0161 342 5050 or Email: bewelltameside@tameside.gov.uk 
3. More Life (for patients with BMI 35 and over).
   • Contact your GP surgery to get referred to them for intensive support for weight loss including the possibility for bariatric weight loss surgery eg gastric bypass, gastric band, gastric balloon and sleeve gastrectomy. This can be offered for patients with BMI more than 40 but will require you to agree to lifestyle and diet changes and regular check-ups.
4. NHS Better Health
   • NHS Better Health offers advice, tools, and support to help you eat better, move more, and lose weight.
5. NHS Digital Weight Management Programme
   • If you have obesity and either diabetes or high blood pressure or both, you may be able to join this free online programme that helps with weight loss.
   • Ask your GP or local community pharmacy about being referred.
6. Let’s get moving – cycling
   • Support is available to get cycling and get walking 
   • You can also visit Greater Manchester Walking to find local walking groups.

Important information for patients getting Mounjaro from a private provider

We also recognise that some patients are accessing prescriptions from private pharmacies or online providers. Please do tell us if you are on mounjaro or any other similar drugs for weight loss management if you are receiving this privately and the dose you are on so that we can make a note of it on your records. This is important as there are significant side effects as well as potentially life threatening complications with mounjaro or others that we need to be aware of when we assess you for any healthcare concerns you have. We will not know you are taking mounjaro or others unless you tell us. Please also ensure you let your private provider know about any other medications you are taking.

If you are receiving Mounjaro from a private provider AND taking the oral contraceptive pill or oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT), please contact us and ask for a medication review, as the oral contraceptive (or HRT) may not be as effective. It is important you use barrier methods (condoms) for the first 4 weeks after starting mounjaro and also each time there is an increase in the dose.

Side effects of Mounjaro

When starting Mounjaro and at any dose increase, common side-effects can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and constipation; these are usually non-serious but can persist for several days and may lead to serious complications such as severe dehydration and kidney damage, resulting in hospitalisation. For this reason, patients should be advised to stay well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids throughout treatment. There are also other serious but less common side-effects, including acute gallstone disease, pancreatitis, and serious allergic reactions.