Can Psychiatrists Prescribe GLP-1 Medicines? UK Guide (October 2026)

01 · The short answer

Can a psychiatrist prescribe GLP-1 medicines in the UK?

Yes, in principle. A psychiatrist is a fully registered doctor, and a doctor's licence to prescribe is not limited to one organ system. What matters is whether the individual clinician feels competent to start, monitor and adjust the treatment, and whether their service allows it. So it is legally possible, but it varies from psychiatrist to psychiatrist.

Many psychiatrists do not take on weight-loss prescribing. It needs BMI checks, a review of weight-related conditions, dose step-ups and regular follow-up that sit outside a mental health appointment. Our related guide on psychiatrists and weight loss medication covers that wider picture, and there is a separate page on whether a psychiatrist can prescribe Mounjaro specifically.

02 · In practice

What usually happens if you ask your psychiatrist

Three outcomes are common. Your psychiatrist may say it is outside their remit and suggest your GP. They may agree the weight concern is real and write to your GP, or they may be willing to prescribe themselves. Any of these is reasonable. What you should expect in every case is a conversation about how the new medicine fits with the psychiatric medicines you already take.

If your psychiatrist declines, that is not a judgement on whether you are suitable. It usually reflects the boundaries of their service. Your GP may be able to prescribe a GLP-1 medicine, though NHS access is phased, and a private online prescriber is another route. Other clinicians come up too, and our guides on which doctors prescribe GLP-1 medicines and whether a pharmacist can prescribe GLP-1 show how it differs by role.

03 · Your options

Your routes to a GLP-1 prescription compared

You can use more than one route. Telling your psychiatrist you are starting treatment is sensible, and we encourage you to mention your psychiatric medicines in your consultation.

04 · Getting started

How ordering Mounjaro with us works

If you want a private assessment, the Mounjaro pen starts with a first 2.5mg pen at £129.99 using code FIRST40 (standard price £169.99). Every later order is £25 off the standard price (code DOSE25). The process has three steps:

• Free online consultation. A short health questionnaire with no charge and no obligation. Include every medicine you take.
• Prescriber review. Your answers are reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber, not a scoring script. Payment is taken when you place the order; if the prescriber decides the treatment is not suitable, the order is refunded automatically in full.
• Dispensing and delivery. Our registered pharmacy dispenses your pen, with same-day dispatch when ordered by 3pm and free next-day tracked delivery in temperature-controlled packaging.

You can start your free consultation at any time. All six doses are in stock, and the consultation is free: the price shown is the price paid.

05 · How GLP-1 medicines work

How GLP-1 medicines work

GLP-1 medicines act on natural gut-hormone pathways that regulate appetite and blood sugar. Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a once-weekly injectable prescription medicine made by Eli Lilly. In the UK it is licensed for weight management in adults and for type 2 diabetes.¹ It comes as a pre-filled multi-dose pen (KwikPen) in six strengths: 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg and 15mg.¹

Tirzepatide is the first treatment of its kind to activate two natural gut-hormone receptors at once: GIP and GLP-1. Together these help regulate appetite, slow how quickly the stomach empties, and improve the way the body responds to insulin.¹ In practice, most people feel fuller sooner and less hungry between meals, which supports a reduced-calorie diet.

This dual action is what distinguishes Mounjaro from single-action GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic).¹ That distinction matters when a psychiatrist or GP is choosing between products, because the two are different medicines with their own licences, dose ladders and product information. Wegovy, for example, steps up after at least 4 weeks through 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg and 1.7mg to the 2.4mg maintenance dose from week 17, while Mounjaro uses its own six-strength pen range. If you are comparing the two, our Wegovy pen page has the details.

The mechanism is also why a prescriber wants to know your full medicine list. Slower stomach emptying and changes in appetite are part of how the medicine works, and they are among the reasons a clinician reviews everything else you take before starting. That review is the same whether it is carried out by a psychiatrist, a GP or an online prescriber.

Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection, which some people find easier to fit around daily psychiatric medicines than a daily regimen. Liraglutide products, by contrast, are daily injections supplied at 6mg per millilitre. Which product suits you is a prescriber's decision, based on your history.

Tirzepatide has a half-life of about five days, so after a final dose it takes roughly 4–5 weeks to clear the system. There is no way to speed this up, and nothing needs doing while it clears.¹ That is useful to know if a psychiatrist later changes your other medicines and wants to understand the timeline. For a broader look at the treatment range, see all weight loss treatments.

06 · Who is eligible

Who is eligible for Mounjaro

Eligibility depends on BMI and weight-related health conditions, not on whether you see a psychiatrist. Mounjaro is licensed for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI between 27 and 30 with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnoea, cardiovascular disease, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.¹

It must be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. A prescriber will assess your BMI, medical history and current medicines before deciding whether it is suitable for you.¹ If you take antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers or anything else, that list is part of the assessment, and it belongs in your consultation.

A mental health diagnosis does not by itself rule you in or out of the licensed criteria. What a prescriber weighs is the whole picture: your BMI, your weight-related conditions, your history and your medicines.

It helps to go in prepared. Before a consultation, it is worth gathering:

• Your current height and weight, so your BMI can be worked out.
• A list of every prescribed medicine, including psychiatric ones, with doses.
• Any weight-related conditions you have been diagnosed with, such as high blood pressure or prediabetes.
• Past experience of weight-loss treatments, and anything you were told about them.

If you are weighing up professional routes, the same criteria apply whichever clinician you see. Our guides on the dermatologist route to GLP-1 and the Nourish service show how other specialties and providers frame this, and the Virta programme is another example of a structured service.

Read the patient information leaflet that comes with your pen as well.¹³ It is the document your psychiatrist or pharmacist will refer to if questions come up later, and it lists the full range of warnings and interactions.

07 · NHS versus private

NHS versus private access

Mounjaro is available on the NHS, but access is being phased in over several years. NICE recommends it for adults with a BMI of at least 35 plus at least one weight-related condition, and the NHS primary-care rollout began in June 2025 with the highest-need groups first (initially BMI 40+ with four or more qualifying conditions).⁴⁶ Full rollout is expected to take years, which is why many people who meet the licensed criteria choose regulated private treatment rather than waiting.

In the NHS system, a prescription for weight management normally comes through your GP or a specialist service rather than a psychiatrist's mental health clinic. If your psychiatrist thinks weight is a concern, the usual constructive step is a letter or conversation with your GP. You can ask both at the same appointment cycle, and it is worth asking your GP directly where your practice stands on the rollout.

Private treatment works differently. You complete an online consultation, a GPhC-registered prescriber reviews it, and, if you are suitable, a pharmacy dispenses and delivers your pen. The medicine is the same genuine Mounjaro, and we supply it through official LillyDirect supply, direct from Eli Lilly's UK distribution. It is the licensed criteria that decide suitability, not the NHS rollout stage.

Neither route is better in every case. The NHS route may suit you if you are in a prioritised group and are happy to wait for a local pathway to open. Private treatment suits people who meet the licensed criteria and want to begin sooner, and who are comfortable paying. The NHS prescription charge of £9.90 in England is a separate matter and does not apply to private supply.

Whichever route you take, ask for ongoing review. Our service includes ongoing monthly clinical reviews, dose titration and follow-up assessments by the prescribing team, with side-effect support. Repeat orders re-check suitability, and there is no auto-shipping, so nothing is sent without you choosing it. If you are also under a psychiatrist, you can share that follow-up with them.

The Buy Mounjaro page explains the ordering process in full.

08 · Weight and psychiatric medicines

Weight, mood and psychiatric medicines

Weight and mental health are closely linked in people's lives, and this is often the real reason someone asks a psychiatrist about GLP-1 medicines. Some people notice weight changes after starting a psychiatric medicine and want to know their options. Your psychiatrist or pharmacist can tell you what is known about your specific medicine.

Medicines affect people differently, and weight loss can feel very different from one person to the next.

• Do not stop or change a psychiatric medicine on your own because of weight. Raise it with the prescriber who manages it.
• Tell your psychiatrist before starting a GLP-1 medicine, and tell the GLP-1 prescriber about every psychiatric medicine you take.
• Ask for a plan. Agree who reviews what, and when, so no one assumes someone else is watching.
• Keep notes on appetite, sleep and mood, so any change is easy to describe to your clinicians.

Mounjaro is licensed for weight management alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.¹ If you live with an eating disorder or a history of one, tell the prescriber. A weight-loss medicine is a decision for clinicians who know your history, and we would rather you said so in the consultation than leave it out.

Your prescriber will assess your medical history and current medicines before deciding whether Mounjaro is suitable.¹ The patient information leaflet is your reference for the full list of warnings.¹³ The EMA's safety committee reviewed the evidence and concluded in 2024 that it does not support a causal link between GLP-1 medicines and low mood or suicidal thoughts, and the MHRA keeps this under continuous review. Any big change in weight, appetite and routine can affect how you feel, so tell your prescriber about any history of depression, and seek help promptly if your mood drops or you have distressing thoughts during treatment. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, get help straight away. Call 999 or go to A&E if you are in immediate danger. In England you can call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, any time. You can also call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night. Tell your prescriber about any change in your mood while taking Mounjaro.

Treat the weight question and the mood question as joined up. A clinician who knows both will give better advice than one who knows only one. That is the practical value of a psychiatrist's input here, even if they do not write the GLP-1 prescription themselves.

09 · Safety and reporting

Safety, side effects and reporting

Report any new or worrying symptom to your prescriber, and report suspected side effects through the Yellow Card scheme. This applies to physical symptoms and to changes in mood, sleep or thinking. Do not wait for your next scheduled review if something concerns you, and if you have thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, get help straight away: call 999 or go to A&E if you are in immediate danger.

The patient information leaflet supplied with your pen lists every side effect.¹³ Read it before your first injection. A symptom that is not on the leaflet list is not a listed side effect, and your prescriber should still hear about any new or lasting symptom.

Some practical points for anyone who sees both a psychiatrist and a weight-management prescriber:

• Share the same medicine list with both clinicians and update it whenever anything changes.
• Mention any other medicines or supplements, including over-the-counter ones, because a prescriber can only judge what they know about.
• Use one pharmacy where you can, so records stay consistent.
• Keep the leaflet and your pen instructions to hand, and follow the pen's instructions for each injection.

Be wary of anyone offering to supply a GLP-1 medicine without a consultation or prescription. Counterfeit and unregulated products are a real risk, and the MHRA publishes counterfeit medicine alerts.⁷ You can check any UK pharmacy on the GPhC register. Ours is registration 9012878, and our Mounjaro comes through official LillyDirect supply, with genuine KwikPens.

If you take insulin or sulfonylureas, your doses may need adjusting because of the risk of low blood sugar. That is a conversation for your prescriber, not a reason to adjust anything yourself. The same applies if you take oral contraceptives, because Mounjaro slows stomach emptying, which can reduce how well the pill is absorbed. The SmPC advises switching to a non-oral method, or adding a barrier method (such as condoms), for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro and for 4 weeks after each dose increase.¹

Support is available if you order from us: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, by email at support@everydaymeds.co.uk, through the account portal chat, or by phone on 0333 207 0413. Needles, a sharps bin and injection guidance are included with every order.

10 · What results to expect

What results to expect, and what happens if you stop

In the SURMOUNT-1 trial of 2,539 adults, people taking tirzepatide alongside diet and exercise lost on average 15% of their body weight on 5mg, 19.5% on 10mg and 20.9% on 15mg over 72 weeks, compared with 3.1% with lifestyle changes alone.² These are trial averages. Individual results vary, and treatment works alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, not instead of them.

At 72 weeks, 85% of participants on 5mg, 89% on 10mg and 91% on 15mg had lost at least 5% of their body weight. Half of participants on 10mg and 57% on 15mg lost at least 20% of their body weight.² To make this concrete, for someone starting at 100 kg, 20.9% is about 21 kg.

Your prescriber can discuss realistic expectations at your reviews.

Do you have to stay on a GLP-1 forever? Mounjaro manages weight; it does not cure the biology behind it. In SURMOUNT-4, people who stopped tirzepatide after 36 weeks regained on average 14% of body weight over the following year, while those who continued treatment lost a further 5.5% on average. Stopping should always be planned with your prescriber, with diet and activity habits ready to carry the load.¹⁴

Which GLP-1 is safest? No licensed medicine is safest for everyone. Safety depends on the individual, the dose, their history and their other medicines. Mounjaro and Wegovy are both licensed treatments, and the choice is a prescriber's, informed by your medicine list. What is the downside of taking one? Like all medicines, Mounjaro can cause side effects, and most are digestive: the most common, affecting more than 1 in 10 people, are nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, constipation and abdominal discomfort. Cost and the need for continued review are practical factors to weigh.

For anyone managing a mental health condition, expectations matter. A weight-loss medicine is one part of a wider plan, and it sits beside your psychiatric care, not in place of it. Keep your psychiatrist informed of how you are getting on, so they see the whole picture.

11 · Costs over a year

What Mounjaro costs over a year

The standard monthly prices are £169.99 at 2.5mg, £218.99 at 5mg, £279.99 at 7.5mg, £290.99 at 10mg, £319.99 at 12.5mg and £329.99 at 15mg. Prices were checked 10 October 2026. A new customer's first order is £40 less with code FIRST40, and every later order is £25 less (code DOSE25).

These totals are at standard prices, before discounts. For other maintenance doses, use that dose's monthly price: £279.99 at 7.5mg, £290.99 at 10mg or £319.99 at 12.5mg.

If you are switching to us from another provider at a higher dose, the new-customer discount still applies. Across the UK pharmacies we track, the cheapest and dearest Mounjaro pens at any dose run from £143.96 to £339.00 (checked 10 October 2026), and the gap between providers for the same dose ranges from £27 to £41.

Payment is by Visa or Mastercard, Klarna or pay-monthly options, with no subscription lock-in. If your prescriber declines your consultation, you are refunded automatically in full. Dispensed prescription medicines cannot be returned except if faulty, damaged or the wrong item, which you must report within 3 days. Refunds take 5 to 10 working days.

Delivery is free next-day tracked DPD in discreet, temperature-controlled packaging. Saturday delivery costs £14.99. You can begin a free consultation without any obligation, and the free GLPTrackr app helps you track your journey on iOS or Android.

Wherever you buy, make sure the price shown is the price you pay, and that the seller is on the GPhC register. A price that looks too good to be true, from a seller who does not ask about your health, is a warning sign.

12 · Serious side effects

Serious side effects: when to get help straight away

Serious side effects are uncommon but need urgent attention. Seek immediate medical help for: severe, persistent stomach pain that may spread to your back, with or without vomiting (possible pancreatitis); pain in the upper right abdomen, fever or yellowing of skin/eyes (possible gallbladder problems); or signs of a severe allergic reaction such as swelling of the face or throat and difficulty breathing. If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea alongside Mounjaro, watch for low blood sugar (shakiness, sweating, confusion) — your prescriber may need to adjust those medicines.¹

13 · Working with your care team

Working with your psychiatrist and prescriber together

It works best when your psychiatrist, your GP and your weight-management prescriber all know what you are taking. No single clinician needs to do everything, but someone should have the whole picture. A short, practical approach works well.

Start with a written medicine list. Include the name, dose and start date of every prescribed medicine, plus anything bought over the counter. Bring it to your psychiatrist appointment and share it in your online consultation. When something changes, update both.

Next, agree roles. Your psychiatrist continues to manage your mental health treatment. Your weight-management prescriber manages the GLP-1 medicine, its dose steps and its monitoring. Where the two overlap, such as a symptom that could be either, ask them to talk, or ask for a note you can pass on. Our ongoing monthly reviews, dose-titration and follow-up assessments are designed so there is always a clinician you can return to.

Here are questions worth asking your psychiatrist:

• Are you comfortable with me starting a GLP-1 medicine given what I take now?
• Is there anything about my current treatment I should watch for as my weight changes?
• Who should I contact first if I notice a change in mood or sleep?
• Would you like a copy of my prescriber's notes, or should I send a summary?

And questions worth asking your weight-management prescriber:

• Have you seen my full medicine list, including psychiatric medicines?
• How will my dose be reviewed, and how often?
• What should I do if I miss a dose or feel unwell?
• Whom do I contact between reviews?

Mounjaro is a once-weekly pen with six strengths.¹ Follow the pen's instructions for each injection, and keep the patient information leaflet to hand.¹³ Keep pens in a fridge at 2–8°C and never freeze them; once in use, a pen can be kept out of the fridge at a temperature not above 30°C for up to 30 days after first use and must then be thrown away.

Over 100,000 customers have been supported by EverydayMeds on their weight loss journey, but that figure tells you about our experience of serving people, not about your result. Your result depends on you, your dose, your habits and your health. Our job is to give you a properly reviewed prescription, genuine medicine and follow-up. Your psychiatrist's job remains your mental health. Together they make a sensible plan.