GLP-1 Indication: What These Medicines Are Prescribed For (October 2026)

01 · The core answer

What are GLP-1 medicines indicated for?

GLP-1 medicines are indicated for weight management in adults and for type 2 diabetes, and the exact licence depends on the product. For Mounjaro, the UK product information is clear: in the UK it is licensed for weight management in adults and for type 2 diabetes.¹ The medicine is used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.¹

Other GLP-1 products have their own licences. Wegovy (semaglutide) is a weekly pen for weight management, with a stepped dose ladder of 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and 2.4mg, and 2.4mg is the licensed maintenance dose.¹⁸ Liraglutide (Saxenda) is a daily injection supplied at 6mg/ml, unlike the weekly pens.¹⁸ If you want to compare the two weekly pens, see the Wegovy pen and our Mounjaro indication for weight loss guide.

Wegovy tablets and Foundayo are oral GLP-1 options with their own product information; see our oral GLP-1 weight loss guide.

02 · Is this relevant to me?

Who qualifies for GLP-1 weight loss treatment?

Adults considering weight management treatment are assessed individually, because the licence is only a starting point. A prescriber looks at your weight and height, other health conditions, current medicines, pregnancy plans and previous treatments. That review is the real gatekeeper, not a single number on a form.

For the NHS, the criteria are set out by NICE. 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

Private treatment follows the product licence rather than the NHS priority order, but it still needs a clinical review. At EverydayMeds the consultation is free and is reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber, and unsuitable orders are refunded automatically. If you are ready to see whether you are suitable, start with the Mounjaro pen — prices and consultation page, where the starting pen costs £169.99 at the standard price.

03 · Is GLP-1 the same as Mounjaro?

Is GLP-1 the same as Mounjaro?

No. GLP-1 is a natural gut hormone, and "GLP-1 medicines" is the everyday name for drugs that act on its receptor. Mounjaro goes a step further: tirzepatide is the first treatment of its kind to activate two natural gut-hormone receptors at once, GIP and GLP-1.¹ Together these help regulate appetite, slow how quickly the stomach empties, and improve the way the body responds to insulin.¹

This dual action is what distinguishes Mounjaro from single-action GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic).¹ In practice, most people feel fuller sooner and less hungry between meals, which supports a reduced-calorie diet.¹ People often use "GLP-1" as shorthand for the whole class, so it is worth checking which product a page or a prescriber actually means.

Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a once-weekly injectable prescription medicine made by Eli Lilly, supplied as a pre-filled multi-dose pen (KwikPen) in six strengths: 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg and 15mg.¹ Our GLP-1 statistics page pulls together the wider evidence.

04 · NHS criteria and your GP

What are the NHS criteria for GLP-1 medications?

The NHS criteria are tied to BMI and weight-related conditions, and access is being phased in. Mounjaro is available on the NHS, but access is being phased in over several years.⁴⁵ 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).⁶

Full rollout is expected to take years, which is why many people who meet the licensed criteria choose regulated private treatment rather than waiting.⁶ Wegovy access on the NHS runs through specialist weight-management services; ask your GP.

Can my GP prescribe me GLP-1?

Possibly, if you fall within the group your local service is currently treating. Your GP is the right first conversation for NHS access, because they know your history and the local pathway. If you do not yet fall within the current groups, your GP can still discuss other support, and you remain free to consider a regulated private prescriber instead. Our weight loss clinic page explains how the private route works.

05 · When should it be prescribed?

When should GLP-1 be prescribed?

A GLP-1 medicine should be prescribed when a clinician judges that the licensed use applies to you and the benefits outweigh the risks. It is not a shortcut and it is not a replacement for lifestyle change: Mounjaro is used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.¹

Good prescribing usually means a full conversation about the following:

• your weight history and what you have already tried;
• other health conditions, including any diabetes;
• every medicine and supplement you take;
• pregnancy, breastfeeding or plans to conceive;
• how you will manage the diet and activity side of treatment;
• who will review you, and how often, once you start.

At EverydayMeds, ongoing monthly reviews, dose titration and follow-up assessments by the prescribing team are part of the service, and repeat orders re-check suitability. There is no auto-shipping. For dose and titration detail, see the prescribing information in the BNF.¹¹

06 · Who cannot take GLP-1?

Who cannot take GLP-1 medicines?

Mounjaro is not suitable for everyone. You should not take it if you are allergic to tirzepatide or any of its ingredients, and it should not be used during pregnancy or while trying to conceive. Your prescriber will take extra care, or may recommend against treatment, if you have a history of pancreatitis, severe gut or digestive disease, diabetic retinopathy, or gallbladder problems. Always share your full medical history and medicine list during consultation.¹¹³ Mounjaro must not be used during pregnancy, and it should be stopped at least one month before trying to conceive. If you become pregnant during treatment, stop the medicine and tell your prescriber promptly.

Your answers matter. Be open about past conditions, previous operations and anything that has affected your digestion. A free consultation reviewed by a GPhC-registered prescriber exists precisely so that unsuitable orders are caught, and if we decline, you are refunded automatically in full.

Nobody should obtain these medicines from anyone offering to supply without a consultation or prescription. Counterfeit medicine alerts are published by the MHRA.⁷ Our Mounjaro comes through official LillyDirect supply, direct from Eli Lilly's UK distribution, as genuine KwikPens.

07 · Interactions and medicines

What drugs should not be taken with GLP-1?

Some medicines need a closer look when combined with a GLP-1 medicine, so tell your prescriber about everything you take. There is no single "banned" list that fits everyone, and the patient information leaflet is the full reference.¹³

Two examples deserve plain wording. First, Mounjaro slows stomach emptying, which can reduce how well oral contraceptive pills are absorbed.⁷ 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 Second, if you take insulin or sulfonylureas, your doses may need adjusting because of the risk of low blood sugar. They are not simply "forbidden" with Mounjaro, but they need clinical supervision.¹

08 · Side effects to know

What are the common side effects of GLP-1 medication?

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. Side effects are most likely when starting treatment or moving up a dose, and for most people they ease within days to a few weeks as the body adjusts.¹³ Because these medicines slow how quickly the stomach empties, it makes sense that the digestive system is where many people notice changes, and your prescriber can talk you through what to expect and when to seek help.¹

09 · What results to expect

What does the evidence say about weight loss?

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.²

At 72 weeks, 85% of participants on 5mg, 89% on 10mg and 91% on 15mg had lost at least 5% of their body weight.² A worked example: for someone starting at 100 kg, 20.9% is about 21 kg. Trial averages do not predict your own result.

Our GLP-1 infographic summarises the class visually, and if you want a sense of how widely these medicines are used, see GLP-1 adoption.

10 · Next steps

What to do next

If you think a GLP-1 indication applies to you, you have two sensible routes: ask your GP about NHS access, or complete a free online consultation with a regulated pharmacy.

If you go ahead, orders are dispensed by our registered pharmacy (GPhC 9012878), with same-day dispatch when ordered by 3pm and free next-day tracked delivery in temperature-controlled packaging. New customers save £40 on their first order with code FIRST40, and an automatic £25 reorder discount applies to every future order (code DOSE25). Prices were checked 10 October 2026. You can track your progress with the free GLPTrackr companion app.

11 · 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