Everyone using or considering weight loss medications should understand this:
According to an article in the Times, 1.5 million people in the UK are using weight loss medications - GLP 1 agonists such as Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide). The vast majority of these patients source their medications via an online only service, without a face to face consultation with a doctor.
It is entirely understandable that patients would seek out the quickest and cheapest way to get their hands on these medications. And this model sure suits the bottom line if you are a medication retailer. Nevertheless it presents a problem: where do all those customers/patients go for further support when things don’t go entirely to plan?
GLP 1 agonists are powerful medications. There is a sense in the medical community that we are at the tip of the iceberg in terms of uncovering their potential benefits. On the other side of the same coin, and in spite of the multiple studies already conducted, we continue to learn about their drawbacks and how to manage those safely.
To give a recent example, we are still learning how GLP-1 agonists, in slowing gastric transit, impact the absorption of other orally taken medications. In only the last few months, guidance has been issued for all women using oral contraceptives along side weight loss injections to use extra (barrier) methods of contraception in the first few months, to guard against unwanted pregnancy. Even more recently (in the last month or so) the same study findings have been extrapolated by organisations including the British Menopause Society to oral HRT. They therefore highlight the need for extra vigilance for those taking oral HRT in combination with weight loss injections. Specifically it’s important that sufficient progesterone is being absorbed to protect the endometrium from possible cancer risk.
Thankfully, if Winchester GP is overseeing either your weight loss medications and/or your HRT, you can be assured that we are all over this and we are making it our business to ensure that you are advised of any monitoring, refinement or medication reviews that might be needed. It’s one of the reasons we issue prescriptions of shorter duration and also request regular review appointments. Even if sometimes our requests can come over as ‘fussing’ - please humour us!
If you are getting your weight loss medications from a pharmacy led, or exclusively online service, I can probably save you the conversation with their ‘live chat’ function to advise that their ‘guidance’ will be to get back in touch with your NHS GP if you have any concerns.
Winchester GPs weight loss support package is designed to give you all the touch points you might need for a 6 month period of taking GLP - 1 agonists: up to 3 in person consultations, 2 email queries, and free repeat prescription requests (so we can issue in shorter increments, without extra financial burden for you). And we ask for a full 40 minutes initial consultation before you even get started, so that all parties can be absolutely certain that this is the right thing for you.
Wishing you a great week,
Winchester GP