Frequently Asked Questions on Weight Loss

The best time to reorder your injectable weight loss prescription, of Saxenda, is after your first two doses. We advise placing your order after you’ve finished your first two pens.

The best time to reorder your injectable weight loss medication, such as Mounjaro, is after your first two doses. This ensures you have time to adjust to the initial dose before moving to the next. We advise placing your order 1 week before you take your final dose. At the very latest, you should place your order the day you take your final dose.

How to adjust your dose:

If you take Saxenda or Orlistat, increase your dose each week until you reach the maximum maintenance dose. If you need to step down or maintain a specific dose, please contact our doctors for advice.

If you take Mounjaro, increase your dose each month until you reach the maintenance dose that works for you (5mg, 10mg or 15mg. If you need to step down or maintain a specific dose, please contact our doctors for advice.

• More information about our weight loss service
• If you have any further questions on your treatment you can message us via your patient account.

You can place a repeat order through our weight loss service page or the order history in your patient account.

How it works:

1. Complete a short assessment, which includes questions on which medication you are on and which dose you are currently on.
2. Highlight your treatment preference.
3. Our doctors review your answers, and approve your order if treatment is still suitable.

Place an order

If the treatment you're seeking isn't visible after your consultation, it could be due to:

• An issue with filling out the questionnaire correctly.
• The treatment being temporarily unavailable or out of stock.

If this occurs, we suggest:

• Checking our treatments page periodically to see if it's back in stock.
• Considering filling out another questionnaire to ensure accuracy.

If you're unable to see your preferred weight loss treatment, it is recommended that you remain on your pre-existing dose for the next course if you’re not at the maintenance dose and increase dosage when your medication becomes available again.

We're here to support you in finding the right treatment.

You may increase your dose every 7 days until you reach the maintenance dose if you’re taking Saxenda or Mysimba.

If you take Xenical (orlistat), no change of dose is needed, you should take 1 capsule with each of the three main meals.

Saxenda and Mysimba dosage is increased weekly but you won’t need to order a new dosage for these medications. This is because the Saxenda pen comes with each dose available and you’ll select the dosage you need when injecting. Mysimba tablets come in the same dose tablets, but you’ll gradually increase how many tablets you take each day.

Mounjaro dosage is increased after 4 weeks on your current dose.

Our doctors will provide you with a dosing schedule when placing your order, which you can review in your patient account messages. It is important to keep to your dosing schedule as not doing so can cause more severe side effects.

If you are experiencing unmanageable side effects, you may need to stay on your current dose for longer or go back to the previous dose.

• Learn more about changing doses
• Continue treatment

Saxenda has an increased dosage schedule each week, so one pen will last around 2 weeks when you start taking it, and by the time you reach the maintenance dose of 3mg, each pen will last 6 days.

Mounjaro contains 4 doses. You take 1 dose a week, so 1 pen lasts 4 weeks (28 days)

Oral medication can be requested in courses of up to three months at a time.

• Find out more about our weight loss service
• Have further questions? Log into your account

Unopened:

• Saxenda should be stored in the fridge between 2°C and 8°C. Keep your pens in their original packaging until ready for use. Do not freeze them.
• Mounjaro should be stored in the fridge between 2°C and 8°C. Keep your pens in their original packaging until ready for use. Do not freeze them.

Saxenda

After First Use: Once the pen has been used, it can be stored at room temperature (not exceeding 30°C), or you can continue storing it in the fridge away from the cooling element. When not in use, keep the pen cap on to protect it from light.

Please note: Saxenda must be used within 1 month once opened.

Mounjaro

After First Use: Once the pen has been used, it can be stored at room temperature (not exceeding 25°C) for up to 30 days, or you can continue storing it in the fridge. Each pen should last 21 days (4 doses in total) after their first use. When not in use, keep the pen cap on to protect it from light.

Please note: Mounjaro must be used within 30 days of being exposed to temperatures above 8°C.

Our digital prescriptions will be sent via Healthmail to a pharmacy of your choice within 2 hours of being approved within working hours.

You can also choose a pharmacy with a courier. If you select this option, we’ll send your digital prescription to a pharmacy that can provide a courier service for your medication. They’ll contact you for a short consultation. If approved, you can purchase your medication from the pharmacy, who will courier it to your chosen address. Tracking information is not shared with us, so we advise you to contact the pharmacy directly so they can provide you with it.

Want to check the status of your order? Log into your account here

Orders are usually pending because a doctor needs more information to process it. This can include:

• Questions about your health to ensure the treatment is suitable
• Photos of yourself to confirm your details for weight loss treatment

If your order is pending, please check your patient account for any messages from your doctor. Please allow at least 48 hours for our doctors to reply.

As part of your consultation for weight loss treatment, we may ask you to provide a few photos. These help our doctors assess whether the treatment is suitable for you and ensure it remains safe throughout your weight loss journey.

To make this easy, we use our own Guided Photo Tool, which works directly in your smartphone’s browser. You’ll get clear, step-by-step instructions on how to set up your space, what to wear, and how to pose for each photo.

We’ll request these photos when you place your first order and at key points during your treatment, so we can safely monitor your progress and make informed decisions about your care.

You can take as many attempts as you like before submitting, and only the final photos you choose to send will be stored securely and solely for the purpose of verifying your BMI.

For the most up-to-date photo requirements, please visit our BMI verification page.

No, you will only be asked for photos:

• When you first order weight loss treatment
• When our doctors need to confirm your BMI and progress during your journey

Ready to place your next order? Log into your account.

To be approved, your photos need to follow the exact guidelines outlined in our Guided Photo Tool. You will be provided with these instructions while taking and submitting your photos. If your photos are not accepted, it is most likely because they do not meet these criteria. We will let you know if we require new photos or if our doctors have any questions.

We understand that taking photos can be a sensitive issue, and we appreciate your effort in providing them. However, if your photos do not meet the above criteria or our doctors cannot verify their integrity, we may need to ask for further photos.

We understand that submitting photos can feel uncomfortable, but we need to request these as we can’t see you in person and need to verify your BMI. Using weight loss medication incorrectly can have dangerous side effects, and we want to guarantee that we are prescribing safely and appropriately for our patients. So while we understand this might be difficult for you, we need to do this or we can’t prescribe you treatment.

If you forget to take your Saxenda injection:

If it's been 12 hours or less: Take the injection as soon as you remember. Then, take your next dose on your regular schedule.

If it's been more than 12 hours: Skip the missed dose. Just wait and take your next dose at your regular time.

If you miss a dose by more than 2 days: you need to go back to the starting dose of 0.6mg daily, and work up as you did at the beginning, over a course of a few weeks. This is because your body will need to get used to the drug again and you’re at risk of developing more side effects.

If you forget to take your Mounjaro injection:

If it's been 4 days or less: Take the injection as soon as you remember. Then, take your next dose on your regular schedule.

If it's been more than 4 days but still less than a full missed week: Skip the missed dose and simply wait and take your next dose on your regular scheduled day.

If it has been more than a full week missed: You might need to restart at the lowest dose. See our doctor’s advice in your patient account specific to your treatment.

The most common side effects of Saxenda are: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and constipation.

• Read the full list of side effects in the Saxenda patient information leaflet
• Learn more about Saxenda side effects and when you should see a doctor

If you are worried about side effects, you can message our doctors directly through your patient account.

The most common side effects of Mounjaro are: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.

• Read the full list of side effects in the Mounjaro patient information leaflet
• Learn more about Mounjaro side effects and how to manage them

If you are worried about side effects, you can message our doctors directly through your patient account.

We understand the importance of having proper documentation for your treatment or travel needs. Once your treatment is approved, we provide a GP letter. You can quickly download it via your patient account in your "order history".

You can usually travel with prescription medication with a GP letter and continue taking your medication while travelling. Saxenda can also be stored out of the fridge for up to 30 days.

If you cannot or do not want to take your medication with you, you must restart treatment if you don’t take Saxenda for 3 days or more.

If you’re travelling with Mounjaro and need to adjust your dosing schedule, you can do so as long as there are at least 4 days between any two doses. You will need to go back to your starting dose if you have more than a 2-week gap between doses. For Mounjaro to remain effective and safe to use it needs to be refrigerated (stored between 2°C and 8°C). It can be stored unrefrigerated so long as it is not above 8°C) for longer than 30 days.

For Saxenda – Saxenda is taken every day, there’s no way to change your dosage day, but you can change the time you take it. Start taking it at the new time of day you’d rather take it, a few days before you go, just in case this causes any side effects. You can change it back when you get home, or keep it at the same time but remember it works best when taken at the same time each day.

For Mounjaro – you can change your dose so long as there are at least 4 days between any two doses. You will need to go back to your starting dose if you have more than a 2-week gap between doses.

Yes, you can order more of your weight loss injections in advance. This can help ensure you have a continuous supply without interruptions in your treatment. Just let your doctor know when placing your order.

You can get more needles from your local pharmacy. We recommend 32G/4mm screw fit needles. Compatible examples include BD Micro-Fine Ultra, GlucoRx Ultra Carepoint, and GlucoRx Finepoint.

If there is more fluid in your pen, this may be caused by the small amount of 'surplus fluid' left in each pen. This fluid helps the pen function correctly and is nothing to be concerned about.

Saxenda: As Saxenda pens have the option to provide any dose, continue taking the dose you are supposed to take until it’s time to increase your dose. Remember that a lost or misused dose means you might have less medication in your pen, and might need to request a new prescription sooner.

Mounjaro: If you lose or misuse your Mounjaro pen you have two options:

Option 1: Ideally, you should use each dose for at least 4 weeks before moving to the next one. We recommend getting the same dose again and continuing with another pen for another 4 weeks. There's no harm in staying on a lower dose longer than 4 weeks. Many people do this to allow any side effects to settle.

Option 2: If you don’t want to stay on the same dose and have not had any side effects, you can consider moving up to the next dose after your 3 doses are finished. However, this is not the recommended use of the pen and may cause more side effects at the higher dose.

If you lose or misuse more than one dose, you should order another pen of the same dose to continue for at least 4 weeks in total. We do not recommend moving up to the next dose if you've had fewer than 3 doses at your current level.

You should only ever adjust your dose as instructed by your doctor. Always follow your doctor's instructions and check your treatment plan in your patient account before changing your dose.

The time between changing doses is usually 1 week for Saxenda. But this can change depending on how you're responding to your treatment.

The time between doses for Mounjaro is usually 4 weeks. But this can change depending on how you're responding to your treatment.

If you mistakenly took an extra dose, you may experience more intense side effects, but these will settle over time. If the side effects are troublesome, you may need to delay your next dose by a couple of days or go back to your previous dose. If the side effects are too difficult to manage or are not getting better, speak to a healthcare professional.

You may notice that you suddenly stop losing weight after a period of weight loss. This is called a weight loss plateau, and it's a natural part of the process.

When you increase your dose, you also might notice that it doesn't work as well as before. This is normal, as your body gets used to the new dose. At first, you might also lose water weight instead of fat, which is why your weight may stabilise.

If you keep taking your medication as directed, eat healthy and exercise regularly, you should continue losing weight after your plateau.

It depends on the person. Some people see results within a few weeks, while others might need a couple of months.

You might start feeling fuller after a few doses, but it can take time for the medication to fully work in your body. If you don't see any changes after a couple of months, you can talk to your doctor about other options.

For weight loss injections, options include Mounjaro, and Saxenda. Mounjaro contains Tirzepatide, mimicking hunger and satiety hormones. Saxenda, containing liraglutide, also signals fullness and aids weight loss with diet and exercise.

For weight loss tablets, Orlistat/Xenical blocks fat absorption, while Mysimba acts on brain areas controlling appetite and food cravings. Alli, an over-the-counter tablet, contains a lower dose of Orlistat.

Regular weight reviews are essential with any treatment, alongside a healthy diet and exercise plan.

→ More about our weight loss options