Is Wegovy available with a private prescription?

From making core memories with friends to the perfect bacon butty, there are some things in life you just can't put a price tag on. For many of us, reaching a healthy weight and feeling amazing in our skin falls firmly into that category.

That said, it can be confronting to hear about some of the eye-watering prices of weight loss medications. The good news is, if you're exploring the world of weight loss medications, it doesn't have to cost the earth.

In the UK, there are cost-effective options like Wegovy — and by accessing it through a holistic health programme like Juniper, you not only gain access to weight loss injections but also the tools to sustain the results for the rest of your life.

If you've been Googling "Wegovy UK private prescription," read on for everything you need to know, including eligibility criteria, availability, cost and benefits.

What is Wegovy?

Developed by US company Novo Nordisk, Wegovy is a weekly injectable medication that falls into a category called GLP-1 receptor agonists. It has the same active ingredient as Ozempic, semaglutide. However, the difference is that it has been approved for weight loss by the Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

GLP-1 medications help patients lose weight by mimicking the action of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1, which is released by the pancreas when we eat [1]. By signaling satiety to the brain, this helps us feel full faster which, in turn, can lead to reduced calorie intake.

It's important to note that Wegovy is not a magic bullet for weight loss. The weekly dose is designed to be combined with lifestyle changes like a healthy balanced diet for optimal results.

That said, Wegovy has been found to be a highly effective weight loss treatment, with patients typically losing around 15% of their starting body weight in the first year [2].

Plus, clinical trials have shown that an average of 10% weight loss was sustained for up to 208 weeks, or 4 years [3].

Is Wegovy available over the counter?

No, Wegovy is a prescription medication. This means you cannot buy Wegovy online without a script, or access it over the counter at your local pharmacy. It must be prescribed to you by a healthcare professional based on a thorough assessment, with ongoing support provided.

Is Wegovy available on the NHS?

Yes, alongside Saxenda, Wegovy is one of two weight loss medications available on the NHS — having launched in the UK in September 2023 [4].

However, there are strict guidelines for prescribing it, as outlined by NICE's (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence) recommendations for using semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity [5].

This states that semaglutide can be used for weight management when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise, only when:

• It is used for a maximum of 2 years
• It is prescribed within a specialist weight management service like Juniper's Weight Loss Reset Programme
• The patient has at least one weight-related comorbidity such as diabetes, pre-diabetes, or high blood pressure
• The patient has a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35
• Or, the patient has a BMI between 30 and 34 and meets NICE's guidelines for referral to specialist weight management services, which include taking waist-to-height ratio and ethnic background into consideration (for example, BMI thresholds are usually lowered by 2.5 kg for people from Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or Caribbean backgrounds).

Can you buy Wegovy privately?

Yes, you can buy Wegovy on a private prescription. However, there is a caveat. In the UK, Wegovy cannot be prescribed directly by clinicians in primary care, like a GP [4].

A referral by a doctor to a specialist weight management service like Juniper currently is the only way to access Wegovy. The NHS has made this decision based on evidence from clinical trials that shows that people lose more weight with semaglutide alongside supervised weight management support than without it.

This aligns with our research, which shows Juniper members are 4.5x more likely to achieve significant weight loss than with medication alone [6].

As the NICE guidelines [5] state:

"It is appropriate to use semaglutide alongside lifestyle interventions that are provided in specialist weight management services (offered in the NHS for a limited time). This is because it is in keeping with the clinical trial, and there is no evidence of effectiveness if semaglutide is used as a single stand-alone treatment."

For a limited time only, NHS has its own 12-week weight management programme.

However, for long-term support that includes lifestyle coaching, nutritional guidance, accountability, and a supportive community, you can learn more about why over 30,000 users trust Juniper here.

How much does Wegovy cost in the UK?

The good news is, the NHS initiative is designed to make accessing Wegovy more accessible for patients. Wegovy injections can be more cost-effective overall than other weight loss treatments when combined with a holistic weight management programme.

According to NICE, the base price for semaglutide (Wegovy) 2.4 mg is £175.80 per pack, for 1.7 mg is £124.53 per pack, and for 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg is £73.25 per pack [7].

Each pack comes with one pre-filled Wegovy pen, replacement needles and a patient information leaflet.

What are the benefits of accessing Wegovy through a weight management service?

Currently, holistic weight management services like Juniper are the only way to access Wegovy in the UK. However, there also happen to be plenty of benefits of taking this pathway, and this applies to other prescription weight loss treatments outside of Wegovy, too.

To begin with, it can make your medically-assisted weight loss journey easier and more streamlined.

Typically, you would need to seek a referral from a GP, who would direct you to a weight management service that can prescribe Wegovy. Cue, time-consuming admin headaches. However, with Juniper, it's a simple, all-in-one process.

After taking the Juniper questionnaire about your stats, medical history and lifestyle, you can book a short chat with our qualified clinical team.

They will be able to assess your situation more thoroughly and if appropriate, prescribe Wegovy the same day. If you are not a suitable candidate for Wegovy, they will also be able to suggest alternative weight loss treatments or strategies.

Plus, once you have your prescription, there's no need to go to the chemist to pick it up. With Juniper, you'll have your treatment delivered to your door quickly and discretely — and, send you repeats like clockwork every month, so you don't miss a beat on your dosing schedule.

You'll also have access to ongoing weight management support. From your starting dose up to your maintenance dose and everything in between, your prescribing team will be for every step of your Wegovy weight loss journey.

Whether you're unsure of the best injection site or are suffering from side effects and need a dose adjustment, you can book them on-demand to answer all your burning questions.

Another benefit of accessing your Wegovy injections via a holistic online programme is gaining the tools for sustained weight loss. Research shows that many patients regain weight in the first year after they stop taking Wegovy [8].

In some cases, they may actually gain more than their initial body weight, due to their reduced muscle mass (and as a result, slower metabolism). The good news is, this doesn't have to be the case.

With a personalised nutrition plan developed by a registered dietitian, you can take all the guesswork out of what to eat. This includes ensuring you get enough protein to maintain your muscle mass, despite your reduced food intake.

You'll also gain access to expert guidance on all aspects of a healthy lifestyle from physical activity to hydration and hormones — plus, a handy dashboard to track all your metrics.

Finally, by joining Juniper's Weight Loss Reset Programme, you also gain access to a community of other, like-minded people. From celebrating the wins to navigating common challenges, they'll be there for every step of your weight loss medication journey.

Ready to find out how much weight you can lose with Wegovy or other weight loss medications? You can get started here.