Tirzepatide vs semaglutide: how the two injections differ
How Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) compare on trial results, side effects and eligibility — with an interactive BMI checker.
Tap a dose to preview the pen · the pharmacist sets your dose at consultation
New to Wegovy? You’ll start on 0.25 mg.
from £25/wk · £100 per pen · 4-dose pen
£100 per month — equivalent to £25 per week
A once-weekly injection that works on the appetite-regulating gut hormone GLP-1. Below: how it works, who it’s licensed for, and how our pharmacist-led programme keeps it safe — every patient assessed in person or by video before any treatment, in line with GPhC February 2025 guidance on the safe supply of weight-loss medicines.
Pay at checkout · no money kept if not approved · Personal pharmacist review
Wegovy is the brand name for semaglutide, a once-weekly injectable medicine that acts on the GLP-1 gut hormone receptor. It is licensed in the UK for chronic weight management alongside diet and physical activity in adults who meet specific clinical criteria.
Wegovy is not a quick fix and is not appropriate for everyone. It is used as part of a longer-term, clinically supervised programme — not a short-term aesthetic treatment.
Eligibility is decided by the pharmacist at consultation. As a guide, current UK clinical criteria typically require:
This list is not exhaustive. The pharmacist will review your full medical history and current medications during your consultation.
Based on clinical trial data
See the average result from the largest Wegovy trial. Your pharmacist confirms what’s suitable for you at consultation — there’s nothing to work out first.
Pharmacist-led care
The average result from the largest Wegovy trial, shown as a share of body weight.
*Average body-weight loss with semaglutide 2.4 mg in the STEP 1 trial (NEJM 2021). Individual results vary significantly. Prescription-only medicine — supplied only after a clinical consultation confirms it’s suitable for you.
Important: the calculators above do not approve or reject you, and the figures are indicative. Eligibility and final pricing are decided by our pharmacists after a full video consultation including BMI verification, medical-history review, and current medications check.
How it works
A confidential questionnaire — BMI, health history and medicines. About 4 minutes, no appointment needed to start.
TodayChoose your dose and pay securely. Your card is authorised — nothing is charged until the pharmacist approves, and the hold is released in full if they can't.
2 minutesEvery weight-loss patient speaks to our pharmacist — pick a video slot at checkout or come in. They verify identity, confirm height and weight, and make the clinical decision.
Usually within 1 working dayIf approved, your pen ships cold-chain by Tracked 24, local van or collection — with scheduled reviews, side-effect support and dose adjustments from the same team.
OngoingWho reviews your case
Every consultation at Hyde Park Pharmacy is reviewed personally by our prescribing pharmacists. We've served the Leeds community from Woodsley Road for years, and we treat online care with the same standard as the counter. If treatment isn't right for you, we'll tell you — and no money is kept: a payment is refunded in full, a card authorisation is simply released.
What the evidence shows
These are average results from the published trials of semaglutide 2.4 mg, shown here for information — not a promise of your result. Whether Wegovy is suitable for you is decided by our pharmacists at consultation.
Mean body-weight change at 68 weeks alongside diet and physical activity, STEP 1 (semaglutide 2.4 mg), NEJM 2021. Average results in adults with overweight or obesity; individual results vary and this is not a prediction of your outcome. Prescription-only medicine — supplied only after a pharmacist consultation.
On average, people lost around 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks alongside diet and activity.
STEP 1, NEJM 2021Weight reduction was broadly maintained out to two years while treatment continued.
STEP 5, Nature Medicine 2022In adults with established heart disease and overweight (without diabetes), Wegovy reduced major cardiovascular events — the one weight-loss medicine licensed for this.
SELECT, NEJM 2023Figures are averages from separate trials and are shown for patient information, not as a comparison or recommendation. The cardiovascular benefit applies to a specific group (established heart disease with overweight, without type 2 diabetes). Your pharmacist confirms what is suitable for you — nothing is dispensed without a consultation.
Prices are shown on this page — every pen is a 4-week supply and the exact figure depends on the dose the pharmacist recommends. Wegovy is supplied in escalating doses — typically starting at 0.25 mg per week and increasing under clinical guidance.
The price includes dispensing and your follow-up consultations. You pay at checkout; your card is authorised and only charged when the pharmacist approves, and the consultation costs nothing if treatment isn’t appropriate for you.
Be cautious of websites offering Wegovy at very low prices without an in-person or video consultation, identity verification, or measured BMI. The MHRA has warned about counterfeit GLP-1 injections in circulation. All medicine supplied by Hyde Park Pharmacy is sourced through licensed UK wholesalers.
Most side effects are mild and gastrointestinal — they tend to improve as your body adjusts. The most common are:
Less common but more serious side effects (severe abdominal pain, signs of pancreatitis, allergic reactions, vision changes if you have diabetes) require urgent medical attention. We will give you a full information leaflet and emergency guidance at your consultation.
Your safety comes first
Comparing your options
We supply two alternatives under the same pharmacist-led service — Mounjaro, another once-weekly injection, and Orlistat 120 mg capsules, a non-injection option also available as branded Xenical®. The trial figures below come from separate studies, not a head-to-head — they’re averages, individual results vary, and our pharmacists confirm what’s suitable for you.
| Wegovy You’re here | Mounjaro | Orlistat 120 mg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide | Orlistat (also as Xenical®) |
| How it’s taken | Weekly injection (pre-filled pen) | Weekly injection (pre-filled pen) | Oral capsule — no needles |
| How often | Once a week | Once a week | With each main meal (up to 3× daily) |
| Avg. trial weight loss | ~15% at 68 weeks — STEP 1 | ~21% at 72 weeks (up to ~22.5%) — SURMOUNT-1 | Modest vs diet alone — XENDOS |
| Good to know | Also licensed to lower cardiovascular risk in some patients. | The highest average reduction shown here. | A well-established, non-injection option. |
| Price | from £100 / month | from £159 / month | Xenical® £68.99 (84 capsules) · generic priced at consultation |
| Explore | — | View Mounjaro → | Start Orlistat consultation → |
Prescription-only medicines, shown here for information — not promotion. Figures are trial averages from separate studies and your own result depends on many factors. Not sure which suits you? Take the 1-minute treatment finder →
Common questions
No. Hyde Park Pharmacy can prescribe Wegovy under a Patient Group Direction (PGD) after a clinical consultation, provided the pharmacist judges treatment is appropriate for you.
No. Wegovy is a prescription-only medicine (POM). A pharmacist must consult with you, verify your identity and measure (or confirm) your BMI before any supply.
Either is acceptable. Many patients prefer to come into the pharmacy for the initial consultation, but a video consultation is available where appropriate. Identity and weight verification still apply on video — we will explain how this works when you book.
No. Following GPhC February 2025 guidance on the safe supply of high-risk medicines, an in-person or video consultation is required for Wegovy. Self-reported weight on a form is not enough.
Wegovy is a long-term medicine. Some patients use it for many months or longer; others use it for a shorter period as part of a broader plan. The pharmacist will discuss expected duration at consultation.
Tell us at consultation. Switching between GLP-1 medicines needs careful dose management. We won't supply Wegovy if you're already getting another GLP-1 elsewhere unless we are coordinating the change properly.
Yes. Royal Mail Tracked 24 anywhere in the UK (fridge items always go Tracked 24), our own van across the LS2–LS6 postcodes (£1 — order by 10am for the next morning's 10am round), or free collection from 22-24 Woodsley Road. You choose at checkout.
From £25 per week (£100 per month) on the 0.25 mg starting dose, rising with dose to £47 per week (£188 per month) at the 2.4 mg maintenance dose. Each pen is a 4-dose (4-week) supply. Your exact plan is confirmed at your free consultation, and doses are adjusted over time.
In the largest trial (STEP 1), average weight loss was 14.9% at 68 weeks on the 2.4 mg dose, alongside diet and physical activity — and in STEP 5 it was broadly maintained (−15.2%) out to two years while treatment continued. These are trial averages, not a promise — individual results vary, and your pharmacist confirms what's realistic for you.
The most common are nausea, diarrhoea or constipation, reduced appetite and tiredness in the first few weeks — usually mild, and they tend to improve as your body adjusts. Severe abdominal pain, signs of pancreatitis, allergic reactions, or vision changes if you have diabetes need urgent medical attention. We give you the full information leaflet and emergency guidance at your consultation.
No automatic approvals. No pressure. A real prescribing pharmacist reviews your case, and no money is kept if it isn't approved.
Start your consultation →GPhC-registered · Video review included · Confidential · No money kept if not approved
Prefer to talk first? Call 0113 244 1551
Pharmacist-reviewed reading
Pharmacist-reviewed explainers to help you understand your options before you book a consultation.
How Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) compare on trial results, side effects and eligibility — with an interactive BMI checker.
A pharmacist's plain-English guide to the UK's prescription weight-loss medicines — Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda and Orlistat — and how the consultation works.
Hyde Park Pharmacy is a registered NHS community pharmacy regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
This page provides information about a prescription-only medicine. It is not medical advice. Always discuss your full medical history with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new treatment. If you experience side effects, report them via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.