Guidance for your customers following Mounjaro price increase
Following the announcement that Eli Lilly have increased the price for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) across the UK private market, from 1st September 2025. The below guidance has been collated to help you assist your customers.
Please be aware, this change does not affect NHS prescriptions but does impact your private weight management service and patient affordability.
It will be concerning your customers how they can continue on their weight loss journey and will be looking for advice of alternative products available:
- Wegovy injections – Once weekly
- Liraglutide injections – Once daily
- Mysimba Tablets – Initially One daily increased to two tablets twice daily
Guidance for customers switching treatments
If a customer wishes to switch from their current Mounjaro weight management treatment to an alternative, the below guidance should be followed:
- Joint decision: Ensure the decision to switch is made collaboratively between the customer and pharmacist.
- Discontinue current treatment: Stop the existing medication before initiating the new one.
- Wash out period: (time to wait before new treatment started)
There is no official UK-wide regulation that mandates a specific wash-out period.
If using PGDs it’s important to refer to your PGD provider for guidance* on a recommended wash-out period.
See below guidance from current Numark PGD providers
| Pharmadoctor | Nuumad | ECG |
|---|---|---|
Wash out period There should be at least a 4 week gap between stopping Mounjaro and initiating another weight-loss medicine [1]. | Wash out period There should be at least a 7 day gap between stopping Mounjaro and initiating another weight -loss treatment [2]. | Wash out period Should be at least a 7 day gap between stopping Mounjaro and starting Wegovy [3]. |
Eligibility for the new product The customer should meet the initial eligibility criteria for the new treatment, even if they were maintaining on a previous product. | Eligibility for the new product Despite the change in medication, unless treatment is interrupted for more than 12 weeks, there is no requirement to meet the original requirements for initiation of Wegovy. | |
| Initiate new treatment at lowest dose Begin the new medication at the beginning of titration, regardless of previous treatment level. | ||
Please note: It’s important to note that the above is provided as guidance only. Pharmacists are expected to apply their own clinical judgement when using PGDs. There is no fixed rule regarding switching between weight loss medicines, as these products are not directly equivalent.
To further support, the MHRA have also released some updated guidance which you can access here.
*As guidance only - Company policies/SOPs may outline different wash out periods to be observed – refer to your Superintendent.
[1] Recommendations provided on request
[2] As indicated in their PGD
[3] Refer to FAQs at https://ecgtraining.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/08/Weight-Management-Clinical-FAQs.pdf