Weight management - Gilbride Pharmacy Glasgow

Your local Gilbride Pharmacy is here to support you by giving you tips about effective weight loss and management while guiding you to a healthy eating lifestyle and maintaining your weight.

Mounjaro

Mounjaro is a medicine that contains an active substance called Tirzepatide. It is used for weight loss and weight management. It should be used alongside a reduced calorie diet and an increase in physical activity.

Mounjaro is a weight loss injection pen and is also the most effective in clinical trials. It lowers both body weight and body fat mass. Clinical studies show that Mounjaro reduces energy intake and appetite by increasing feelings of satiety (fullness), decreasing feelings of hunger, and decreasing food cravings.

You may not be suitable for Mounjaro if

you have severe problems with food digestion or food remaining in your stomach for longer than normal (including severe gastroparesis).
you have ever had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas which may cause severe pain in the stomach and back which does not go away).
you have a problem with your eyes (diabetic retinopathy or macular oedema).
you are using a sulphonylurea (another diabetes medicine) or insulin for your diabetes, as low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) can occur.

Warnings and Precautions

When starting treatment with Mounjaro, in some cases you may experience loss of fluids/dehydration, e.g. due to vomiting, nausea and/or diarrhoea, which may lead to a decrease in kidney function. Symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, headache, fatigue, infrequent urination of small amounts, and dry mouth, lips and eyes. It is important to avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.
Acute pancreatitis is a rare side effect and treatment must be discontinued if this occurs. Further information can be found on https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acute-pancreatitis/
Mounjaro must not be used during pregnancy or in women of childbearing potential not using contraception. It is recommended to use contraception while using this medicine. If you wish to become pregnant, treatment should be discontinued at least 1 month before a planned pregnancy.

Dose

The starting dose is 2.5mg once a week for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks this should be increased to 5mg and then if needed it can be increased in 2.5mg increments every 4 weeks up to a maximum of 15mg weekly.

How to use Mounjaro

Mounjaro is injected under the skin (subcutaneous injection) of your stomach area (abdomen) or upper leg (thigh) or upper arm. You may need help from someone else if you want to inject in your upper arm.

If you want to do so, you can use the same area of your body each week. But be sure to choose a different injection site within that area.

Read the “Instructions for Use” for the pen carefully before using Mounjaro KwikPen.

Missed doses

If a dose is missed, it should be administered as soon as possible within 4 days after the missed dose. If more than 4 days have passed, skip the missed dose and administer the next dose on the regularly scheduled day. In each case, you can then resume your regular once weekly dosing schedule.

Changing the dosing schedule

The day of weekly administration can be changed, if necessary, as long as the time between two doses is at least 3 days.

Wegovy

Wegovy is a medicine for weight loss and weight maintenance that contains the active substance Semaglutide. It is similar to a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that is released from the intestine after a meal. It should be used alongside a reduced calorie diet and an increase in physical activity. It is licensed for ages 18 to 74.

Wegovy is a weight loss injection pen that works by acting on receptors in the brain that control your appetite, causing you to feel fuller and less hungry and experience less craving for food. This will help you eat less food and reduce your body weight.

You may not be suitable for Wegovy if

you have severe problems with food digestion or food remaining in your stomach for longer than normal (including severe gastroparesis).
you have ever had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas which may cause severe pain in the stomach and back which does not go away).
you have a problem with your eyes (diabetic retinopathy or macular oedema).
you are using a sulphonylurea (another diabetes medicine) or insulin for your diabetes, as low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) can occur.

Warnings and Precautions

When starting treatment with Wegovy, in some cases you may experience loss of fluids/dehydration, e.g. due to vomiting, nausea and/or diarrhoea, which may lead to a decrease in kidney function. Symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, headache, fatigue, infrequent urination of small amounts, and dry mouth, lips and eyes. It is important to avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.
Acute pancreatitis is a rare side effect and treatment must be discontinued if this occurs. Further information can be found on https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acute-pancreatitis/
Wegovy must not be used during pregnancy or in women of childbearing potential not using contraception. It is recommended to use contraception while using this medicine. If you wish to become pregnant, treatment should be discontinued at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.

Dose

The starting dose is 0.25mg once a week for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks this should be increased to 0.5mg and then if needed it can be increased in increments every 4 weeks up to a maximum of 2.4mg weekly.

How to use Wegovy

Wegovy is injected under the skin (subcutaneous injection) of your stomach area (abdomen) or upper leg (thigh) or upper arm. You may need help from someone else if you want to inject in your upper arm.

If you want to do so, you can use the same area of your body each week. But be sure to choose a different injection site within that area.

Read the “Instructions for Use” for the pen carefully before using Wegovy.

Missed doses

If a dose is missed, it should be administered as soon as possible within 5 days after the missed dose. If more than 5 days have passed, skip the missed dose and administer the next dose on the regularly scheduled day. In each case, you can then resume your regular once weekly dosing schedule.

Changing the dosing schedule

The day of weekly administration can be changed, if necessary, as long as the time between two doses is at least 3 days.

We offer the following options:

Weight loss injection (Mounjaro)
Weight loss injection (Saxenda)
Weight loss injection (Wegovy)
Weight loss capsules (Orlistat)
Weight loss tablets (Mysimba)

Visit Us:

Take control of your health journey with Gilbride Pharmacy. Select your preferred branch to visit their page and inquire about this service or simply walk in when it suits your schedule.

Achieve Sustainable Weight Management with Gilbride Pharmacy

At Gilbride Pharmacy, we offer a comprehensive and supportive approach to help you achieve your long-term healthy weight goals. Our service combines expert advice, ongoing support, and effective prescription medication treatment, where appropriate.

We understand that managing your weight is important for overall well-being. Being overweight or living with obesity can increase the risk of developing various health conditions, including type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

You may be eligible for our dedicated Weight Management Service if you meet the following criteria:

Aged between 18 and 84 years.
Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater.
Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or greater and have been diagnosed with a health condition that is made worse by excess weight, such as a heart condition.

Your Consultation:

During your appointment, you will have a thorough consultation with our experienced pharmacist. They will assess your suitability for the medication and discuss the available options with you. This assessment will include measuring your weight and height to calculate your accurate Body Mass Index (BMI) and taking your blood pressure. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions or discuss any concerns you may have. Furthermore, you will receive comprehensive instructions on how to use the medication safely and effectively. If preferred, you have the option to have your first dose administered under professional supervision. Finally, you will be provided with all the necessary equipment, including needles and a safety bin for the proper disposal of used needles.

Further Appointments:

After your first appointment and whenever your dose increases, we can arrange follow-up telephone consultations to check on your progress. We're also available for help and advice during the pharmacy's opening hours, making accessing help and advice very accessible. You can book further appointments with our pharmacists each time you need more medication, ensuring the medication remains safe and suitable for you. Appointments can be arranged in person, over the phone, or online via our website