Metabolic
Tirzepatide
Mounjaro · Zepbound
The drug behind Mounjaro, and the most-used GLP-1 among people paying privately in the UK. It works like semaglutide but hits two hormone pathways instead of one, which is generally why the weight loss tends to be larger.
Dual / — the most-prescribed drug in the UK private market.
How well studied
Tier Guide: A = Well studied, B = Some good studies, C = Early evidence & D = Barely studied
Backed by large human trials — we have solid data on how it works and what it does.
How it works
Copies two different gut hormones at once instead of one, which is why appetite tends to drop more than it does with single-pathway drugs.
Activates two gut pathways ( and ) simultaneously for stronger appetite and metabolic effects than single-pathway drugs.
Reported benefits
- Largest weight loss of any licensed UK drug (~20% average in trials)
- Improves blood glucose control
- Improves lipid markers
Who it's typically used for
Timeline to results
Dosage
Titrated from 2.5mg to 15mg weekly per MHRA label, under prescriber supervision
Side effects
- Nauseacommon, especially during dose escalation
- Diarrhoeacommon
- Vomitingless common
- Injection site reactionsoccasional
Getting it in the UK
A doctor can prescribe this the normal way, like anything from a pharmacy — officially checked and approved for this use.
MHRA: the UK government body that checks a medicine is safe and actually works before doctors are allowed to prescribe it.
Content freshness
- Last reviewed
- 11 Aug 2026
- Regulatory status last checked
- 11 Aug 2026