GLP-1 Weight Loss injection Pens

• Once weekly weight loss injection that has recently been approved for use in the United Kingdom by NICE. At this time it is a prescription only medication meaning assessment by one of our independent prescribing pharmacists is required before treatment is started to ensure it is safe and suitable for you to use.

• Clinical trials have shown GLP-1 weight loss injections to be highly effective in patients when used alongside reduced calorie diet and also other weight loss strategies such as increased physical activity. It works by reducing your appetite and also by making you feel fuller and more satisified between meals, this helps to reduce cravings and therefore take in less calories, leading to weight loss.

• Weight loss injections come in 5 different doses and the dose should be increased gradually in all patients up to the maximum dose, after which you can remain on it for up to a maximum of 2 continous years. If however you can not increase the dose due to side effects or you find a lower dose effective in weight loss our pharmacists may agree a personalised plan with you to remain on a lower dose and continue to monitor. Our independent prescribing pharmacists will help you with the increasing dosing schedule and check in along the way to ensure this is happening in a safe and effective manner.

• At WePrescribe we understand that weight loss can be a challenging topic for patients and therefore if you access any weight loss treatment through WePrescribe we can book in a video consultation with you prior to you receiving your treatment to ensure we can help you with creating the best weight loss plan and supporting you to get the most out of your treatment. We will then also agree a review date with you so you will always have access to the support you need!

Treatment with may not be recommended if any of the following apply to you

• History of kidney impairment
• History of liver impairment
• If you have type 2 diabetes, especially if you inject insulin
• If you have history of issues with your pancreas
• If you take certain medications
• Can not be used if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breast-feeding.
• Can not be used if you are under the age of 18
• There may be other reasons why treatment may not suitable for you but these will be determined by our pharmacist's to ensure your safety is first and foremost.

• Used by ONCE weekly injections. These injections are done subcutenously, this means injected under the first layer of the skin. Each pen you receive will contain 4 doses within it. You will complete the injections yourself, the injection technique is easy and will be given support in how to do this safely! Its important that you rotate the injection site each week to limit bruising and infection risk.

• 5 different doses are available. You will start with the lowest dose, 0.25mg and inject one dose per week for 4 weeks. Following this you will increase to 0.5mg for 4 weeks then 1mg for 4 weeks, then 1.7mg for 4 weeks and then finally 2.4mg weekly which is your maintenance dose.

• We will provide you with a sharps bin and enough needles to use the weight loss pens. It is important that you dispose of the needle into the sharps bin after each use and no needle should ever be reused.

• Before a pen is used you must store it in the fridge, following the first use it can either be kept in the fridge or stored at room temprature for up to 6 weeks and the pen cap must be kept on to protect from natural light.

• Disodium phosphate, dihydrate
• Propylene glycol
• Phenol
• Hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment)
• Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment)
• Water for injection
• Active ingredient

As with any medication there are some side effects that you must be aware of with weight loss injections, the very common side effects are listed below, please this link to see other less common side effects that may occur with Weight loss injection use. Very common side effects are side effects that will occur in around 10% of patients.

• Headache
• Vomitting
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Fatigue