Liraglutide

UK prescription weight loss medications (orlistat, semaglutide, liraglutide, naltrexone/bupropion) have defined NICE prescribing criteria, documented clinical trial evidence, and specific monitoring requirements. This article covers the approved medications, how to access them through NHS and private routes, and realistic expectations from clinical data.

The NHS now has access to multiple GLP-1 receptor agonist medications for weight management. This guide explains how they work, what the clinical evidence shows, and the criteria for NHS access.

Three injectable weight loss medications are licensed in the UK: liraglutide (Saxenda), semaglutide (Wegovy), and tirzepatide (Mounjaro). Head-to-head trial data shows tirzepatide produces the greatest weight loss (~20.9%), followed by semaglutide (~14.9%), then liraglutide (~8.4%). This article compares them across efficacy, side effects, dose schedule, and UK licensing.