Weight Loss Programs

Weight Loss Programs is a private prescribing service which is designed for adults aged 18 years and over, who are experiencing health issues and who would like to receive a fast-track assessment and if applicable, a Weight Loss treatment from a qualified prescribing clinician. Treatments are dispensed and delivered to your home or workplace from our regulated online pharmacy.

Yes. Our formulary of medications prescribed and conditions treated are controlled, governed, and continuously risk-assessed by our Medical Director, Dr. Aseel Hamoud. Unlike other prescribing services which operate using faceless questionnaires, our service is conducted through remote video consultations, also known as synchronous consultations. This builds patient safety and prescribing appropriateness into our service, ensuring our prescribing clinicians can be satisfied with who and what they are treating. There is no guarantee of supply of medications, and any prescriptions supplied are at the sole discretion of our clinician prescriber. There is no charge for the consultation.

Our prescribing clinicians are board-certified pharmacists, nurses, or doctors who can also prescribe any medicine for any medical condition, subject to accepted accreditation and good clinical practice. They are all registered with their respective regulatory bodies. For example, a pharmacist independent prescriber is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Each prescribing clinician undergoes an extensive background check including a disclosure and barring service check (DBS). In addition, they undergo a rigorous license verification process. When you book an appointment with our prescribing clinicians you will see their full name, license number, and any specialized credentials they have.

No. At the moment, it is only available in the United Kingdom.

Yes. This is a private service. You do not need to pay for the consultation. You only pay for the cost of the medication you are prescribed.

Once you have logged into your account, navigate to the Weight Loss Programs widget which is located at the bottom of your dashboard.

There are two ways to find out if you qualify for being treated under a Weight Loss Program. If you have completed your full health profile, we can automatically assess if you qualify for treatment. If you do, you will see a recommendation button on the Weight Loss Programs widget. You can select this button to proceed to the next steps.

If we do not have your full health profile, you can use the ‘Check Eligibility’ action on the Weight Loss Programs widget. This will prompt you to complete a short quiz, which will determine if you qualify.

If you have qualified through the quiz or through a recommendation, based on your health profile, you will be shown a ‘Book Consultation’ button which you can select. This will take you to a consultation booking screen. Here, you can select a date and time for the consultation, that is convenient for you, along with the preferred language of the prescribing clinician you wish to book. You will then see a list of all available clinicians. From this list, you can filter clinicians by gender and then select the clinician you would like to confirm for your booking.

Once you have approved this, you will see a summary of the appointment including preliminary information about the consultation. At this point, you will also be able to add a reminder to your calendar. Always ensure your account health profile is up to date before any consultation. This ensures that our clinicians have the most up-to-date information about your current health status and anything that may influence their prescribing decisions. You will receive a push notification and email reminding you of your consultation, 30 minutes before it is due to start.

You can ‘star’ the Weight Loss Programs widget to have it display in the ‘My Favourite Widgets’ section of your dashboard, for ease of future booking or checking active or past orders.

During the consultation, the clinician will ask you a series of questions that will allow the clinician to assess your best Weight Loss treatment options. At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide if a Weight Loss treatment is a safe and appropriate option for you.

If it is, the clinician will discuss the various treatment options that may be available, so that you can jointly agree on the option that is most suited to you. Once you have jointly agreed on a Weight Loss treatment, the clinician will issue a prescription order which will be available in your ‘shopping cart’ at the end of the consultation.

Also, with your consent, the clinician may wish to inform your GP of the treatment that was prescribed. We recommend that you agree to this since your GP is responsible for your overall care and they should have a record of this consultation and medication prescribed. In addition, our clinician may take the opportunity to advise you on your overall health including advice on healthy living or stop smoking.

At the end of the consultation, you will receive a notification which will summarise the outcome. It will also advise if any referrals were made to your GP, along with any other advice that was given to you by the clinician.

If a GP referral letter was issued, you will be able to view a copy of this in the ‘My Documents’ section of your dashboard.

If you were prescribed a Weight Loss treatment, it will now be available in your shopping cart. When you go to your shopping cart, you will be able to checkout and make payment. Once the checkout is complete, your prescription order will be sent to our regulated online pharmacy for processing.

We operate a safe and effective service. This means that our prescribing clinicians always exercise their clinical judgment when prescribing. Unfortunately, we do not operate a service where you can demand a certain medication. If you are not prescribed anything, then you will not be charged.

Yes. When you place an order with NowPatient, we will keep you fully updated with the status of your order. Every time the status of your order changes, you will be notified immediately. These notifications will appear in the ‘My Notifications’ section on your dashboard. You can click the notification and it will take you to your active orders screen which will give you a timeline overview of the progress of your order. This can also be accessed using the ‘My Orders’ quick action widget which is on your dashboard. Here, you can access active and past orders.

All orders are shipped in discreet and unmarked packaging. This means it is suitable for delivery wherever you require (home, work, or a neighbour). For thermo-sensitive orders (e.g. Insulin or Weight Loss injections) we use cold chain-validated packaging. Your parcel will normally receive an estimated delivery window from the courier on the day of delivery.

For your protection and safety, your first order can only be delivered to the address that is registered with NowPatient. Future orders can be delivered to any other address, for example, your workplace.

Yes. We use a specialist courier service for all thermo-sensitive deliveries. This is to ensure that cold chain integrity is always maintained and thus the product quality, safety and efficacy.

Learn more about how we handle the delivery of temperature sensitive products.

We currently deliver to all UK postcodes. Some postcodes in rural areas may have a slightly longer delivery time.

• Royal Mail Standard Tracked & Signed for Delivery for NHS prescriptions – 2/3 day delivery (normally 48 hours)
• DHL Express Tracked Delivery – 1/2 day delivery (normally 24 hours)
• Royal Mail Special Delivery – Next working day (Royal Mail Guaranteed before 1pm)

Delivery is normally made promptly after your dispatch notification is received. You can check the tracking details of your order in the ‘My Notifications’ section of your dashboard, at any point after dispatch.

Unfortunately, packages can sometimes get lost in the delivery system, if after 10 days you have not received your delivery, please contact us and we will do all we can to resolve the problem.

We are here to help you every step of the way through your Weight Loss journey. We do this by providing you with advice and support covering exercise and diet, as well as discussing any concerns you have about your prescribed treatment. In fact, Weight Loss treatments like injections, require exercise and dietary advice to help reach your Weight Loss goals. Each instalment treatment requires a new consultation, this allows us the opportunity to discuss your progress when renewing your prescription.

You can even use the Weight Loss Graph widget that allows you to track your weight so you can visualise the rate of progress.

Wegovy contains semaglutide as its active ingredient. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, meaning it acts in the same way as certain hormones produced by your body when you have eaten. Semaglutide helps you to feel fuller for longer after eating, resulting in you eating less food. When used in combination with a healthy lifestyle and diet semaglutide results in weight loss.

Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide as their active ingredients. Both have the same effect on your body. However, Ozempic is licensed only for the management of type 2 diabetes. Wegovy, on the other hand, is specifically licensed for weight loss.

Semaglutide is used as an injection, once a week. You will normally start using semaglutide at a low dose, increasing up to a maintenance dose, gradually. Semaglutide is also available as an oral tablet, under the brand name Rybelsus. Rybelsus is taken once daily, 30 minutes before food. You are advised to follow the dosage instructions provided to you by your healthcare provider.

Off-label prescribing is when a medication is prescribed for a purpose other than what it is licensed to be used for. On occasion, our healthcare providers at NowPatient, may prescribe Ozempic “off-label”, for weight loss, if Wegovy is unavailable. We will only prescribe off-label if it is safe to do so.

Common side effects of semaglutide include:

• Feeling sick, being sick
• Stomach pain, heartburn
• Diarrhoea, constipation
• Headache, dizziness, tiredness
• Burping, bloating, wind

Side effects will tend to reduce as your body adjusts to the medication. Speak to one of our healthcare professionals if you need further medical support.

Serious side effects of semaglutide include:

• ‍Pancreatitis
• Gallstones
• Hypoglycemia
• Allergic reactions
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Palpitations

Get medical attention right away if you experience any of the serious side effects.

Yes. All medications undergo rigorous clinical trials and testing before they are approved to be used for medicinal purposes in the U.K. In the U.K. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulates all medication. Ozempic was approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in 2017, Rybelsus was approved for type 2 diabetes in 2019 and Wegovy was approved in 2023. At NowPatient, you are able to contact our clinical team for support and advice when needed.

Wegovy and Ozempic should be stored in a refrigerator, between 2°-8°C, before they are first used. They should not be frozen. Once you have started to use either Wegovy or Ozempic, they may be stored in the refrigerator or in a dark place below 30°C. Pens should be discarded after 6 weeks, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendation. Rybelsus tablets do not need to be stored in a refrigerator. They can be stored at room temperature between 20-25°C, in a dry safe place away from moisture.

Weight Loss injection pens remain in cold storage while at the pharmacy, and are transported using cold-chain packaging, ensuring cold-chain regulations are met throughout the delivery. Cold-chain packaging used by pharmacies ensures medication is maintained at 2-8°C for up to 72 hours.

If, for any reason, pens have not been refrigerated at 2-8°C, before their initial use, they will remain suitable to use for up to 56 days after the date of dispatch. Please speak to one of our customer service team, if you have any queries.

Weight Loss Injection Pens will remain suitable for use until their expiry date if stored in the refrigerator. The expiry date can be found on the packaging your pen is provided in and on the pen itself. You are advised to store the pen in the refrigerator after you have started using it, but not past 56 days from the date of first use.

The cold chain packaging method we use is designed to maintain a refrigerator temperature of 2-8°C, for up to 72 hours. You can still use your pen if it arrives at a temperature above 2-8°C for up to 56 days after the date of dispatch.

People using semaglutide for weight loss should expect to lose a minimum of 5% of their body weight within 12 weeks of treatment starting, but most people should start to see weight loss within the first few weeks. The amount of time it takes to work however, will vary for each person. If you do not see a 5% loss of body weight after using semaglutide for 12 weeks, speak to one of our specialist dietitians or nutritionists for further advice.

Semaglutide pens contain 4 doses, with one dose for each week. Each pen will last 4 weeks. Semaglutide tablets, once daily, come in packs of 30 and will last you 30 days.

Yes. All medications undergo rigorous clinical trials and testing before they are approved to be used for medicinal purposes in the U.K. In the U.K. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulates all medication use. The MHRA has approved the long-term use of semaglutide for the treatment of obesity.

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist as its active ingredient. Mounjaro is approved for the treatment of diabetes and weight loss. The dual action of Mounjaro enhances the secretion of insulin when blood sugar levels are high and prevents the secretion of glucagon. This helps to better control blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro also helps to control appetite and slows the emptying of the stomach, leading to weight loss in those patients with or without Type 2 diabetes.

Mounjaro is given as a subcutaneous injection, under the skin. It is normally injected directly into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. You will start with a low dose to minimise possible side effects, increasing gradually, based on how you respond to treatment. Here at NowPatient, our team of clinicians will provide you with advice on how to administer your injections correctly.

Common side effects of Mounjaro include:

• Feeling sick, being sick
• Diarrhoea, constipation
• Stomach pain, indigestion

These often resolve over time as your body adjusts to treatment. Other, less common side effects include:

• Pancreatitis
• Gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder
• Severe hypoglycemia

You are advised to monitor for any serious side effects. Speak to our healthcare team if you need further advice.

Mounjaro helps to regulate appetite and delay gastric emptying, leading to a reduction in food intake and an increased feeling of fullness. Mounjaro should be used in combination with changes in lifestyle, diet and exercise to achieve the best results for weight loss.

Mounjaro is not recommended in people with a family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in those with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2.

Mounjaro is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding as its safety and efficacy has not been established. Women are advised to use effective birth control during treatment.

Mounjaro may interact with sulfonylureas and insulin which are used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, increasing the risk of low blood sugar levels. Mounjaro may also affect the absorption of oral medication due to its effect on delaying gastric emptying. Your clinician may adjust your dose of Mounjaro based on these interactions and monitor your progress closely.

Mounjaro is stored in the refrigerator at 2°-8°C, but can be kept at room temperature, 30°C, for up to 30 days from when it is dispensed and once being used.

If you forget to administer a dose of Mounjaro, administer it as you can within 4 days after missing the dose. However, if more than 4 days have passed, do not administer the missed dose. Administer your next dose on your next scheduled day. Remember to resume your regular once-a-week dosing schedule.

If you think you have used too much Mounjaro by taking two doses, please contact us immediately. You may experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. We will schedule a call with one of our healthcare providers who will discuss your symptoms.

The recommended starting dose is 2.5mg in the first month, increased to 5 mg in the second month. Here at NowPatient our healthcare team will help you find the most appropriate dose for you as an individual, based on how you respond to your treatment.