Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, semaglutide, tirzepatide, injections, tablets, equivalent doses – the world of weight-loss medication can be a confusing one.
Until recently, people seeking to use non-prescription weight loss medication in the UK had two options: Wegovy and Mounjaro (Ozempic being limited to a prescription drug for the treatment of diabetes in the UK, despite being possibly the most famous of the drugs in worldwide media).
Until even more recently, the only option to administer these was a weekly injection. Naturally, this will put off many of the needle-phobic amongst us, and even for one as relatively non-squeamish as myself, it took some getting used to. With the recent advent of Wegovy in a new tablet form, the world of weight loss drugs has become much more accessible.
My journey with GLP-1s
I started taking Monujaro in April 2025 and had great results. Working up to the 12.5mg dose (the second highest available) over the course of six months, I went from around 110kg to just under 90kg – a staggering success compared to my previous unmedicated attempts at weight loss that would see my weight yo-yoing up and down significantly in a similar period.
However, not only did it come at a financial cost (I bounced between discount codes and spent between £90 and £190 a month through that period), it also had physical costs. I wasn’t able to maintain much of my hard-earned muscle mass and developed a back problem that wrecked my sleep and impacted my quality of life, which combined with the acid reflux I experienced in the evening any time I indulged in a glass of wine or a fancier meal, left me feeling pretty worn out and grumpy.
Coming off Mounjaro
In November 2025, I stopped taking Mounjaro entirely. This wasn’t due to any of the above issues, but a frightening trip to the emergency room late one night after I’d spent the evening writhing in pain. Like many others who’ve seen success taking these drugs, I had developed gallstones and was advised to stop taking any weight-loss drugs until this was resolved.
Four months later, one gallbladder down and 12kg up, I was ready to try and get my weight-loss back on track. Unfortunately, Mounjaro had undergone a significant price hike during that period, with the cost of the highest dose I had taken increasing to a hefty £240 with the best available discount.
Okay, I thought, time for plan B – Wegovy has proven to be a slightly less effective drug than Mounjaro (with Mounjaro demonstrating an average weight loss of 20-22.5% vs Wgovy’s 15-21% over 72 weeks), but its prices had remained somewhat lower, with the max dose available for under £200, compared to £266 for Mounjaro’s maximum dose.
Giving Wegovy a go – and the pros and cons of weight loss pills
A month after my decision to start on Wegovy, the long-awaited tablet form of the drug was released to the market, and I faced another choice – stick with the injections I knew and tolerated, or switch to pill form?
There are pros and cons to both. The pill has demonstrated lower effectiveness, with an average weight loss of 13-17% in trials, but for those wishing for assistance in losing weight who simply can’t bear the thought of sticking themselves with a needle once a week, this lower effectiveness might seem a worthwhile trade-off.
© Getty ImagesThere’s also the matter of convenience, with the injectable form of the drugs needing to be refrigerated lest they lose their effectiveness altogether. This was a particular problem for me in one instance, when my delivery was delayed and it arrived after I’d left to go on holiday and the postie left it in a plastic recycling box in the July heat.
Scheduling is also an issue. You’re recommended to inject the dose at the same time every week, which can be difficult depending on your schedule. When it comes to the pill form, it’s a simple task to swallow one every morning with water 30 mins before eating.
Like many reading this, I already have a routine of supplements I take on a daily basis – what’s one more pill to go along with the collagen, fish oil, vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Zinc and Magnesium I’m already forcing down of a morning?
It would also be much more convenient to transport, no needing to stick it in a cool box with ice packs for long car journeys, or faffing around getting the right paperwork so you could take it on a plane, just throw it in your toiletries bag and off you go.
Swapping to pills?
So, would I consider swapping to the pill-based version of Wegovy? Ultimately, I’ve decided not to continue on the drug altogether.
After three months on Wegovy, I’ve felt little benefit from it compared to what I felt on Monjaro, and I’ve opted to spend my hard earned money on a coach, Harry Willis, to help me improve my physical health the old-fashioned way.
That’s not to say I wouldn’t consider returning to the use of weight loss drugs in the future if I felt they’d be beneficial, and crucially if the price were right. I suspect that last factor might be the most important for many prospective users.
Supply and demand were quoted as the main factor in the sharp rise in prices we saw last year, so the development of alternative drugs and alternative methods of administration can only be a positive step in bringing these miracle medications to more people who could benefit from them.
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