Switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy: Everything You Need To Know

Thinking About Switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy? Here’s What You Need to Know

Eli Lilly have announced that from the 1st of September, the wholesale cost of Mounjaro will be rising across the UK. This means that the price all pharmacies pay to purchase it from suppliers will increase significantly. The company has explained that the rise is intended to bring the UK price in line with other European and developed countries. Unfortunately, this change will affect every pharmacy nationwide, including Cloud Pharmacy.

We understand how unsettling this news is for patients who rely on Mounjaro to support their health. Many are worried about whether they will be able to afford to continue their treatment. At Cloud Pharmacy, we are committed to keeping our prices as affordable as possible, and our priority is to help you find the best option for your circumstances. We will be reviewing the impact of these wholesale changes carefully and will update our patients with our expected prices as soon as we can.

For most patients, Mounjaro remains the most effective treatment for overall weight loss, and staying on it is advised if you can. However, we also know that cost and personal circumstances play an important role, and for some, Wegovy may represent a more practical alternative. In addition to those affected by the price rise, we also support patients for whom Mounjaro may not be the right medicine, whether due to side effects, suitability, or personal preference.

That is why we have put together this guide, to answer common questions about Wegovy, the benefits it offers, how it compares with Mounjaro, what to expect when switching, and how it is used in the longer term.

What is Wegovy and how is it different from Mounjaro?

Wegovy and Mounjaro are part of a new generation of highly effective medicines for managing obesity. They work by targeting the body’s natural hormone pathways that influence appetite and eating behaviour. 

•  Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which acts on two hormone pathways, known as GIP and GLP-1.
•  Wegovy contains semaglutide, which acts on the GLP-1 pathway alone. Wegovy is the UK equivalent of Ozempic, which is widely used in the United States for weight management. 

Although they act slightly differently, both treatments reduce appetite and regulate food-related behaviours. In practical terms, this means patients often feel full sooner, experience fewer cravings, and find it easier to make changes to their eating patterns to support their weight management goals. 

Both medicines have been shown to deliver significant weight loss alongside improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar control, cholesterol levels, and overall quality of life. 

Side effects are broadly similar. Both can cause nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, or indigestion, particularly when starting treatment. Wegovy is slightly more likely to lead to people stopping due to stomach-related side effects, whereas Mounjaro has been linked more often to injection site reactions. 

What are the benefits of Wegovy?  

Many patients find Wegovy offers practical advantages, particularly when cost or personal preference makes continuing Mounjaro more difficult. While Mounjaro has been shown to deliver greater overall weight loss in clinical trials, Wegovy is still a highly effective treatment with its own set of benefits.  These include: 

• Ease of use – Wegovy pens come with needles already included and have a longer shelf life.
• Less chance of injection site reactions compared with Mounjaro.
• Weight loss results – In clinical trials, 1 in 3 patients lost at least 20% of their body weight, and on average patients lost 17% after nearly two years of treatment
• Health improvements – Alongside weight reduction, studies have shown improvements in blood pressure, blood sugar control, cholesterol levels, and quality of life.
• Compatibility with oral contraceptives – The manufacturer advises that Wegovy is not anticipated to decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives

Should I stay on Mounjaro or switch to Wegovy?

Our advice, and the advice from experts, is that if you are doing well on Mounjaro, it will usually be best to stay on it. Clinical studies show that patients will lose on average up to 22.5% of their initial body weight while taking Mounjaro. This is generally more than what is seen with Wegovy, making Mounjaro the most effective option for overall weight loss.

If you are concerned about continuing treatment at the increased costs, one practical step can be to reduce to a lower strength, such as 5mg Mounjaro. While this may result in a small amount of weight regain or less appetite suppression compared to higher doses, the benefits of Mounjaro remain significant. Your weight and appetite control will still be far better than before you started treatment, because even at lower strengths you continue to receive meaningful therapeutic effects. For some patients, though, if cost remains the overriding concern despite these options, switching to Wegovy may be considered as an alternative.

What matters most is that you feel supported in whichever path you take. Whether you remain on Mounjaro, step down your dose, or move across to Wegovy, our team is here to guide you, answer your questions, and ensure you are never managing this journey alone. To help you decide, we’ve created a simple decision-making tool below.

Mounjaro or Wegovy Decision Making Tool

How do I switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy?

For patients who decide that switching to Wegovy is right for them, the first step is to place an order for Wegovy on the Cloud Pharmacy website. Use our switching guidelines below to choose the most suitable starting dose. Once your order is placed, one of our clinicians will carefully review it and guide any adjustments needed to make sure the switch is safe and suitable for you.

If you would prefer to speak to a clinician before placing your order, you can send a message to our customer support team through your patient dashboard or Zendesk, and we will be happy to discuss your options. 

It is very important that you wait seven days after your last Mounjaro injection before starting Wegovy. This helps your body adjust and reduces the risk of side effects. 

What dose can I switch to?

After a careful review of the available evidence, at Cloud Pharmacy we offer the following guidance for patients who are considering switching: 

•  If you are currently taking 2.5mg, 5mg or 7.5mg of Mounjaro, the usual starting dose is 0.5mg of Wegovy once weekly. 

• If you are taking 10mg of Mounjaro or above, the usual starting dose is 1.0mg of Wegovy once weekly. 

• Patients who wish to take a more cautious approach can start at 0.25mg of Wegovy regardless of their current Mounjaro dose.

This guidance is general and may be adjusted to suit your individual needs after discussion with your prescriber. As with Mounjaro, your Wegovy dose will be increased gradually over time, depending on how you respond and how well you tolerate treatment. This gradual, step-by-step approach is designed to reduce side effects and support long-term success.

What should I expect after switching?

Most patients find they experience similar side effects on Wegovy to Mounjaro. It is most common to experience some side effects when first starting Wegovy, especially while your body is adjusting. The most frequently reported include:

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or constipation
• Indigestion or reflux
• Fatigue or low energy
• Low blood sugar 

These effects usually ease over time and can be different for each patient. Some patients also notice that their appetite changes feel different compared with Mounjaro. Keeping in touch with your prescriber during this period is important, so that they can support you with managing symptoms and adjusting treatment if needed. 

It is especially important that you contact us promptly if you begin to experience any significant or worrying side effects while taking Mounjaro or Wegovy. Our team can provide guidance and ensure you receive the care you need without delay. 

Long Term Maintenance on Wegovy 

At Cloud Pharmacy, patients can now continue Wegovy for longer than two years as part of their ongoing weight management plan. Treatment can continue for as long as it remains clinically beneficial, with regular reviews and support from our prescribing team to ensure safety and effectiveness. 

The licensed maintenance dose of Wegovy is 2.4 mg once weekly, and it is approved for both weight loss and long-term weight maintenance. The dose can be adjusted based on individual needs, depending on your response, tolerability, and progress with treatment. 

Earlier national guidance suggested a two-year limit on Wegovy use. This was based on NHS cost-effectiveness considerations and the structure of specialist weight management services, which are typically limited to two years of support. 

More recent clinical research has shown that Wegovy remains safe and effective for longer-term use. The SELECT trial followed patients for nearly 40 months and found no increase in serious side effects compared with placebo. 

Follow-up data from the STEP 1 trial extension also showed that patients who stopped semaglutide regained up to two-thirds of their previous weight loss within one year. This highlights the importance of continuing Wegovy during the maintenance phase to sustain results and protect long-term health improvements. 

Your prescriber will work with you to create a personalised maintenance plan that helps you maintain your progress and continue benefiting from long-term Wegovy treatment. 

Ongoing support from Cloud Pharmacy  

We know that switching treatments or starting a new medicine can feel daunting. At Cloud Pharmacy, our team is here to support you every step of the way. Whether you are continuing on Mounjaro, stepping down to a lower dose, or making the move to Wegovy, our team will be here to guide you through each stage. From answering your questions about treatment options to helping you manage side effects and understand dosing, our goal is to make the process as straightforward and reassuring as possible.

Our clinicians and pharmacy team bring years of clinical expertise in weight loss medication and have already supported thousands of patients through their treatment journeys. This depth of experience means we can provide guidance that is both safe and tailored, ensuring you feel fully supported from the very beginning. 

Above all, we want our patients to feel confident that they are not managing their treatment journey alone. Whether you are staying on Mounjaro, moving to Wegovy, or exploring other options, we are here to provide guidance, compassion, and care. 

How to contact us

If you have any questions about your treatment, or would like to discuss whether switching to Wegovy may be right for you, please get in touch with our pharmacy team. We are always here to provide advice and support.

Contact our team today for personalised support with your treatment journey at support@cloudpharmacy.zendesk.com

References 

1. Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, Wharton S, Connery L, Alves B, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. N Engl J Med. 2024;390(5):401-12. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2416394

2. Novo Nordisk Limited. Wegovy 0.25 mg solution for injection in pre-filled pen – Summary of Product Characteristics [Internet]. Medicines.org.uk; 2024 [cited 2025 Aug 15]. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13799/smpc#gref 

3. Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, Davies M, Van Gaal LF, Lingvay I, et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity without diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2023;389(20):1851-64. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2307563 

4. Davies M, Færch L, Jeppesen OK, Pakseresht A, Pedersen SD, Perreault L, et al. Semaglutide 2.4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021;384(11):989-1002. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183

5. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Semaglutide for managing overweight and obesity (TA875). NICE; 2023. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta875 

6. Wadden TA, Garvey WT, Rubino DM, et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity without diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine. 2023;389(22):2051–2062. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2307563