Mounjaro alternatives for weight loss

There are some other weight loss injections available, which are also GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro. These include Wegovy (semaglutide) and Nevolat (liraglutide). They work in a similar way to Mounjaro by mimicking naturally occurring hormones in the body to reduce appetite and slow digestion.

Ozempic (also semaglutide) is another available treatment, approved mainly for diabetes, but it has not been licensed or approved for weight loss in the UK.

Wegovy

Doses

Like Mounjaro, Wegovy is a GLP-1 weight loss medication that is taken once weekly by injection. However, Wegovy contains semaglutide instead of tirzepatide, so the dosages for each medication are slightly different:

Price

Wegovy is a cheaper alternative to Mounjaro, with Wegovy prices at Asda Online Doctor ranging from £88.97 to £248.97 and Mounjaro prices from £148.97 to £298.97, depending on the dose. This price is for a one-month supply and includes 1 pen and 4 needles.

Effectiveness

On average, people taking Wegovy will see a change in body weight of 21% on average when taking the highest 7.2mg maintenance dose. When compared to Mounjaro, with people seeing up to 22.5% of their body weight lost within 72 weeks on the highest maintenance dose, it is also a highly effective weight loss treatment.

Side effects

Because they mimic the same hormone, the side effects of Wegovy and Mounjaro are similar. The main difference between them is how common certain side effects are, with some side effects being common for one but very common for the other. Most side effects for Wegovy and Mounjaro are mild and will go away over time.

Nevolat

Doses

Nevolat is a GLP-1 medication that contains liraglutide to decrease appetite and cravings and increase feelings of fullness. Unlike Mounjaro, you inject Nevolat once a day, and the dose increases every week as follows:

• week 1 – 0.6 mg
• week 2 – 1.2 mg
• week 3 – 1.8 mg
• week 4 – 2.4 mg
• week 5+ – 3 mg

Price

You can buy a 3 pack of Nevolat for £94.97 and a 5 pack for £154.97 with Asda Online Doctor. Since you set the dose of a Nevolat pen yourself, each pen has the same amount of medication in. As a result, they last longer at lower doses.

Effectiveness

Nevolat is not as effective as Mounjaro, but people taking it can still expect to see an average of 8% change in their body weight in 56 weeks. People taking Mounjaro see up to 22.5% of their body weight lost within 72 weeks.

Side effects

The side effects of Nevolat are similar to Mounjaro as they work in the same way. The common side effects of Nevolat are:

• dizziness
• stomach pain (bloating, indigestion, burping, gas)
• heartburn
• reaction at injection site (itching or redness)
• increase in pancreatic enzymes, lipase, and amylase
• feeling weak
• changed sense of taste
• rash
• indigestion, gastritis
• upper stomach pain
• dry mouth
• low blood sugar

Uncommon side effects are:

• a delay in the emptying of the stomach
• faster pulse
• loss of fluids (dehydration) due to sickness, vomiting, and diarrhoea
• inflamed gallbladder
• allergic reaction
• feeling unwell generally

For more information about the differences in injectable weight loss medications, you can look at these pages:

• Wegovy vs Mouonjaro vs Ozempic
• Saxenda vs Ozempic

If you are finding that weekly or daily injections are not something you want to do, you might consider a weight loss tablet instead. There are two kinds of weight loss tablets available: fat absorption blockers and appetite suppressants.

Appetite suppressants

There are two kinds of appetite suppressant tablets available in the UK which work in different ways to help you lose weight by suppressing your appetite, making you feel fuller for longer.

Wegovy pill

The Wegovy pill contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient which is in the Wegovy injection. It is the first GLP-1 tablet available in the UK and therefore works in a similar way to Mounjaro, helping you lose weight by lowering your appetite.

Wegovy pill is an effective treatment, with clinical trials finding that patients lost an average 17% of their starting weight by week 64 of their treatment on the 25mg dose. This is compared with patients losing just 3% on the placebo treatment.

The Wegovy pill is taken daily. Like with Mounjaro, on the Wegovy pill you would need to titrate your doses under the supervision of a doctor. The doses on the Wegovy pill are: 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg, 25mg. For more information on Wegovy pill dosages check out our guide.

Wegovy pill side effects are similar to Mounjaro side effects, as they both are a GLP-1 medication. Though they may vary slightly as they are taken differently. Side effects are most noticeable when just starting treatment and when titrating up a dose.

Wegovy pill side effects:

Common side effects

• dizziness
• burping
• gas (flatulence)
• bloating
• inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
• reflux or heartburn (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD))
• gallstones
• hair loss
• taste changes
• abnormal skin sensations, like burning, stinging, or pins and needles (dysaesthesia)
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in people with type 2 diabetes

Uncommon side effects

• low blood pressure
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded when standing after sitting or lying down because of a sudden drop in blood pressure
• fast heartbeat
• increased pancreatic enzyme levels in blood test results
• delayed stomach emptying
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) in people who do not have type 2 diabetes
• increased levels of bilirubin in your blood, signs include yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

Mysimba

Mysimba contains two active ingredients, naltrexone and bupropion, and works in a similar way to Mounjaro by helping to reduce your appetite and make you feel fuller for longer. Mysimba is not as effective as Mounjaro, but people can still see an average weight loss of 8.1% after 56 weeks of treatment.

When you first start taking Mysimba, you will take 1 tablet per day and increase your dose as follows:

• week 2 – 2 tablets per day, 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening
• week 3 – 3 tablets per day, 2 in the morning and 1 in the evening
• week 4+ – 4 tablets per day, 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening

Mysimba and Mounjaro have similar, very common side effects. Mysimba's very common side effects include:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• constipation
• headache

Common side effects of Mysimba include:

• feeling shaky
• difficulty sleeping
• anxiety
• dizziness or vertigo
• change in taste
• dry mouth
• tiredness and lack of energy
• ringing in the ears
• hot flushes
• feeling jittery
• pain in the upper abdomen
• difficulty concentrating
• irregular or fast heartbeat
• excessive sweating
• increase in blood pressure
• rash
• itching
• hair loss
• irritability

Uncommon side effects include:

• feeling hot
• abdominal discomfort
• difficulty in getting or keeping an erection
• feeling thirsty
• feeling hot
• stomach discomfort
• burping
• indigestion
• hypersensitivity
• abnormal dreams
• hives
• inflammation of the gallbladder
• increase in liver enzymes
• increase in appetite, weight gain
• loss of memory
• feeling spacey
• balance issues
• feeling nervous
• feeling tension, agitation, mood swings, tremors in the hands or limbs
• motion sickness
• increased heart rate

Fat absorption blockers

Fat absorption blockers (like orlistat) stop the enzymes in your gut from breaking down the fat you eat so that instead of it absorbing into your body, it passes through your digestive system into your stools. There are a range of fat absorption blockers for weight loss available in the UK, either via prescription in higher doses or over-the-counter in lower doses:

• orlistat – a fat-binding tablet
• Xenical – a branded version of orlistat
• alli – an over-the-counter version of orlistat
• Orlos – another over the counter version of orlistat
• Mysimba – an appetite suppressing tablet

Orlistat

Orlistat is a prescription-only weight loss tablet containing orlistat. One 120mg tablet is taken by mouth 3 times a day with food. 37% of people lose at least 5% of their body weight after taking orlistat for 12 weeks.

Unlike Mounjaro, which works by targeting the brain to decrease appetite and increase fullness, orlistat works by reducing the amount of fat that is absorbed into your body when you digest it. This causes about one-third of the fat you eat to be removed from your body when you go to the toilet.

As orlistat contains a different active ingredient, its side effects are different. Common side effects of orlistat are:

• headache
• abdominal pain or discomfort
• urgent need to open the bowels
• flatulence (wind) with discharge
• oily discharge
• oily or fatty stools
• liquid stools
• low blood sugar levels (experienced by people with type 2 diabetes

Xenical

Xenical has exactly the same active ingredient as orlistat, which is also called ‘orlistat’. The only difference is, because Xenical is a branded medication, it usually costs more. It works the same way, is just as effective, and has the same possible side effects.

alli

alli is a low-dose version of Orlistat, 60mg, that works in the same way. Mounjaro and alli are both available to request from Asda Online Doctor, but alli is also available over the counter.

alli can be taken up to 3 times a day, usually one capsule is taken with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it has been shown to help 46.7% of people lose at least 5% of their body weight after 6 months.

Since alli has the same active ingredient, orlistat, it has the same possible side effects. The chance of getting them is lower on alli because the dose is half of orlistat or Xenical.

Orlos

Orlos is another 60mg version of orlistat. It is a branded version that is available over the counter or online with Asda Online Doctor. The average weight loss on Orlos is 5.2kg, and can also result in 46.7% of people losing at least 5% of their starting weight.

Like with alli, the side effects of Orlos are the same as other orlistat-containing medications, just with a lower chance due to the dose being lower.

There are several ways to support your GLP-1 levels naturally through lifestyle, exercise, and diet. Some supplements, such as Berberine, are believed to help improve GLP-1, but current evidence to support this is limited. One of the most effective natural alternatives to Mounjaro is to improve your overall lifestyle, especially by increasing your fiber intake.

Increasing fibre

Long-term research suggests that a high-fiber diet can gradually increase GLP-1 levels. Fiber also promotes satiety, slows digestion, and delays stomach emptying, which can help reduce calorie intake and manage hunger.

There are two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble, and both are important for better health. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and creates a gel that slows digestion and lowers cholesterol. Sources of soluble fibre include:

• legumes and pulses such as lentils, chickpeas, and kidney beans
• oats and grains such as oatmeal, barley, and rye
• fruits and vegetables
• seeds and nuts, such as flaxseed and chia seeds

Insoluble fiber does not dissolve and adds bulk to stool to promote regular bowel movements. Sources of insoluble fiber include:

• wheat grains and brans such as brown rice, quinoa, barley, and wheat bran
• nuts such as almonds and walnuts
• popcorn
• fruit skins, including apples and pears

Herbal supplements

Research has found that some herbal-based ingredients can influence GLP-1 release. These include:

• berberine
• curcumin
• cinnamon
• soybean
• wheat
• gardenia

However, there is limited evidence to suggest that herbal supplements can help with weight loss on their own if at all. To lose weight in a way that is safe, you should follow the guidance of your doctor in addition to eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercise regularly.

For more information on how to improve your diet, check out these guides:

• What to eat on Mounjaro
• Healthy dinner recipes

Yes, there are some cheaper alternatives to Mounjaro. The price of Mounjaro with Asda Online Doctor ranges from £148.97 to £298.97, depending on the dose. Cheaper alternatives to Mounjaro include:

• Wegovy – prices from £88.97
• Nevolat – prices from £94.97
• orlistat – £44.00
• Xenical – £52.00
• alli – prices from £88.97