Weight loss jabs hit with stricter rules as people with eating disorders get online prescriptions
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has introduced new rules for weight-loss jabs, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, in response to concerns over their misuse. The GPhC has tightened prescription guidelines to ensure that these medications are not supplied “inappropriately”.
Under the updated rules, people will no longer be able to obtain the drugs by simply completing an online questionnaire. Instead, in-person or video consultations will be mandatory to verify a patient's body mass index (BMI). Additionally, medical records or information from a GP will be required to ensure prescriptions are issued correctly.
Pharmacists who fail to comply with the new guidelines may face enforcement action, including fitness-to-practice investigations or inspections, and the imposition of conditions such as improvement plans, the GPhC warns.
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This change follows calls from groups like the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), who raised alarms after discovering that some individuals, including those with a history of eating disorders or low body weight, were receiving prescriptions for the drugs. The GPhC said it is responding to these concerns after reports that some online pharmacies were bypassing necessary checks and prioritizing prescription quotas instead of patient safety.
Weight-loss injections like Wegovy, which contains semaglutide, and Mounjaro, which contains tirzepatide, have surged in popularity after clinical trials showed they could help people shed significant amounts of weight. This has led to a rise in private prescriptions for these drugs.
How do Wegovy and Mounjaro work?
Wegovy and Mounjaro are two popular weight-loss drugs currently on the market. Semaglutide, branded as Wegovy, and tirzepatide, sold under Mounjaro, both serve as appetite suppressants. Semaglutide is also used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes under the name Ozempic.
Both drugs are administered as weekly injections, using pre-filled pens that can be self-administered into the upper arm, thigh, or stomach.
These medications work by mimicking a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is released in the gut after eating and typically signals feelings of fullness.
Mounjaro also targets a second hormone, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which plays a role in metabolism and energy regulation.
Patients typically begin with a low dose, which is gradually increased until they reach the desired maintenance level.
However, concerns are mounting over the medications being prescribed inappropriately, particularly through online pharmacies, to individuals who do not meet the necessary criteria.
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has raised alarms over unsafe prescribing practices and potential supply issues, with reports of some online pharmacies setting quotas to process a set number of prescriptions each hour.
To address these concerns, prescribers will now be required to "actively" share details of what they’re dispensing with a patient’s GP.
GPhC chief executive Duncan Rudkin commented: “We know online pharmacy services can provide a very valuable service - but through our inspections and investigations, we’ve seen too many cases of medicines being supplied inappropriately online and putting people at risk.”
Weight-loss drugs are now classified as "high risk" medicines, requiring additional safeguards. These medications are available on the NHS only under strict criteria.
Nick Kaye, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which represents around 6,000 independent community pharmacies, expressed hope that the updated guidance would "help to protect the safety of patients."
He also highlighted that "the vast majority of pharmacies, including online sellers, already adhere to good practice in this area."
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