Cheapest Weight Loss Injections in the UK

Price Comparison Table

The table below compares the three main prescription weight loss injections available through UK pharmacies. Prices reflect typical private pharmacy pricing as of early 2025 and will vary by provider and dose level.

Prices based on private pharmacy pricing across UK providers, March 2025. Costs vary by dose and provider. Excludes consultation fees where applicable.

Saxenda is the lowest-cost prescription weight loss injection on the UK market. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, it uses liraglutide — a GLP-1 receptor agonist originally developed for type 2 diabetes under the brand name Victoza. For weight management, Saxenda is prescribed at a higher dose of 3mg daily.

At roughly £25 to £35 per week, Saxenda appeals to patients looking for the most affordable entry point into injectable weight loss treatment. It is widely available at both high-street pharmacies and online providers, making it one of the most accessible options.

The trade-off is effectiveness. In the SCALE clinical trial programme, participants on Saxenda lost an average of 5 to 8% of their body weight over 56 weeks, roughly half the results seen with newer medications. The daily injection schedule is another drawback — many patients find it inconvenient compared to once-weekly alternatives, and adherence tends to drop over time.

Saxenda can work well as a starter medication for patients who want to test their response to GLP-1 treatment before committing to a more expensive option. However, the majority of patients we see at The Chemist Live eventually transition to Wegovy or Mounjaro for stronger results with fewer injections.

Wegovy sits in the middle tier for both pricing and effectiveness. It contains semaglutide — the same active ingredient found in Ozempic, but at the higher 2.4mg maintenance dose specifically approved for weight management.

The STEP clinical trial programme demonstrated that patients on Wegovy lost an average of 15 to 17% of their body weight over 68 weeks. Those are substantial results. In 2023, NICE formally recommended Wegovy for weight management in adults with a BMI of 35 or above (or 30 with weight-related conditions), making it the first weight loss injection to receive that level of NHS endorsement.

At £32 to £55 per week through private pharmacies, Wegovy is moderately more expensive than Saxenda but produces roughly double the weight loss. The once-weekly injection is also far more convenient, and the pre-filled pen device is straightforward to use at home.

Supply has been an issue since Wegovy launched in the UK. Novo Nordisk has struggled to meet global demand, and some dose strengths go in and out of stock. If you are considering Wegovy, it is worth checking availability with your provider before starting treatment to avoid interruptions during dose escalation.

Mounjaro is the newest and most clinically effective weight loss injection currently available in the UK. Made by Eli Lilly, it contains tirzepatide — a dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist. This dual mechanism sets it apart from both Saxenda and Wegovy, which target only the GLP-1 pathway.

In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, participants on the highest dose of Mounjaro lost an average of 22.5% of their body weight over 72 weeks. That is a level of weight loss that was previously only achievable through bariatric surgery. Even at the lower maintenance doses, results consistently outperform both Wegovy and Saxenda.

Pricing for Mounjaro ranges from £32 to £69 per week depending on the dose. The starting doses (2.5mg and 5mg) sit at the lower end of that range, making the early months of treatment comparable in price to Wegovy. Higher maintenance doses (10mg, 12.5mg, 15mg) are more expensive, but patients at those levels are typically seeing meaningful weight loss that justifies the investment.

Mounjaro is the most popular treatment at The Chemist Live. The combination of once-weekly dosing, strong clinical evidence, and a favourable side-effect profile (gastrointestinal side effects tend to be milder than with semaglutide for many patients) makes it our most recommended option for patients who are eligible.

The headline price of a weight loss injection is only part of the story. Several factors can significantly affect the total amount you pay over the course of treatment.

Dose escalation

All three medications follow a dose-escalation protocol. You start at the lowest dose and gradually increase over several weeks. This means your costs will rise as you move through the dose tiers. Mounjaro, for example, starts at 2.5mg (around £34 per week) but can reach 15mg (up to £69 per week) at the highest maintenance dose. Some patients find an effective dose before reaching the top tier, which keeps costs lower.

Consultation fees

This is where costs vary dramatically between providers. Some online clinics charge £50 to £150 for an initial prescriber consultation, with additional fees for follow-up reviews every four to eight weeks. Others bundle the consultation into the medication price but inflate the drug cost to compensate. At The Chemist Live, our pharmacist-led eligibility check and ongoing clinical reviews are included free of charge. There is no separate consultation fee at any stage.

Delivery charges

Most online providers charge £5 to £10 for next-day delivery, and some require cold-chain shipping which adds further cost. Pharmacy-based services like ours offer free collection in person and free UK-wide delivery, removing this cost entirely.

Provider markup

There is no fixed retail price for private prescriptions in the UK, so pharmacies set their own margins. Venture-backed online clinics such as Manual, Numan, and Juniper typically carry higher overheads (marketing, app development, prescriber salaries) that are passed on to the patient. Independent pharmacies and smaller online providers can often undercut them on price while delivering the same UK-licensed medication.

If you find weight loss injections advertised at prices significantly below the ranges listed above, treat it as a red flag. The UK has seen a growing number of counterfeit and unlicensed weight loss products entering the market, and the consequences can be serious.

The MHRA has issued multiple alerts about counterfeit semaglutide and tirzepatide products found in the UK supply chain. Counterfeit pens may contain incorrect doses, contaminated ingredients, or no active ingredient at all. In the worst cases, patients have required hospitalisation after using fake products.

Always verify your pharmacy on the GPhC register. If the price looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

Price per injection is not the same as value for money. Here are the factors that actually determine whether you are getting a good deal.

Frequently Asked Questions