Top 6 Ozempic® Alternatives for Weight Loss
Ozempic® is licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.
It’s sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss — when a medicine is prescribed for something it’s not licensed to treat. But this is generally not recommended in the United Kingdom because of possible supply shortages.
If you’re looking for weight loss treatments, there are plenty of Ozempic® alternatives to consider.
Through the Hers platform, for example, eligible customers can access Mounjaro® and Wegovy®, both of which are weight loss injections like Ozempic®.
Hers also offers orlistat, an oral weight loss medication and a good alternative to Ozempic® for people looking to support their weight loss efforts without needles.
Keep reading for more information about the top Ozempic® alternatives, including GLP-1 injections and oral medications.
Ozempic® Alternatives for Weight Loss
If you’re looking for a weight loss medication similar to Ozempic® that you can get in the U.K., there are other weight loss injections and weight loss pills to consider.
Here’s an overview of your options before we get into the details.
Medication | Injection or pill | Licensed for weight loss |
Mounjaro® ▼ | Weekly injection | Yes |
Wegovy® ▼ | Weekly injection | Yes |
Saxenda® | Daily injection | Yes |
Nevolat | Daily injection | Yes |
Orlistat | Daily pill | Yes |
Mysimba® | Daily pill | Yes |
1. Mounjaro®
Mounjaro® is licensed to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood glucose levels and to help people with overweight or obesity lose weight.
Like Ozempic®, it’s a once-a-week injectable medication. The active ingredient in Mounjaro® is tirzepatide, making it a fab semaglutide alternative (semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic®).
Tirzepatide is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist and a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. This means tirzepatide acts on two hormone receptors, while semaglutide acts on one.
It can help reduce appetite, curb cravings, and make you feel fuller.
As for effectiveness, a review of people with type 2 diabetes found that 10mg (milligram) and 15mg doses of Mounjaro® were more effective for weight loss than 2mg doses of semaglutide. But 2mg of semaglutide was similar to 5mg of tirzepatide — so it all depends on which dose your body tolerates.
Most people start on a 2.5mg dose of tirzepatide and gradually increase up to a maximum dose of 15mg.
Mounjaro® is a Black Triangle medicine (▼) requiring enhanced safety monitoring. It’s not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Weight loss your way
2. Wegovy®
Looking for weight loss drugs like Ozempic®? You can’t get much closer than Wegovy®.
Like Ozempic®, Wegovy® is a GLP-1 drug, and it has the same active ingredient: semaglutide. It’s also a once-a-week injection that reduces appetite and promotes weight loss.
The difference? Wegovy® is available in a higher dose of semaglutide than Ozempic®, and it’s licensed to treat obesity and overweight.
Wegovy® is licensed for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. It’s also approved for those with a BMI of 27 or higher with at least one weight-related condition, like:
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
High cholesterol
Sleep apnoea
Type 2 diabetes
Cardiovascular disease
Wegovy® is also licensed to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (like heart attack or stroke) in those with cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight.
Clinical trials have shown that Wegovy® can support significant weight loss when combined with healthy lifestyle changes. On average, people lose around 15 percent of their body weight over roughly 68 weeks.
A GP (general practitioner) or private healthcare professional will likely start you on a 0.25mg dose and gradually increase it over time until you reach a maintenance dose of up to 2.4mg.
Wegovy® is a Black Triangle medicine requiring enhanced safety monitoring. It’s not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
3. Saxenda®
Saxenda® is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with the active ingredient liraglutide. It’s licensed for weight loss and chronic weight management in people with a BMI of 30 or more or 27 or higher with at least one weight-related health condition.
One big difference between Saxenda® and Ozempic® is that Saxenda® is injected daily while Ozempic® is injected weekly.
Liraglutide works similarly to semaglutide, though. It can suppress appetite and make you feel fuller.
A healthcare professional would likely start you on a 0.6mg dose of Saxenda®. This would slowly increase each week until you reach a maximum dose of 3mg a day.
Research shows that participants taking a 3mg daily dose of Saxenda® for a year experienced weight loss, and it led to more weight loss when combined with increased physical activity.
Some studies show that Wegovy® may be more effective than Saxenda® for weight loss.
Like other GLP-1s, this medication isn’t recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
4. Nevolat
What is a cheaper alternative to Ozempic®? Generic medication can be a good option to look into.
Generic medicines contain the same active ingredients as brand-name versions. They’re allowed to be marketed once the exclusivity period for the brand-name medicine has expired.
Nevolat, for example, is a generic version of Saxenda®.
Just like Saxenda®, it’s a daily liraglutide injection for those with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition. It should be used alongside diet and exercise changes to promote weight loss.
5. Orlistat
Orlistat is an oral weight loss medication. It’s sold under the brand names Xenical®, Orlos®, and Alli®.
Xenical is a prescription medicine, whereas Orlos and Alli are available without a prescription from online retailers or pharmacists. They contain lower doses of orlistat than Xenical.
For Xenical, you may be able to get a prescription if you have a BMI of 30 or more, or 28 or more with a weight-related condition. A pharmacist can determine if Orlos or Alli is right for you. If so, you’d take this medicine under the pharmacist’s supervision.
Orlistat works by preventing some of the fat from being absorbed from the food you eat. This can help create a calorie deficit, which is key for weight loss. You’d take the pill before eating your main meals.
6. Mysimba
Mysimba contains two medicines, naltrexone and bupropion, that work together to reduce appetite.
It’s prescribed for those with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related health condition.
Mysimba is a daily tablet. In your first week, you’d take one tablet in the morning. Your dose will then slowly increase each week until you’re taking two tablets in the morning and two in the evening.
How to Switch From Ozempic® to an Alternative Medication
If you’re already taking Ozempic® and want to switch to an alternative weight loss medication due to side effects or the price, speak to your GP or a private healthcare professional to see what your options are.
If suitable, they can write you a new prescription, recommend the best way to come off Ozempic®, and tell you when to start your new medication.
Your GP or private healthcare professional might get you started on a low dose of your new medicine and gradually increase it, even if you were previously on a higher dose of Ozempic®.
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Are There Any Non-Prescription Ozempic® Alternatives?
There are no true non-prescription alternatives to Ozempic®. Prescription medicines like Ozempic®, Mounjaro®, and Wegovy® require supervision from a licensed healthcare professional and aren’t available without a prescription.
That said, some non-prescription medicines can help with weight loss, such as Alli and Orlos. You’ll need to speak to a pharmacist to make sure these are right for you and take them under their supervision.
You might also come across non-prescription dietary supplements marketed for weight loss, including:
Magnesium
Protein
Fibre
Vitamin B12
Weight loss supplements aren’t always regulated by the MHRA, so they may not be effective. But some may be able to support your health, wellness, and weight loss efforts.
Your GP or another healthcare professional, like a dietitian, can guide you on the best supplements for your needs.
Natural Alternatives to Ozempic®
If you’re looking for ways to support weight loss without medication, your best bet is to focus on science-backed lifestyle changes.
These natural strategies may not be as fast-acting as GLP-1 medication, but they’re powerful over time and can work in tandem with medication.
Some of the most effective natural alternatives to Ozempic® include:
Eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains
Drinking more water to stay hydrated and support digestion
Moving your body more regularly — even light daily activity can make a difference
Getting enough quality sleep, which is linked to better appetite regulation and metabolic health
If you want structured support, you can also consider a holistic weight loss programme, like those offered through Hers U.K.
Hers weight loss programmes combine expert guidance with access to weight loss medicine (if suitable for you). Through the Hers app, you’ll also get high-protein recipes, habit trackers, and behavioural change tools to help you build healthy habits for life-long weight management.
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Ozempic® Alternatives: Your Next Steps
Here’s what to bear in mind about Ozempic® alternatives:
If you’re looking for prescription medications like Ozempic® for weight loss, you have plenty of options.
Other weight loss medications include GLP-1 injections like Wegovy®, Mounjaro®, and Saxenda®.
You can also get prescription and non-prescription weight loss pills like Xenical, Orlos, and Alli.
Your GP or specialist can walk you through which weight loss medicines are best for you and offer personalised medical advice.
Hers U.K. offers access to a variety of weight loss medicines for those who are eligible.
Ozempic® and Wegovy® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Hims, Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed by Novo Nordisk A/S.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your GP about the risks and benefits of any treatment.