Welcome to your GLP-1 guide

Starting a new medication can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to navigate it alone. This guide was created to give you everything you need to feel informed and confident on your GLP-1 journey.

Ashwin Sharma
Dr Ashwin Sharma

Medical Doctor

Switching treatments


If you would like to continue your treatment with Mounjaro rather than switch, we've got information about how we're supporting you to stay on Mounjaro in the Mounjaro section. Our clinicians are here to help you with your doseage — as always.

Though switching weight loss medications is a common practice for medical professionals, for you, it can feel like a big step. It can be the right choice for many reasons, from cost and availability to finding the treatment that best suits your body and long-term goals.

Why you might be switching

There are several reasons why you and your prescriber may choose to switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy:

  • Availability - ensuring you can continue treatment without interruption.

  • Cost – Wegovy is often more cost-effective for long-term use.

  • Tolerance – Switching may be advised if you’ve experienced difficult side effects on Mounjaro.

  • Personal preference – some people simply prefer one medication’s delivery system or how it feels to take it.

Whatever the reason, our clinically-led team will create a personalised transition plan to help you maintain progress and minimise side effects.

Is it safe to switch?

In most cases, yes. Both Mounjaro and Wegovy are GLP-1 receptor agonists, which is a type of medication that works in similar ways to regulate appetite and support weight loss. Because of this shared mechanism, switching between the two is generally well-tolerated when done under medical supervision.

Importantly, you don’t need to stop treatment for a “wash-out” period. If you’ve been tolerating Mounjaro well, you can take your final scheduled dose one week and begin Wegovy the next.

How your dose is chosen

There’s no exact “one-to-one” match between Mounjaro and Wegovy doses, but there are clinical guidelines we follow to find the closest safe equivalent. If you’ve been tolerating your current Mounjaro dose without significant side effects, your prescriber will usually start you on the Wegovy dose that provides similar appetite control and treatment effect.

If you’ve had side effects such as persistent nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea, our clinical team may recommend starting you at a lower Wegovy dose. This “step down” approach allows your body to adjust more gradually before increasing to your maintenance dose.

What to expect after switching

Because both medications work in similar ways, your experience on Wegovy may feel familiar, especially if you tolerated Mounjaro well.

You may notice:

  • Changes in appetite – some people find appetite suppression feels slightly different between the two medicines.
  • Similar side effects – including mild nausea, constipation or diarrhoea, especially in the early weeks or after a dose increase.
  • Weight loss patterns – the rate of weight loss may vary initially, but clinical research shows that by 12 months, Wegovy can deliver comparable results to Mounjaro for many people, especially when taken consistently.

Your prescriber will monitor your progress closely during the first months of treatment and adjust your plan if needed.

What to expect with Wegovy

Weight loss can take time, and that’s okay. In clinical studies, people using Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4mg) lost around 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks, while people using Mounjaro (tirzepatide 15mg) lost around 21% after 72 weeks.

Both treatments support significant and sustained results when used alongside healthy lifestyle changes.

A gradual approach helps support sustainable weight loss and can also reduce potential side effects.

The switching process at MedExpress

If you decide switching is the right option for you, our clinician-led service will support your switch. The first step is to complete an online consultation where you'll be asked about any side effects you've had on Mounjaro. This helps our clinicians make sure the switch is done safely and personalise a transition plan for you.

You'll then see some recommended options about which dose of your new GLP-1 treatment to start with. This depends on your current Mounjaro dose but often you won't need to start from your treatment journey from scratch with the lowest dose.

A clinician may reach out to you to confirm a few details so the switch is safe and tailored to you. You'll get ongoing check-ins during the first month of your switch — but our clinical and customer care teams will be here beyond that to support you throughout your weight loss journey.

What happens to weight loss progress during the switch?

By switching to a different GLP-1 medication like Wegovy, you will still be supporting your weight loss journey with a clinically-backed, effective treatment. The good news is that in most cases, our clinicians will be able to develop a personalised transition plan to help match your current Mounjaro dose to an equivalent Wegovy dose. This means that your progress won't be taking a step back — you likely won't need to start on the lowest dose if you're on a higher dose of Mounjaro.

Regaining weight or reaching a weight-loss plateau after switching is unlikely. However, it isn't impossible, and some people may notice a slow-down in the pace of their weight loss. Others may find their weight loss continues steadily. In both cases, it is important to stay consistent and stick with the treatment plan. We provide ongoing support during your switch, so you can rest assured our clinicians are on hand to help.

Side effects and switching

Every body responds differently to different medication, and the main ingredient in Mounjaro is different to other GLP-1 medications like Wegovy. The good news is that if you're tolerating Mounjaro well, you'll likely tolerate Wegovy well, too.

Even though the main ingredient in the medication will be different, the medications work in similar ways. You can therefore expect similar side effects, such as nausea or constipation. Most side effects get better over time, but our clinical team are always at hand to help and provide guidance on making adjustments so you can make the switch smoothly.

Part of the switching process is to check-in with you about current side effects, so our clinical team can create a personalised transition plan for you to help minimise potential side effects.

Tips for continuing treatment

  • Stay consistent with your weekly injections. Avoid missing doses where possible.

  • Keep track of any side effects and share these with your clinical team.

  • Weight loss takes time. Steady progress is what’s recommended by clinicians.

  • Maintain healthy routines around food, movement and sleep to support your treatment.

Our approach at MedExpress

Every treatment plan is overseen by our medical team. We’ll review your history and current health, and assess how well you’ve tolerated any previous medication. Plus, we keep lifestyle front of mind, too.

Our clinicians will recommend a safe and effective dose and provide ongoing support through check-ins, advice and resources to help you adapt smoothly to your treatment plan.