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Prescriptions for semaglutide – dubbed the "skinny jab" – have more than doubled to 684 per month in Ipswich and East Suffolk, as health authorities introduce stricter rules for the diabetes drug's weight-loss use.
Why it matters: The significant increase reflects rising demand as national authorities work to prevent the misuse of the medications, which have gained popularity as weight-loss treatments.
By the numbers:
Monthly semaglutide prescriptions rose from 302 to 684 year-on-year
The alternative drug tirzepatide reached 896 prescriptions in November
Nationally, monthly semaglutide prescriptions increased to 124,000 from 103,000
For context: These figures show how many times the drugs appeared on prescriptions, rather than the number of patients receiving them.
The bigger picture: Last January, the UK Health Service Authority warned of potential shortages of semaglutide, sold as Wegovy or Ozempic, leading the NHS to offer tirzepatide (Mounjaro) as an alternative for diabetes patients.
How it works: Both medications:
Help the body produce more insulin
Reduce the amount of sugar produced by the body
Slow down digestion
Key context: While GPs can only prescribe these drugs for diabetes treatment, they can be obtained for obesity through specialist NHS weight loss services or private providers.
What they're saying: Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said the rising demand reflects the drugs' effectiveness but warned that diabetes patients should "remain a priority" as weight-loss demand increases.
New regulations: The General Pharmaceutical Council has tightened online prescription criteria. Duncan Rudkin, the organisation's chief executive, said there have been "too many cases of medicines being supplied inappropriately online and putting people at risk".
The details: Under new rules, prescribers must independently verify a patient's weight, height and/or body mass index through:
Video consultation
In-person assessment
Clinical records
Contact with the patient's GP
Phone calls alone are not considered appropriate verification for weight loss prescriptions.
The bottom line: The NHS has urged online pharmacies to "act responsibly" when prescribing these medications, as their growing popularity for weight loss requires careful balance with the needs of diabetes patients.
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