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MHRA issues warning on contraception use alongside weight-loss injections ... as received more than 40 reports relating to pregnancy among women on the drugs. Of those, 26 were related to tirzepatide, with one reported as unintentional, and eight reports were for people taking semaglutide. A further nine have been recorded for liraglutide, of which one recorded the pregnancy was unintentional – although women do not have to disclose this information. The MHRA stressed that Yello ... Date: 05-06-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics
Big questions: GP tirzepatide prescribing and international medical graduates ... ugs? The rollout of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) in primary care begins this month, a year since the initial NICE recommendations were made. GPs will be able to prescribe the weight-loss drug - unlike semaglutide, for which GPs need to refer patients to specialist weight management services. The initial guidance would have put immense pressure on GPs, with around 3.4 million patients being eligible within mo ... Date: 03-06-2025 Categories: • Big questions
GPs need to engage with obesity management as weight-loss jabs are rolled out, say researchers ... hly effective in helping patients lose weight, their recent findings strike a ‘cautionary note’ on how they are best used. A systematic analysis of trial data of GLP-1RA treatments found that semaglutide and tirzepatide led to an average weight loss of 16kg, but once participants stopped taking them, weight returned to baseline by 1.7 years. Presenting the research at the European Congress on Obesity, ... Date: 28-05-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Involve private providers in weight loss jab rollout, urges think tank ... a ‘digital first’ approach, a report from the Tony Blair Institute has concluded. The analysis said faster roll out through more innovative models of providing anti-obesity medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide would save billions a year in benefits payments through keeping people in work longer. Such a scheme should be targeted at those over 40 years old and of working age, to ‘maximise the ... Date: 21-05-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Complicated contraception: Prescribing in women with obesity ... to rise, however there are specific concerns related to tirzepatide, which reduced bioavailability of oral contraception in one study. This has not been shown to be clinically relevant with semaglutide or liraglutide. The FSRH advises that those using tirzepatide should switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for four weeks after initiation or dose increase. It is suggested that women do not t ... Date: 03-04-2025 Categories: • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics
Semaglutide not associated with increased risk of suicide, say researchers The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, like semaglutide, to treat type 2 diabetes is not associated with an increased risk of suicidality as previously suggested, an analysis of UK data has found. A study comparing GP records of patients taking GLP-1RA ... Date: 19-03-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction
GPs free to prescribe semaglutide as national supply issues resolve GPs are free to prescribe semaglutide to all eligible patients in line with NICE guidelines after long-term shortages have been resolved. An updated medicines supply notice published this month said the supply of glucagon like peptide ... Date: 11-03-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
First randomised trial indicates Wegovy effective for treating alcohol-use disorder Weight-loss and diabetes drug Wegovy (semaglutide) may also help heavy drinkers cut down on their alcohol intake, a randomised controlled trial has found. A US study in 48 people with alcohol use disorder found that the weekly GLP-1 receptor agon ... Date: 12-02-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Mental health, pain and addiction
GPs could face legal risk if they ignore weight-loss jab information requests, says MDO ... been issued by the Medical Defence Union (MDU) after the General Pharmaceutical Council mandated stricter rules around prescribing weight-loss injections. Pharmacies selling drugs such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) will now have to independently verify information the patient, provides which could include checking with their GP. The MDU said they had already seen a rise in queries ... Date: 05-02-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Online weight-loss prescribers issued new rules that could increase GP workload ... that GP practices are dealing with a rising number of requests from private providers seeking patient information to inform their prescribing of weight-loss medication such as tirzepatide and semaglutide. A version of this article was first published by Pulse's sister title The Pharmacist Date: 04-02-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Workload
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may cut risk of dementia and other conditions Use of GLP-1 weight loss-drugs - such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) - is associated with reduced risk of a wide range of conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, a large study has concluded. US researchers analysed ... Date: 22-01-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Elderly care • Gastroenterology and obesity • Neurology • Respiratory
GPs should use ‘clinical judgment’ on child obesity safeguarding concerns, says NICE GPs should use their ‘clinical judgement’ to decide when a child's obesity becomes a safeguarding concern because of a ‘significant threat’ to their health and wellbeing, NICE has said in updated guidelines on ... Date: 17-01-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Paediatrics
GPs can reject requests for input on private weight-loss jab prescriptions, say LMCs ... evealed that GP practices are dealing with a rising number of requests from private providers seeking patient information to inform their prescribing of weight-loss medication such as tirzepatide and semaglutide. Kernow LMC told practices that this is ‘private work’ and a fee can be charged to private providers, while North and South Essex LMC said GPs - who are already ‘under extreme pressure’ - cannot t ... Date: 09-01-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Renal medicine, urology and men's health • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics • Workload
NICE accepts slower rollout of tirzepatide but GP workload concerns remain ... hree years which is why we’ve taken the unprecedented decision to review the way this medicine is delivered to patients then. ‘Tirzepatide and other drugs like it, such as semaglutide, will help people living with obesity to lose weight, and as a result will reduce their risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke. ‘We have had to make this difficult decision in order to protect other vital NHS ... Date: 05-12-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction
GLP-1 drugs could help people drink less alcohol, research suggests ... the future for excessive alcohol use and subsequently could lead to a reduction in alcohol-related deaths,’ Dr Subhani added. The UK’s medicines regulator recently approved the use of semaglutide (Wegovy) for cardiovascular prevention in obese and overweight patients with established CVD. And the Government has entered into an agreement with the makers of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) to trial whether supplying ... Date: 03-12-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction
MHRA urges GPs to be alert to signs of GLP-1 agonist 'misuse' The medicines regulator has urged GPs to be alert to signs of ‘misuse’ of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss, such as semaglutide. Healthcare professionals should also ensure patients are aware of the side-effects of the diabetes and weight loss injections and report any adverse reactions through the Yellow Card reporting scheme ... Date: 24-10-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Renal medicine, urology and men's health
NHSE plans phased rollout of tirzepatide for weight loss to avoid 'profound' impact on GPs ... pproaches to obesity.' The first head-to-head study recently found that use of tirzepatide is associated with significantly greater weight loss than semaglutide. Date: 04-10-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Workload
MRA drugs 'should be considered' in all patients with heart failure ... tion. ‘In patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, management should include finerenone in addition to a SGLT2 inhibitor,’ he said. Meanwhile, a recent study found semaglutide could be beneficial in helping to treat patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure. In a trial of more than 600 patients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction ... Date: 01-10-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular
Semaglutide may help manage difficult-to-treat skin condition Semaglutide may be an effective treatment for the skin condition hidradenitis suppurative, common in people with obesity, say researchers. A team in Ireland monitored outcomes for a small number of obese pati ... Date: 25-09-2024 Categories: • Dermatology and wound care • Gastroenterology and obesity
Wegovy makers say new amycretin weight-loss pill even more effective ... makers of Wegovy, led to a 13.1% weight loss over three months in early trial results. Novo Nordisk said its phase 1 trial of a daily dose of amycretin produced an apparent faster weight loss than semaglutide injections and could prove to be a ‘convenient’ alternative. Delegates at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference heard that the first study of the drug – which targets both ... Date: 16-09-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
Research suggests link between semaglutide and suicidal thoughts Researchers have found an apparent disproportional risk of suicidal thoughts with semaglutide compared with other diabetes drugs. A study based on a World Health Organisation global database of adverse drug reactions found while cases were very rare patients were significantly more likely ... Date: 23-08-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction
GP practices should be scaled up to 250k-patient lists, says Tony Blair think tank ... help boost prevention, highlighting the ‘potential of GLP-1 agonist-type drugs’, such as semaglutide. It said it is ‘simply not feasible’ to roll out this drug routinely for weight management in general practice, arguing that the NHS needs to make ‘greater use’ of community pharmacy. Professor Azeem Majeed, professor of primary care and public health at Imperial College London, said he thinks t ... Date: 20-08-2024 Categories: • Contract • Technology
MHRA approves new use of semaglutide for cardiovascular prevention The UK's medicines regulator has approved the use of semaglutide (Wegovy) for cardiovascular prevention in obese and overweight patients with established CVD. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted the authorisation on Tuesday th ... Date: 24-07-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity
Tirzepatide more effective than semaglutide for weight loss, finds study Use of tirzepatide is associated with significantly greater weight loss than semaglutide, according to the results of the first head-to-head study. An analysis of electronic health data from more than 18,000 patients taking one or the other found those on tirzepatide also had greater ... Date: 09-07-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
GP fury as Creon shortages leave patient at risk of hospitalisation ... Government to do more to alleviate shortages and hold pharmaceutical companies to account. For people to be able to easily access drugs like semaglutide privately while NHS diabetes patients are missing out is ‘morally and ethically, a disgrace’, she added. ‘The reality is people are suffering and are going to become severely unwell.’ In answer to a parliamentary question about shortages of Creon in Ma ... Date: 19-06-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Workload
Semaglutide can sustain weight loss for four years and cut CVD risk Weight loss in patients with semaglutide can be sustained for up to four years, according to results from the SELECT study presented at the European Congress on Obesity and published in Nature Medicine. A second as yet unpublished analys ... Date: 17-06-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity
GPs to take on weight loss management under NICE tirzepatide guidance ... vice for people with a BMI of at least 35kg/m2 and one weight-related comorbidty with lower thresholds for people from some ethnic minority backgrounds. But in contrast to NICE recommendations for semaglutide which limited use to tier 3 specialist weight management services, the committee said tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Eli Lilly) could be given in primary care if supporting services were in place. It foll ... Date: 07-06-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Therapeutics update: the new era of drug treatments for obesity Dr Simon Cork, senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, reviews the latest advances in drug treatment for obesity, including liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide Introduction The quest to find effective and safe anti-obesity drugs has been long. Drugs have been introduced, only to be withdrawn after safety concerns, with many of these dr ... Date: 09-05-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
GPs having to provide advice on alternatives amid ‘daily’ medicines shortages Ongoing medicines shortages are causing extra workload including for GPs who are having to provide advice about alternatives, a report said. Daily battles with medicines shortages are putting patient health ... Date: 09-05-2024 Categories: • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Workload
Drug shortages are ‘new normal’ and made worse by Brexit, report says Regular shortages of life-saving medicines have become the ‘new normal’ in the UK, according to a report from the Nuffield Trust, which concludes Brexit has made the problem harder to tackle. In particular, ... Date: 18-04-2024 Categories: • Long-term conditions and prescribing
Semaglutide helps heart failure symptoms in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes Semaglutide could be beneficial in helping to treat patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure, a study has shown. In a trial of more than 600 patients with obesity-related heart failure ... Date: 18-04-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology
Diabetes drug shows potential in treating Parkinson’s disease ... nson’s disease.’ But he said the beneficial effects are likely to be restricted to those GLP1 receptor agonists that can cross the blood brain barrier which ruled out liraglutide and semaglutide. Yet it is still not clear whether the drugs simply improve dopaminergic signalling to provide symptom relief or have a neuroprotective effect. ‘Phase 3 trial data of the effects of two years exposure to exe ... Date: 12-04-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Neurology
GPs can switch semaglutide injections for tablets or tirzepatide amid shortages Guidance on selecting alternative glucose lowering therapies for patients with type 2 diabetes has been issued in response to ongoing shortages of semaglutide and other glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA). The Primary Care Diabetes Society updated their advice after the latest information on national shortages warned that while some GLP ... Date: 25-03-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology
Government extends GLP-1 RA shortage warning until end of 2024 ... tructed prescribers not to initiate any new patients on GLP-1 RAs for the duration of the shortage, which was then predicted to continue until at least mid-2024. The update states that Rybelsus (semaglutide) tablets are now available in sufficient quantities to support initiation of GLP-1 RA treatment in people with type 2 diabetes where that would be clinically appropriate. Meanwhile, Byetta (exenatid ... Date: 04-01-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
MHRA licenses tirzepatide for weight loss treatment in UK ... , or heart problems. NICE is currently reviewing the use of tirzepatide for weight loss on the NHS with guidance expected in March next year. It follows a decision in March to recommend semaglutide (Wegovy) to be offered as part of NHS weight loss services. The first supplies were made available in September after reports of global shortages impacting diabetes patients. The MHRA decision on ... Date: 09-11-2023 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Fake Ozempic and Saxenda pens sold in UK, MHRA warns ... atory agency said it received reports of ‘a very small number of people’ who have been hospitalised after using 'potentially fake' weight-loss pens. It has seized 369 potentially fake Ozempic (semaglutide) pens since January, and has also received reports of fake Saxenda (liraglutide) pens that have been obtained by patients in the UK through non-legitimate routes. Saxenda is authorised in the UK for w ... Date: 27-10-2023 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
Semaglutide for weight loss linked to gastrointestinal problems Drugs like semaglutide are associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal problems when used for weight loss, researchers have warned. In an analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, use ... Date: 11-10-2023 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
NICE recommends tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes after initial rejection ... receptors. It was granted marketing authorisation in October 2022 but previous draft guidance published in June this year had rejected its use as an alternative to other antidiabetic drugs such as semaglutide and liraglutide. NICE said the manufacturer had put forward additional analyses and modelling on its clinical and cost-effectiveness which led to the final draft now recommending tirzepatide in sp ... Date: 08-09-2023 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
NHS launches Wegovy prescribing for weight-loss after securing limited stock Semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, will become available via the NHS as a weight-loss drug from today, after a limited stock was earmarked to fulfil new NICE guidance. Manufacturer Novo Nordisk announced that W ... Date: 04-09-2023 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
Apps to prescribe and manage weight-loss medication for obesity, NICE proposes ... ld be able to access the virtual care and if all those eligible enrolled, up to 145,000 hours of clinician time would be saved, according to NICE’s calculations. Prescription of drugs like semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy) and liraglutide is enabled by some of the platforms, while others can collect and share data which helps NHS teams in prescribing decisions. To be referred patients should meet ... Date: 15-08-2023 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing
GPs warn of 'unacceptable' weight management service provision gap The lack of both tier 2 and tier 3 weight management services in Leeds has left patients with an ‘unacceptable’ service provision gap, according to the LMC. Leeds City Council was forced to decommissio ... Date: 10-08-2023 Categories: • Contract • Gastroenterology and obesity • Practice and personal finance
Semaglutide cuts risk of cardiovascular events by 20%, claims manufacturer Diabetes drug semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, could also reduce risk of cardiovascular events by 20%, its manufacturer has claimed. Novo Nordisk has announced headline findings from its SELECT trial, although they have no ... Date: 08-08-2023 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
NICE lowers threshold for weight-loss surgery referrals ... urgery. This follows a previous update to the guideline this year to the section on pharmacological interventions to include recommendations from NICE technology appraisal guidance on liraglutide, semaglutide and naltrexone-bupropion. The previous guidance, first published nine years ago, had stipulated that referral for bariatric surgery should only be considered once 'all appropriate non-surgical mea ... Date: 26-07-2023 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction
GPs ‘should discuss stopping’ semaglutide treatment for diabetes due to shortages Patients with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide and other glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) drugs are having to stop taking them, amidst ongoing shortages due to popularity for weight loss. A National Patient Safety Alert thi ... Date: 20-07-2023 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
Unregulated semaglutide use for weight loss posing patient safety threat, RCGP warns Unregulated use of semaglutide for weight loss is posing a ‘genuine threat to patient safety’, the RCGP has warned. The Department of Health and Social Care has issued a warning of ongoing supply problems with the drug until th ... Date: 06-07-2023 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity
GPs to prescribe obesity drugs under new Government pilots ... today. However the BMA warned that GP workload would need to be taken into account once the scheme was rolled out more widely. In March, NICE recommended injectable prescription medication semaglutide (Wegovy) for use as part of a patient’s treatment in an NHS specialist weight management service and with the support of a multi-disciplinary team. It said the drug should be prescribed to adults who h ... Date: 07-06-2023 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity
GPs to refer patients for weight loss with semaglutide following NICE approval GPs will soon be able to refer patients for weight-loss treatment with semaglutide, which NICE says can help people to reduce their weight by over 10 per cent. NICE has today recommended the drug for use as part of a patient’s treatment in an NHS specialist weight manageme ... Date: 08-03-2023 Categories: • Breaking news • Gastroenterology and obesity
Tirzepatide granted UK marketing authorisation for type 2 diabetes ... ed to start no new prescriptions for two key injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists amidst a global shortage. The PCDS said it had recently been made aware of shortages of Ozempic (semaglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) in the UK due to manufacturers being unable to keep up with global demand. Date: 24-10-2022 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology
GPs told not to initiate two diabetes drugs amidst supply shortages ... no new prescriptions for two key injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists amidst a global shortage. The Primary Care Diabetes Society (PCDS) said it had recently been made aware of shortages of Ozempic (semaglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) in the UK due to manufacturers being unable to keep up with global demand. In response, GPs should take a proactive approach and identify patients already prescribed O ... Date: 07-10-2022 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology
GPs urged to screen asymptomatic patients on metformin for B12 deficiency GPs should consider periodic vitamin B12 testing of higher-risk patients who take metformin, even if they don't display symptoms of deficiency, the UK medicines regulator has said. Metformin is known to redu ... Date: 23-06-2022 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology

MHRA issues warning on contraception use alongside weight-loss injections ... as received more than 40 reports relating to pregnancy among women on the drugs. Of those, 26 were related to tirzepatide, with one reported as unintentional, and eight reports were for people taking semaglutide. A further nine have been recorded for liraglutide, of which one recorded the pregnancy was unintentional – although women do not have to disclose this information. The MHRA stressed that Yello ... Date: 05-06-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics

Big questions: GP tirzepatide prescribing and international medical graduates ... ugs? The rollout of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) in primary care begins this month, a year since the initial NICE recommendations were made. GPs will be able to prescribe the weight-loss drug - unlike semaglutide, for which GPs need to refer patients to specialist weight management services. The initial guidance would have put immense pressure on GPs, with around 3.4 million patients being eligible within mo ... Date: 03-06-2025 Categories: • Big questions

GPs need to engage with obesity management as weight-loss jabs are rolled out, say researchers ... hly effective in helping patients lose weight, their recent findings strike a ‘cautionary note’ on how they are best used. A systematic analysis of trial data of GLP-1RA treatments found that semaglutide and tirzepatide led to an average weight loss of 16kg, but once participants stopped taking them, weight returned to baseline by 1.7 years. Presenting the research at the European Congress on Obesity, ... Date: 28-05-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Involve private providers in weight loss jab rollout, urges think tank ... a ‘digital first’ approach, a report from the Tony Blair Institute has concluded. The analysis said faster roll out through more innovative models of providing anti-obesity medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide would save billions a year in benefits payments through keeping people in work longer. Such a scheme should be targeted at those over 40 years old and of working age, to ‘maximise the ... Date: 21-05-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Complicated contraception: Prescribing in women with obesity ... to rise, however there are specific concerns related to tirzepatide, which reduced bioavailability of oral contraception in one study. This has not been shown to be clinically relevant with semaglutide or liraglutide. The FSRH advises that those using tirzepatide should switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for four weeks after initiation or dose increase. It is suggested that women do not t ... Date: 03-04-2025 Categories: • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics

Semaglutide not associated with increased risk of suicide, say researchers The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, like semaglutide, to treat type 2 diabetes is not associated with an increased risk of suicidality as previously suggested, an analysis of UK data has found. A study comparing GP records of patients taking GLP-1RA ... Date: 19-03-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction

GPs free to prescribe semaglutide as national supply issues resolve GPs are free to prescribe semaglutide to all eligible patients in line with NICE guidelines after long-term shortages have been resolved. An updated medicines supply notice published this month said the supply of glucagon like peptide ... Date: 11-03-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

First randomised trial indicates Wegovy effective for treating alcohol-use disorder Weight-loss and diabetes drug Wegovy (semaglutide) may also help heavy drinkers cut down on their alcohol intake, a randomised controlled trial has found. A US study in 48 people with alcohol use disorder found that the weekly GLP-1 receptor agon ... Date: 12-02-2025 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Mental health, pain and addiction

GPs could face legal risk if they ignore weight-loss jab information requests, says MDO ... been issued by the Medical Defence Union (MDU) after the General Pharmaceutical Council mandated stricter rules around prescribing weight-loss injections. Pharmacies selling drugs such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) will now have to independently verify information the patient, provides which could include checking with their GP. The MDU said they had already seen a rise in queries ... Date: 05-02-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Online weight-loss prescribers issued new rules that could increase GP workload ... that GP practices are dealing with a rising number of requests from private providers seeking patient information to inform their prescribing of weight-loss medication such as tirzepatide and semaglutide. A version of this article was first published by Pulse's sister title The Pharmacist Date: 04-02-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Workload

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may cut risk of dementia and other conditions Use of GLP-1 weight loss-drugs - such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) - is associated with reduced risk of a wide range of conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, a large study has concluded. US researchers analysed ... Date: 22-01-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Elderly care • Gastroenterology and obesity • Neurology • Respiratory

GPs should use ‘clinical judgment’ on child obesity safeguarding concerns, says NICE GPs should use their ‘clinical judgement’ to decide when a child's obesity becomes a safeguarding concern because of a ‘significant threat’ to their health and wellbeing, NICE has said in updated guidelines on ... Date: 17-01-2025 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Paediatrics

GPs can reject requests for input on private weight-loss jab prescriptions, say LMCs ... evealed that GP practices are dealing with a rising number of requests from private providers seeking patient information to inform their prescribing of weight-loss medication such as tirzepatide and semaglutide. Kernow LMC told practices that this is ‘private work’ and a fee can be charged to private providers, while North and South Essex LMC said GPs - who are already ‘under extreme pressure’ - cannot t ... Date: 09-01-2025 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Renal medicine, urology and men's health • Women's health, gynaecology and obstetrics • Workload

NICE accepts slower rollout of tirzepatide but GP workload concerns remain ... hree years which is why we’ve taken the unprecedented decision to review the way this medicine is delivered to patients then. ‘Tirzepatide and other drugs like it, such as semaglutide, will help people living with obesity to lose weight, and as a result will reduce their risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke. ‘We have had to make this difficult decision in order to protect other vital NHS ... Date: 05-12-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction

GLP-1 drugs could help people drink less alcohol, research suggests ... the future for excessive alcohol use and subsequently could lead to a reduction in alcohol-related deaths,’ Dr Subhani added. The UK’s medicines regulator recently approved the use of semaglutide (Wegovy) for cardiovascular prevention in obese and overweight patients with established CVD. And the Government has entered into an agreement with the makers of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) to trial whether supplying ... Date: 03-12-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction

MHRA urges GPs to be alert to signs of GLP-1 agonist 'misuse' The medicines regulator has urged GPs to be alert to signs of ‘misuse’ of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss, such as semaglutide. Healthcare professionals should also ensure patients are aware of the side-effects of the diabetes and weight loss injections and report any adverse reactions through the Yellow Card reporting scheme ... Date: 24-10-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Renal medicine, urology and men's health

NHSE plans phased rollout of tirzepatide for weight loss to avoid 'profound' impact on GPs ... pproaches to obesity.' The first head-to-head study recently found that use of tirzepatide is associated with significantly greater weight loss than semaglutide. Date: 04-10-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Workload

MRA drugs 'should be considered' in all patients with heart failure ... tion. ‘In patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction, management should include finerenone in addition to a SGLT2 inhibitor,’ he said. Meanwhile, a recent study found semaglutide could be beneficial in helping to treat patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure. In a trial of more than 600 patients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction ... Date: 01-10-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular

Semaglutide may help manage difficult-to-treat skin condition Semaglutide may be an effective treatment for the skin condition hidradenitis suppurative, common in people with obesity, say researchers. A team in Ireland monitored outcomes for a small number of obese pati ... Date: 25-09-2024 Categories: • Dermatology and wound care • Gastroenterology and obesity

Wegovy makers say new amycretin weight-loss pill even more effective ... makers of Wegovy, led to a 13.1% weight loss over three months in early trial results. Novo Nordisk said its phase 1 trial of a daily dose of amycretin produced an apparent faster weight loss than semaglutide injections and could prove to be a ‘convenient’ alternative. Delegates at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference heard that the first study of the drug – which targets both ... Date: 16-09-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

Research suggests link between semaglutide and suicidal thoughts Researchers have found an apparent disproportional risk of suicidal thoughts with semaglutide compared with other diabetes drugs. A study based on a World Health Organisation global database of adverse drug reactions found while cases were very rare patients were significantly more likely ... Date: 23-08-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction

GP practices should be scaled up to 250k-patient lists, says Tony Blair think tank ... help boost prevention, highlighting the ‘potential of GLP-1 agonist-type drugs’, such as semaglutide. It said it is ‘simply not feasible’ to roll out this drug routinely for weight management in general practice, arguing that the NHS needs to make ‘greater use’ of community pharmacy. Professor Azeem Majeed, professor of primary care and public health at Imperial College London, said he thinks t ... Date: 20-08-2024 Categories: • Contract • Technology

MHRA approves new use of semaglutide for cardiovascular prevention The UK's medicines regulator has approved the use of semaglutide (Wegovy) for cardiovascular prevention in obese and overweight patients with established CVD. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted the authorisation on Tuesday th ... Date: 24-07-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity

Tirzepatide more effective than semaglutide for weight loss, finds study Use of tirzepatide is associated with significantly greater weight loss than semaglutide, according to the results of the first head-to-head study. An analysis of electronic health data from more than 18,000 patients taking one or the other found those on tirzepatide also had greater ... Date: 09-07-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

GP fury as Creon shortages leave patient at risk of hospitalisation ... Government to do more to alleviate shortages and hold pharmaceutical companies to account. For people to be able to easily access drugs like semaglutide privately while NHS diabetes patients are missing out is ‘morally and ethically, a disgrace’, she added. ‘The reality is people are suffering and are going to become severely unwell.’ In answer to a parliamentary question about shortages of Creon in Ma ... Date: 19-06-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Workload

Semaglutide can sustain weight loss for four years and cut CVD risk Weight loss in patients with semaglutide can be sustained for up to four years, according to results from the SELECT study presented at the European Congress on Obesity and published in Nature Medicine. A second as yet unpublished analys ... Date: 17-06-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Gastroenterology and obesity

GPs to take on weight loss management under NICE tirzepatide guidance ... vice for people with a BMI of at least 35kg/m2 and one weight-related comorbidty with lower thresholds for people from some ethnic minority backgrounds. But in contrast to NICE recommendations for semaglutide which limited use to tier 3 specialist weight management services, the committee said tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Eli Lilly) could be given in primary care if supporting services were in place. It foll ... Date: 07-06-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Therapeutics update: the new era of drug treatments for obesity Dr Simon Cork, senior lecturer in physiology at Anglia Ruskin University, reviews the latest advances in drug treatment for obesity, including liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide Introduction The quest to find effective and safe anti-obesity drugs has been long. Drugs have been introduced, only to be withdrawn after safety concerns, with many of these dr ... Date: 09-05-2024 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

GPs having to provide advice on alternatives amid ‘daily’ medicines shortages Ongoing medicines shortages are causing extra workload including for GPs who are having to provide advice about alternatives, a report said. Daily battles with medicines shortages are putting patient health ... Date: 09-05-2024 Categories: • Long-term conditions and prescribing • Workload

Drug shortages are ‘new normal’ and made worse by Brexit, report says Regular shortages of life-saving medicines have become the ‘new normal’ in the UK, according to a report from the Nuffield Trust, which concludes Brexit has made the problem harder to tackle. In particular, ... Date: 18-04-2024 Categories: • Long-term conditions and prescribing

Semaglutide helps heart failure symptoms in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes Semaglutide could be beneficial in helping to treat patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity-related heart failure, a study has shown. In a trial of more than 600 patients with obesity-related heart failure ... Date: 18-04-2024 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology

Diabetes drug shows potential in treating Parkinson’s disease ... nson’s disease.’ But he said the beneficial effects are likely to be restricted to those GLP1 receptor agonists that can cross the blood brain barrier which ruled out liraglutide and semaglutide. Yet it is still not clear whether the drugs simply improve dopaminergic signalling to provide symptom relief or have a neuroprotective effect. ‘Phase 3 trial data of the effects of two years exposure to exe ... Date: 12-04-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Neurology

GPs can switch semaglutide injections for tablets or tirzepatide amid shortages Guidance on selecting alternative glucose lowering therapies for patients with type 2 diabetes has been issued in response to ongoing shortages of semaglutide and other glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA). The Primary Care Diabetes Society updated their advice after the latest information on national shortages warned that while some GLP ... Date: 25-03-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology

Government extends GLP-1 RA shortage warning until end of 2024 ... tructed prescribers not to initiate any new patients on GLP-1 RAs for the duration of the shortage, which was then predicted to continue until at least mid-2024. The update states that Rybelsus (semaglutide) tablets are now available in sufficient quantities to support initiation of GLP-1 RA treatment in people with type 2 diabetes where that would be clinically appropriate. Meanwhile, Byetta (exenatid ... Date: 04-01-2024 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

MHRA licenses tirzepatide for weight loss treatment in UK ... , or heart problems. NICE is currently reviewing the use of tirzepatide for weight loss on the NHS with guidance expected in March next year. It follows a decision in March to recommend semaglutide (Wegovy) to be offered as part of NHS weight loss services. The first supplies were made available in September after reports of global shortages impacting diabetes patients. The MHRA decision on ... Date: 09-11-2023 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Fake Ozempic and Saxenda pens sold in UK, MHRA warns ... atory agency said it received reports of ‘a very small number of people’ who have been hospitalised after using 'potentially fake' weight-loss pens. It has seized 369 potentially fake Ozempic (semaglutide) pens since January, and has also received reports of fake Saxenda (liraglutide) pens that have been obtained by patients in the UK through non-legitimate routes. Saxenda is authorised in the UK for w ... Date: 27-10-2023 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

Semaglutide for weight loss linked to gastrointestinal problems Drugs like semaglutide are associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal problems when used for weight loss, researchers have warned. In an analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, use ... Date: 11-10-2023 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

NICE recommends tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes after initial rejection ... receptors. It was granted marketing authorisation in October 2022 but previous draft guidance published in June this year had rejected its use as an alternative to other antidiabetic drugs such as semaglutide and liraglutide. NICE said the manufacturer had put forward additional analyses and modelling on its clinical and cost-effectiveness which led to the final draft now recommending tirzepatide in sp ... Date: 08-09-2023 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

NHS launches Wegovy prescribing for weight-loss after securing limited stock Semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, will become available via the NHS as a weight-loss drug from today, after a limited stock was earmarked to fulfil new NICE guidance. Manufacturer Novo Nordisk announced that W ... Date: 04-09-2023 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

Apps to prescribe and manage weight-loss medication for obesity, NICE proposes ... ld be able to access the virtual care and if all those eligible enrolled, up to 145,000 hours of clinician time would be saved, according to NICE’s calculations. Prescription of drugs like semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy) and liraglutide is enabled by some of the platforms, while others can collect and share data which helps NHS teams in prescribing decisions. To be referred patients should meet ... Date: 15-08-2023 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity • Long-term conditions and prescribing

GPs warn of 'unacceptable' weight management service provision gap The lack of both tier 2 and tier 3 weight management services in Leeds has left patients with an ‘unacceptable’ service provision gap, according to the LMC. Leeds City Council was forced to decommissio ... Date: 10-08-2023 Categories: • Contract • Gastroenterology and obesity • Practice and personal finance

Semaglutide cuts risk of cardiovascular events by 20%, claims manufacturer Diabetes drug semaglutide, marketed as Wegovy, could also reduce risk of cardiovascular events by 20%, its manufacturer has claimed. Novo Nordisk has announced headline findings from its SELECT trial, although they have no ... Date: 08-08-2023 Categories: • Cardiovascular • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

NICE lowers threshold for weight-loss surgery referrals ... urgery. This follows a previous update to the guideline this year to the section on pharmacological interventions to include recommendations from NICE technology appraisal guidance on liraglutide, semaglutide and naltrexone-bupropion. The previous guidance, first published nine years ago, had stipulated that referral for bariatric surgery should only be considered once 'all appropriate non-surgical mea ... Date: 26-07-2023 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity • Mental health, pain and addiction

GPs ‘should discuss stopping’ semaglutide treatment for diabetes due to shortages Patients with type 2 diabetes on semaglutide and other glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) drugs are having to stop taking them, amidst ongoing shortages due to popularity for weight loss. A National Patient Safety Alert thi ... Date: 20-07-2023 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

Unregulated semaglutide use for weight loss posing patient safety threat, RCGP warns Unregulated use of semaglutide for weight loss is posing a ‘genuine threat to patient safety’, the RCGP has warned. The Department of Health and Social Care has issued a warning of ongoing supply problems with the drug until th ... Date: 06-07-2023 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology • Gastroenterology and obesity

GPs to prescribe obesity drugs under new Government pilots ... today. However the BMA warned that GP workload would need to be taken into account once the scheme was rolled out more widely. In March, NICE recommended injectable prescription medication semaglutide (Wegovy) for use as part of a patient’s treatment in an NHS specialist weight management service and with the support of a multi-disciplinary team. It said the drug should be prescribed to adults who h ... Date: 07-06-2023 Categories: • Gastroenterology and obesity

GPs to refer patients for weight loss with semaglutide following NICE approval GPs will soon be able to refer patients for weight-loss treatment with semaglutide, which NICE says can help people to reduce their weight by over 10 per cent. NICE has today recommended the drug for use as part of a patient’s treatment in an NHS specialist weight manageme ... Date: 08-03-2023 Categories: • Breaking news • Gastroenterology and obesity

Tirzepatide granted UK marketing authorisation for type 2 diabetes ... ed to start no new prescriptions for two key injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists amidst a global shortage. The PCDS said it had recently been made aware of shortages of Ozempic (semaglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) in the UK due to manufacturers being unable to keep up with global demand. Date: 24-10-2022 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology

GPs told not to initiate two diabetes drugs amidst supply shortages ... no new prescriptions for two key injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists amidst a global shortage. The Primary Care Diabetes Society (PCDS) said it had recently been made aware of shortages of Ozempic (semaglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) in the UK due to manufacturers being unable to keep up with global demand. In response, GPs should take a proactive approach and identify patients already prescribed O ... Date: 07-10-2022 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology

GPs urged to screen asymptomatic patients on metformin for B12 deficiency GPs should consider periodic vitamin B12 testing of higher-risk patients who take metformin, even if they don't display symptoms of deficiency, the UK medicines regulator has said. Metformin is known to redu ... Date: 23-06-2022 Categories: • Diabetes and endocrinology

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