Switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy: what you need to know

Reviewed by our clinical team

You might be considering switching your weight loss injection treatment. This can be from Mounjaro to Wegovy, or from an injectable treatment to a tablet. If this is the case, how do you get started and what important information do you need to know before safely switching treatments?

Read this article for information on:

• What you need to know before switching treatments (if suitable and approved by a clinician) – recommended Wegovy dosages, pricing, consultations, etc.
• What to expect if you switch to a new treatment
• How long to wait after your last dose

Can you switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy?

It is possible to switch your weight loss treatment from Mounjaro to Wegovy. However, you should bear in mind:

• You would need to consult your healthcare provider before you made any changes to treatment
• If you are an existing patient, you will need to complete a new consultation
• You would need to start your Wegovy treatment from the most appropriate dose

Do not take Mounjaro and Wegovy at the same time. Doing so increases the risk of you suffering from side effects.

Am I eligible to switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy treatment?

Make sure you’re not allergic or intolerant to any of the ingredients in Wegovy (listed in section 6 of its patient information leaflet) before you start treatment.

It is not recommended that you use Wegovy if you’re pregnant or are breast-feeding, as there has been no research into the treatment’s effects on unborn children or breast milk.

If you need more information on Wegovy, read through its patient information leaflet (linked above).

If you decide to switch treatment from Mounjaro to Wegovy, you will be asked to complete a new consultation.

What to consider before switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy

Despite both being weekly injections for weight loss, Mounjaro and Wegovy are different treatments that can’t be swapped between on a whim. If you’re considering switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy, you should consider the following:

• Whether you have had side effects while taking Mounjaro
• If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Wegovy
• Your weight loss progress on your current weight loss treatment
• Your current Mounjaro dosage

As with any treatment, it’s important that you consult your healthcare provider before you consider switching weight loss injections. This helps to choose the right treatment for you and your circumstances.

How to switch safely from Mounjaro to Wegovy

If you have completed a consultation and have been approved by a clinician to switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy, it’s important that you do the following to switch over safely:

• Wait at least one week after your last Mounjaro injection
• Store your new Wegovy pen in the fridge immediately upon delivery (like you would do with Mounjaro)
• Be aware of Wegovy's potential side effects before starting treatment

For more help getting started on Wegovy, read its patient information leaflet.

Mounjaro to Wegovy dose conversion

It’s important that you start Wegovy on the most appropriate dose. For patients who have titrated to the higher doses of Mounjaro, this may change the dose you start on for Wegovy.

Your clinician will review your full medical history to determine the most appropriate dose for you. This includes any side effects you may have experienced while taking Mounjaro. Based on this review, your starting dose of Wegovy may be adjusted.

Please find a Mounjaro to Wegovy dose conversion chart to get an understanding of what Wegovy dose you may start at:

Could you change to Wegovy from Mounjaro on a higher dosage?

Yes, you can change to Wegovy from Mounjaro if you are on a higher dosage. Though as the table shows, the Mounjaro dosage you are on can affect your starting Wegovy dose.

If you’re an existing patient, you will need to state the current dosage of Mounjaro you are on during your consultation. This will allow us to recommend an appropriate Wegovy starting dosage for you.

What to expect during the transition from Mounjaro to Wegovy

As mentioned above, you will need to take a one-week break between your last dose of Mounjaro and starting Wegovy. It is unlikely to see any major changes in this short break – if you’re a Mounjaro patient a week-long break between injections shouldn’t be anything unusual.

There are some very common side effects from Wegovy that patients may get when starting treatment, though some of these are mild and will go away over time. These include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Tiredness

Read our guide on Wegovy side effects for more information. Let your healthcare provider know if you experience any side effects, no matter how significant.

Do you get withdrawal symptoms if you switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy?

As you wait a week before starting a new treatment, this is the normal gap for Mounjaro, so you would not expect anything unusual. It’s important that you stick to any healthy life changes you have made while starting Mounjaro, such as eating a low-calorie diet and participating in regular exercise, to help maintain your weight loss at this time.

Can you switch from an injection to daily tablets?

Patients using semaglutide injection may be able to switch to semaglutide tablets only where a clinician confirms this is suitable. The timing and starting dose must be decided by the clinician.

Find out more in our article on Wegovy tablets.

However, you should consider:

• You would need to consult your healthcare provider and complete a new consultation to check if weight loss tablets are a suitable treatment
• You would need to start treatment on the dose recommended by your healthcare provider
• Your clinician will advise whether you need a break between treatments and when it is safe to start any new treatment

Are the Wegovy tablet and the Wegovy injection the same?

The Wegovy tablet and Wegovy injection both contain the active ingredient semaglutide and act in the same way when taken (mimicking GLP-1, a hormone involved in appetite regulation and gastric emptying). They should not be swapped, combined or changed without advice from a clinician. They differ by:

• How each treatment is administered
• Available dosage for each treatment
• How often each treatment should be taken

Who is suitable for Wegovy tablets?

As per the MHRA, Wegovy tablets may now be prescribed to adults in the UK who are:

• Obese, with a BMI of 30 or above 
• Overweight, with a BMI between 27 and 30, and you have at least one weight-related health condition (such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or obstructive sleep apnoea)

Wegovy tablets may be prescribed as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance, in clinically suitable adults.

How do you start taking Wegovy tablets?

If you've had approval from your Online Doctor consultation to switch your weight loss treatment to Wegovy tablets, your clinician will advise whether you need a break between treatments and when it is safe to start any new treatment.

You should take Wegovy tablets exactly as directed by your clinician and follow the dosing schedule agreed during your consultation.  

Wegovy tablets should be swallowed whole on an empty stomach after fasting, with a sip of water. Do not split, crush or chew the tablet. Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines.

Would I have to start from the lowest tablet dose?

If you were switching treatments, you would have to start from the dose recommended by your healthcare provider. If you were on a higher dose of Mounjaro or Wegovy, this may affect the starting dose for tablet treatment.

The table below shows possible starting doses that may be considered after a clinician has reviewed your consultation. Your actual starting dose may be different:

Important: This table is a guide used by our clinicians when assessing treatment-switch requests. It does not mean you will automatically be prescribed Wegovy tablets at this dose. Switching between weight loss treatments is not a like-for-like dose conversion, and your clinician may recommend a different dose, a treatment break, or no switch, depending on your current treatment, dose history, side effects, medical history, BMI, other medicines and treatment response. Do not stop your current treatment, start Wegovy tablets, or use two GLP-1 treatments together unless a clinician tells you to.

Alternative weight loss treatments

If you would prefer to move on from weight loss treatment, be sure to check out our library of healthy lifestyle advice reviewed by our experienced clinicians

Overall, it’s important to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise if you’re trying to lose weight. Consider portion control and gradually increase the amount of physical activity you do.

References

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.13800.pdf