Weight loss injections in Ireland: the medicines and the safe routes

What does GLP-1 mean?

GLP-1 is a hormone involved in appetite and blood-sugar regulation. Medicines such as semaglutide act on its receptor, helping people feel fuller and less hungry. Tirzepatide acts on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors. These are different active ingredients; a similar purpose does not make their doses interchangeable.

Official explanations: EMA: semaglutide in Wegovy and EMA: tirzepatide in Mounjaro.

Which weight loss injections are used in Ireland?

The main private weight-management injections Irish patients compare are Wegovy, Mounjaro and Saxenda. They are prescription medicines, so a qualified prescriber should review BMI, medical history, current medication and contraindications before treatment.

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide and is a weekly injection; Saxenda contains liraglutide and is injected daily. Their ingredients, licensed uses and treatment plans differ. Read the Mounjaro authorisation information and Saxenda authorisation information, then discuss suitability with a prescriber. An authorisation does not establish Irish stock, funding or suitability for you.

Which other medicines have a weight-management indication?

Weight-management medicines extend beyond GLP-1 injections. Alongside Wegovy, Mounjaro and Saxenda, these EU regulator records describe other authorised treatments. Their eligibility criteria, formulations and precautions differ:

• Mysimba contains naltrexone and bupropion in tablets for weight management in eligible adults.
• Xenical and Alli contain orlistat. Their strengths and authorised criteria differ; they are not GLP-1 medicines.
• Imcivree (setmelanotide) is a specialist treatment for certain rare genetic or acquired hypothalamic causes of obesity. A BMI threshold alone does not establish eligibility.

This is an overview of verified product records, not every generic brand or a list of medicines currently stocked in Ireland. Check the exact product in HPRA's authorised-medicine search and ask a pharmacist about Irish supply. Authorisation, availability, prescription requirements and HSE funding are separate checks.

Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same?

Both contain semaglutide, but they are different branded products with different authorised uses and presentations. Ozempic is authorised for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy has a weight-management indication. Do not use one product's dose or instructions for another.

Check the separate regulator records: EMA: Ozempic and EMA: Wegovy.

Find the official leaflet for your medicine

Match the brand, strength and presentation on your pack. Use the EMA medicine pages above or HPRA's authorised-medicine search. On an EMA page, open Product information and find the patient package leaflet for your presentation. Ask the dispensing pharmacist if you are unsure which leaflet applies.

For the Irish care pathway, start with HSE information on obesity medicines. For an individual dose, missed dose, interaction, pregnancy or treatment change, contact your prescribing team or pharmacist. This comparison site and its eligibility quiz do not provide a clinical assessment.

Side effects and getting help

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation are listed side effects in the patient leaflets for Wegovy, Mounjaro and Saxenda. Being listed as common does not establish that your symptoms are harmless. Contact your prescribing team or pharmacist about symptoms that persist, worsen or concern you.

For a life-threatening emergency in Ireland, phone 112 or 999. Follow HSE emergency-care guidance. Do not wait for a quiz result or a reply from GLP-1.ie to get urgent care.

• Sudden mouth, throat or tongue swelling, or difficulty breathing: call 112 or 999. These can be signs of a severe allergic reaction. See HSE anaphylaxis guidance.
• Severe, persistent stomach pain, which may spread to the back: contact a doctor immediately. The Wegovy, Mounjaro and Saxenda patient leaflets warn about pancreatitis. Follow the matching leaflet's instructions; Saxenda's leaflet says to stop using it and contact a doctor immediately.
• Confusion, marked dizziness or no urine all day: these can indicate serious dehydration. HSE advises calling 112 or 999 or going to an emergency department. Vomiting and diarrhoea can cause fluid loss; read HSE dehydration guidance.
• Sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight while taking Wegovy: its patient leaflet says to contact a doctor immediately. Do not assume the same warning or instructions apply to every medicine.

These are examples, not a complete warning list or a diagnosis. Check the leaflet for your exact medicine and presentation, including instructions to stop treatment and seek help. If you are unsure how urgent a symptom is, seek clinical advice promptly.

Report a suspected side effect

You can use the HPRA side-effect reporting route or ask a healthcare professional about reporting. A report supports medicine-safety monitoring; it does not replace medical attention. Send any necessary health details through the HPRA or your clinical team's appropriate channel, not to this comparison site.

How to compare providers

Start with the consultation fee, medicine availability, dose support, pharmacy fulfilment, refund policy and follow-up process. A low consultation fee is useful only if the provider has a clear and safe prescribing pathway.

The medicine is priced separately, by dose. For Mounjaro, see Mounjaro price in Ireland by dose.

What to avoid

Avoid social-media sellers, marketplace listings, overseas sellers with no prescriber review, and any source that promises guaranteed treatment. Counterfeit or incorrectly supplied injections are a serious safety risk.

Check a Republic pharmacy's actual name and premises in the PSI register and use independently verified contact details. A website badge alone is not verification. Read HPRA's online-medicine warning and our doctor and pharmacy verification checklist.

Fastest safe next step

Use the provider table as a shortlist, then confirm live pricing and availability directly with the provider before paying. If you already have a GP or specialist, tell them before starting any new medicine.