This section will tell you more about the medicines we may use to help you lose weight and keep it off.
Semaglutide (Wegovy®) and Liraglutide (Saxenda®)
Semaglutide (Wegovy®) and Liraglutide (Saxenda®) are both types of medication known as glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1). They are injected under the skin of your stomach (abdomen), thigh or upper arm using a pen device. These are also used to treat Type 2 Diabetes.
Semaglutide (Wegovy®): This medication has now been approved by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) to support weight management in NHS Scotland. All NHS Boards across Scotland are now developing local clinical pathways to safely support people who are eligible for this new medication. When this pathway has been agreed in NHS Forth Valley we will be able to accept appropriate referrals.
Local healthcare professionals will be able to advise when these clinical pathways have been agreed and the medication has been added to NHS Forth Valley’s drug formulary. At present are unable to prescribe Semaglutide (Wegovy®) until this pathway has been agreed in NHS Forth Valley.
Liraglutide (Saxenda®): A clinical pathway has been agreed in NHS Forth Valley. Unfortunately, this pathway is on hold due ongoing supply issues. There is a global shortage of these medications. The Government Department of Health & Social Care have asked us not to prescribe these medicines until this shortage is fixed.
We are not able to accept referrals for Semaglutide (Wegovy®) or Liraglutide (Saxenda®) at the current time.
We will let your Doctor / Nurse know when these medicines are available. We will start to take referrals again once the pathway is agreed and the global shortage is fixed.
Orlistat
This is a capsule that is taken 3 times per day with meals. It works by stopping some of the fat in your food being taken in (absorbed) by the body during digestion. Any fat that has not been absorbed is then removed from the body through your poo (faeces).
We may recommend you use this medication part way through your programme. It can help you to keep your weight off for longer. You will need to make some lifestyle changes while taking this medicine. A low-fat diet is needed to prevent any side effects.
We can ask your doctor to prescribe Orlistat for you. We can also ask your doctor to stop this medication if you have side effects or it is not working for you.