Patients find it difficult to obtain drugs as far as weight is loss before the price increase

Some patients taking weight loss Mounjaro told BBC News that they had trouble getting the medication and are concerned about the impact on their health.

There is growing demand for the drug, after the American manufacturer Eli Lilly announced a major price increase compared to September 1.

The drug giant warned against the “inappropriate storage of drugs” and has now asked British distributors to stop taking orders from pharmacies from the end of today.

Pharmacies say that they prioritize patients who already take the medication, rather than those who start it, and predict return to normal supplies in early September.

Lynne Massey-Davis, 65, from East Yorkshire, says that trying to find the Mounjaro stock was “stressful” after his last prescription order with an online supplier was not delivered.

“I’m in a queue,” she said. “It’s a very uncertain moment. I spent a lot of time on the phone.”

He was told that there will be a two -week delay on delivery. In the meantime, she paid £ 349 to another supplier who then said that they were also exhausted, which she describes as “contrary to ethics”.

Fifteen months ago, when Lynne began to gain weight, she was a 32 -year -old BMI. Now, it’s 26 years old and she “feels 10 years younger”, regularly doing park races, who swims and walked her dogs.

“I am worried about my health but I will remain safe. There can be many others who will not.”

Lynne plans to share the doses of a friend until the arrival of his order.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which represents 60% of community pharmacies in the United Kingdom (approximately 6,500), said that there had been “an increase in demand” of Mounjaro before the increase in September prices in September.

Eli Lilly has announced that the price of the drug will increase up to 170%, which means that a highest dose month will drop from £ 122 to £ 330.

The company said that drugs had been sold in the United Kingdom at a “significantly lower” price to what billed in other European countries. President Donald Trump had already complained of the high cost of drugs in the United States.

“This increase in the cost of Mounjaro has aroused understandable concerns for patients and pharmacies and has led to short -term pressures on supply,” said NPA Director Henry Gregg.

He urged patients to avoid the bulk order of Mounjaro because “this can have a significant impact on the supply and put a potential risk for patient safety”.

“We also urge patients to avoid license-free sellers, who can sell false medicines or medicines that do not meet British safety standards,” he added.

Instead, he encouraged patients to speak to their local pharmacy to get advice.

A supplier, Chemist4u, said that Mounjaro’s supplies were “a little limited” and that they retained stocks for existing patients who were preparing to increase their dose.

“We are considering supplies to return to normal once Eli Lilly will release a new stock after September 1,” CEO James O’loan said.

Sehar Shahid, who runs 24hrpypharmacy.co.uk in Paisley, said that his advice on people were not to panic and start buying in bulk “because it aggravates for everyone”.

She also said that the transition to other alternative weight loss drugs like Wegovy should only be done under medical surveillance, and after a washing period because drugs do not work exactly in the same way.

His advice is to speak to your supplier, to discover all your options, to keep healthy habits such as exercise and a healthy diet – but warns not to turn to influencers on social networks to obtain advice.

“These drugs are not for people who want to lose a few books before their vacation,” she adds.

Marie Cook, 49, from eastern London, who is prescribed Mounjaro on the NHS to treat her type 2 diabetes contacted your voice, your news from the BBC to say that it was also lacking in the medication.

“I have been taking it for a year, I have been out of insulin and I lost 3.5 stones, but I just gave it a week.”

Her local chemist made her prescription and she tried six others, but none has the drug in stock.

“It’s frustrating. We have real medical problems, we should come first,” said Marie.

She hopes that a visit to her diabetic nurse on Monday will help.

Eli Lilly told BBC News that he had allowances in place for pharmacies and providers who commanded shares.

“There are legal protections in place, applied by the MHRA [UK drugs regulator]To prevent inappropriate storage of drugs by providers.

“We encourage patients to be ordered only according to their current treatment plan, to reduce the risk of localized disturbance.”