Updated February 2025

Anti-Obesity Medicines

Please note referrals are not open for these medications in NHS Lothian yet, We apologise for the delay.

Three medicines are approved for use in NHS Scotland for managing weight in the treatment of obesity:

Liraglutide (Saxenda®)

Semaglutide (Wegovy®)

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®)

In September 2024, the Scottish Government issued a consensus statement advising the NHS in Scotland to consider a phased implementation of the medicines:

https://www.publications.scot.nhs.uk/files/dcconsensus-statement.pdf

NHS Lothian is currently working to include these medicines in the East Region Formulary.  Further updates will be provided once the formulary application is approved. 

NHS Lothian is considering a phased roll out of these medicines for weight management in line with Scottish Government guidance.  We are actively developing clinical pathways to ensure safe prescribing and monitoring.  Updates will be shared once these clinical pathways have been agreed in NHS Lothian. 

Until these pathways are in place, the Weight Management service is unable to accept referrals for the initiation of these medicines. 

You can find more information about our other programmes and referral forms on our web page:-

Adult Weight Management and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Service – NHS Lothian | Our Service

Adult Weight Management and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Team

Woodlands House, Astley Ainslie Hospital, 74 Canaan Lane, Edinburgh, EH9 2TB

E-mail: loth.weightmanagement@nhs.scot

Telephone: 0131 537 9169