Thank you for your patience as we work hard to bring these new glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications to NHS Lothian.
liraglutide (Saxenda®) and semaglutide (Wegovy®)
This medication has been approved for use in NHS Scotland and is on the NHS Lothian list of approved prescription medicines. Prescribing criteria is explained below:
liraglutide (Saxenda®) Criteria.
- A Body Mass Index (BMI) 35kg/m² and above. BMI criteria is 32.5kg/m² and above for patients in ethnic minority groups who are known to be at greater risk.
With:
- Non-diabetic hyperglycaemia (prediabetes) at high risk of type 2 diabetes. For clarity, this is defined as having either:
- Fasting plasma glucose level of 5.5 to 6.9mmol/L or
- HbA1c of 42 to 47mmol/mol
And a
- High risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD):
- Total cholesterol greater than 5mmol/L, or
- High-density lipoprotein (HDL) less than 1.0mmol/L for men and less than 1.3mmol/L for women, or
- Systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than 140mmHg
This criteria is specific to liraglutide’s use within weight management services; other criteria are associated with Liraglutide’s use for people with type 2 diabetes.
Unfortunately, due to a global shortage of liraglutide there is very limited supply, not expected to stabilise to meet full demand until at least mid-2024. The NHS Lothian Weight Management and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention team will update our website on the availability of liraglutide (Saxenda®) when the worldwide shortage has been resolved and the national suspension in prescribing has been lifted.
semaglutide (Wegovy®)
semaglutide (Wegovy ®) has been approved for use in NHS Scotland to assist diet and exercise weight loss methods. This medication has yet to be added to NHS Lothian prescription list so we cannot accept referrals for Wegovy® at this time.
We are collaborating regionally and nationally to develop local safe clinical pathways to support people on these medications and agree priority clinical demand.
Our website will be updated as soon as criteria has been agreed for Scotland and the medication is available in NHS Lothian, this isn’t expected until mid-2024.
You are invited to refer yourself for weight management support by completing our self-referral form or a health professional, e.g. your GP, can refer on your behalf.
You can find more information about our programmes and referral forms on our web page
Adult Weight Management and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Service – NHS Lothian | Our Services
Adult Weight Management and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Team
Woodlands House, Astley Ainslie Hospital, 74 Canaan Lane, Edinburgh, EH9 2TB
E-mail: weight.management@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0131 537 9169
