News & Updates · 24 April 2026 · 9 min read

Wegovy & Mounjaro Shortage UK 2026: What to Do If Your Medication Is Out of Stock

GLP-1 shortages have been a persistent problem in the UK since 2023. Here's why they happen, how to check stock, what to do when your medication is unavailable, and how to protect your supply going forward.

Last updated: April 2026 | 9 min read

If you've ever gone to refill your Wegovy or Mounjaro prescription and been told it's out of stock, you're not alone. GLP-1 medication shortages have been a persistent problem in the UK since Wegovy launched in 2023 and Mounjaro followed in 2024. Demand has consistently and dramatically outpaced supply, and while the situation has improved, availability can still be patchy — particularly at the higher doses.

This guide explains why shortages happen, how to find out if your medication is in stock, what to do if yours is unavailable, and how to protect your treatment from supply disruptions in the future.

Why Do Wegovy and Mounjaro Keep Running Out of Stock?

The short answer is that demand has been extraordinary. When Wegovy (semaglutide for weight management) launched in the UK, Novo Nordisk had not anticipated the scale of uptake. The same happened with Mounjaro (tirzepatide) — Eli Lilly ramped up production, but the pace of demand — driven by media coverage, celebrity discussion and genuine clinical need — outstripped manufacturing capacity.

Several factors compound the problem:

• Global competition for supply — the same active ingredients supply markets in the US, Europe and Australia simultaneously. A shortage anywhere in the world ripples through the global supply chain
• Dose-specific availability — manufacturers produce each dose separately. The higher doses (Mounjaro 10mg, 12.5mg, 15mg and Wegovy 1.7mg, 2.4mg) have historically been most affected
• NHS demand increasing — as the NHS expands access through specialist weight management services, competition with private prescriptions for supply increases
• Manufacturing constraints — the biological complexity of GLP-1 medications means production cannot simply be scaled up overnight. Expanding manufacturing capacity takes years

The Current Situation (April 2026)

The shortage situation has improved significantly since the acute disruptions of 2023–2024. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have expanded manufacturing capacity, and supply is now more reliable for most doses. However:

• Mounjaro 10mg, 12.5mg and 15mg remain the most intermittently affected doses — these are the maintenance doses most established users need
• Wegovy 7.2mg (approved January 2026) has limited availability as supply is still ramping up for the new dose
• Wegovy 0.25mg and 0.5mg (starting doses) are generally well stocked
• Ozempic 1mg and 2mg remain affected by competition from both on-label (diabetes) and off-label (weight loss) demand

Availability varies significantly between pharmacies and online clinics. Checking multiple sources is always worthwhile.

How to Check If Your Medication Is in Stock

1. Contact your dispensing pharmacy directly

If your clinic uses a specific pharmacy to dispense your medication, call or message them directly before your next refill. Most can tell you immediately whether your specific dose is available. If not, ask how long they expect it to take.

2. Check the MHRA shortage alerts

The MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) publishes a live list of medicine shortages at mhra.gov.uk. Search for "semaglutide" or "tirzepatide" to see current shortage status and expected resolution dates. This is the most authoritative source for UK supply information.

3. Try multiple online pharmacies

Stock levels vary between dispensing pharmacies. If your clinic's pharmacy is out of stock, you may be able to transfer your prescription to another GPhC-registered pharmacy that has stock. Your clinic can usually help arrange this.

4. Check your clinic's patient portal or app

Many online clinics (Voy, Second Nature, Numan, SheMed) communicate shortage updates through their patient apps or via email. Make sure your notification settings are on so you receive these updates promptly.

What to Do If Your Medication Is Out of Stock

Contact your clinic immediately

Don't wait until your current pen runs out to raise the issue. Contact your prescribing clinic as soon as you hear there might be a shortage. They can often source stock from alternative suppliers, help you transfer to a pharmacy that has stock, or advise on timing your doses to last longer if a short supply gap is unavoidable.

Ask about dose adjustments

If you're on a higher dose and the shortage is at that level, your clinic may temporarily advise you to drop back to a lower available dose rather than stopping entirely. Abruptly stopping GLP-1 medication leads to rapid weight regain in most people, so a temporary dose reduction is usually preferable to a complete gap in treatment.

Do not take someone else's medication

This may seem obvious, but it's worth stating: do not source medication from unregulated online sellers, friends or social media. Counterfeit GLP-1 medications have been identified in the UK. They may contain incorrect doses, incorrect ingredients, or no active ingredient at all. Only accept medication dispensed by a GPhC-registered UK pharmacy with a valid prescription.

Try a different dose or presentation

For Mounjaro: Eli Lilly produces KwikPens in the UK. If one dose is out of stock, it's possible (though not always appropriate) to use two lower-dose pens to equal the same total tirzepatide amount — but this should only be done under explicit clinician guidance. Do not do this independently.

Explore alternative clinics

Different clinics use different dispensing partners. If your current clinic's pharmacy is out of stock, it's worth getting a quote from alternative clinics who may have access to stock. Our clinic comparison tool shows UK clinics currently prescribing these medications.

How to Protect Yourself From Future Shortages

Order early

Don't wait until your last pen to reorder. Aim to have at least one pen (or ideally two) in reserve at all times. Most clinics allow you to reorder when you have 2–4 weeks of medication remaining.

Stick to one clinic

Switching clinics frequently can cause prescription transfer delays that create supply gaps even when medication is available. Build a relationship with one clinic you trust and stay with them for continuity.

Store medication correctly

Ensure you're storing pens at the correct temperature (see our injection guide for storage details). Improperly stored medication that needs to be discarded worsens any supply gap.

Sign up for clinic shortage notifications

Most clinics allow you to opt into shortage alerts and back-in-stock notifications. Do this proactively rather than waiting until you're already affected.

Will Shortages Continue?

Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have invested significantly in expanding manufacturing capacity. The MHRA and NHS England have also worked with manufacturers to prioritise supply for existing patients over new starts during periods of acute shortage.

The outlook is cautiously optimistic — by mid-2026, supply should be more reliable for most doses. However, new dose approvals (like Wegovy 7.2mg) and continued growth in NHS prescribing mean the market will remain demand-constrained for some time. The best protection is proactive management of your own supply rather than assuming medication will always be available when you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Mounjaro from the NHS if my private supply runs out?
NHS access to Mounjaro is currently very limited — restricted to specialist tier 3 weight management services and type 2 diabetes patients. A private shortage does not automatically give you access to NHS supply. Contact your GP to understand whether you might meet NHS eligibility criteria.

Is it safe to take my injection late because my pen arrived late?
For Wegovy and Ozempic (weekly): taking the injection up to 5 days late is generally considered acceptable. For Mounjaro: up to 4 days late. Beyond these windows, consult your clinic — they may advise skipping to your next scheduled date rather than taking a very delayed dose.

My clinic says my medication is discontinued — what does that mean?
Occasionally a specific batch or presentation is temporarily discontinued at the UK level while a new batch is approved. This is different from a permanent discontinuation. Your clinic should be able to advise on timelines and arrange an alternative if one is available.

Are compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide alternatives safe?
In the US, compounded (pharmacy-mixed) GLP-1 medications have been used as a shortage workaround, but this is not a regulated option in the UK. The MHRA does not permit unlicensed compounded versions of semaglutide or tirzepatide in the UK. Stick to licensed, dispensed medication from GPhC-registered pharmacies.

GLP1Guide.live does not provide medical advice. Supply information is accurate as of April 2026 and may change. Always contact your prescribing clinician and pharmacy for up-to-date availability information.