Switching pharmacy and switching medicine are separate decisions. A new pharmacy may assess you to carry on the same treatment. A change of medicine, brand or form, such as pen to tablet, needs a clinician to decide whether, when and how you switch. No do-it-yourself dose conversion works for everyone, so ask for a written plan.
What to tell the prescriber about your change
Tell the new pharmacy exactly what you want to change. Use the wording below.
| Your aim | What to tell the clinician |
|---|---|
| Same medicine, new pharmacy | I want a consultation to carry on my current treatment. |
| Different medicine | I want to talk about whether another treatment suits me. |
| Injection to tablet | I want advice on changing form and on the daily routine. |
| Restart after a break | I have had a break and need advice before I start again. |
You may be making more than one change at once. Name each one, so the new pharmacy does not mistake a medicine switch for a routine repeat order.
Moving pharmacy alone does not change your medicine. If you switch pharmacy every month to pay the new-customer price, ask each new prescriber to carry on your current treatment. The prescriber is the doctor, nurse or pharmacist who approves your medicine.
How a prescriber assesses a GLP-1 medicine switch
Pharmacy2U’s guidance says each switch is assessed one person at a time, with no standard dose-for-dose conversion. A prescriber looks at your history, current treatment, how well you cope with the medicine, other medicines and any breaks. Ask for a plan made for you. Do not pick a dose from an online comparison.
Explain why you want the change. Side effects, how well the medicine works for you, cost, how you prefer to take the medicine and trouble getting support all help the prescriber. None of these decides which medicine is right for you.
What a written plan for the change should include
- What stops or continues: which current treatment stops and which carries on.
- What starts: which product and form starts, if any.
- Dates and doses: the dates and dosing instructions the clinician agreed.
- Old stock and orders: what to do with leftover medicine and old repeat orders.
- Follow-up: the next check, and who to contact if something goes wrong.
If the instructions are unclear, read them back to the team. Do not follow two pharmacies’ instructions together until any conflict is sorted out.
Why GLP-1 dose conversion shortcuts fail
A higher milligram number does not make two different medicines directly comparable. Weekly and daily doses do not convert by simple sums. Social media posts and supplier comparison tables cannot account for your medical history.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my dose when I switch pharmacy?
You can ask a new pharmacy to carry on your current treatment, but the prescriber there decides. Ask for a consultation to continue, and give your history, current treatment, other medicines and any breaks in treatment.
Is there a dose conversion chart for switching GLP-1 medicines?
No conversion chart works for everyone. Pharmacy2U’s guidance says each switch is assessed one person at a time, with no standard dose-for-dose conversion. A higher milligram number does not make two medicines comparable. Weekly and daily doses do not convert by simple sums.
What should a plan for changing weight-loss medicine include?
A written plan for changing medicine should say which treatment stops or continues and which product and form starts. The plan should give the agreed dates and doses. The plan should also cover leftover medicine, old repeat orders and who to contact if something goes wrong.
Can I switch from weight-loss injections to tablets on my own?
No. Moving from an injection to a tablet is a change of form. A clinician needs to decide whether, when and how you switch. Ask for advice on the change and on the daily routine.
Sources
Links checked on 6 October 2026. Provider prices and policies change, so confirm the details with the provider before you pay. The organisations linked here have not reviewed or endorsed this guide.
- Pharmacy2U: switching weight-loss treatments
- Boots: Mounjaro and Wegovy differences
- MHRA: GLP-1 medicines: what you need to know
Pharmacy Hopper does not give medical advice. Read our editorial standards.