Clinically reviewed: Wed 31 July

It’s important to declare your weight loss treatment with your other healthcare providers. This helps them make informed decisions about your clinical care.

Your GP will already know about your treatment because we will speak to them when you begin your treatment. This forms a key part of the clinical review during your first consultation – making sure the treatment is clinically appropriate for you and your medical history.

If you’re receiving treatment from any other healthcare provider, you must let them know. Examples can include:

Prescription weight loss medications are a key tool in helping to lead a healthier lifestyle, reduce any excess weight and can improve other health conditions where being overweight is a risk factor. No healthcare professional will judge you for using prescribed weight loss medications.

One of the effects of tirzepatide and semaglutide is to slow down stomach emptying. This is part of how it reduces appetite by making you feel fuller for longer. Because of this, even after some time of “nil by mouth” before a surgical or dental procedure, there may still be some food and/or liquid in your stomach. The chances of this are greater compared to someone not taking these medicines. The usual recommendation is to stop taking tirzepatide or semaglutide at least one week before having a general anaesthetic. If you are in any doubt about when this should be, please contact the team responsible for your procedure. Please especially bear this in mind if a waiting list suddenly clears and your procedure date is brought forward, as you may not have had long enough since your last dose. You can normally restart these medicines as soon after your surgery as you feel well enough. Please always confirm this with your surgeon or their team.

For women using oral contraceptives – we recommend switching to a non-hormonal contraceptive or a barrier method of contraception for four weeks at the beginning of treatment, and four weeks after each dose adjustment.