Gurdev Sehmi

You've finally decided to do something about your hair loss. You start taking finasteride, check the mirror every morning, and three weeks later you're wondering why you don't suddenly have the hairline you had at 18.

Unfortunately, finasteride isn't a quick fix.

So, How Long Does Finasteride Actually Take to Work?

Finasteride 1 mg is used for male pattern hair loss. It works by reducing levels of DHT, a hormone that plays a key role in the balding process.

You shouldn't expect an obvious transformation in a few weeks.

According to NHS and UK product information, continuous daily treatment for 3–6 months is generally needed before you can expect to see stabilisation of hair loss or signs of improvement. Some men notice less shedding first. Visible thickening or regrowth, where it happens, often takes longer and is usually assessed over 6–12 months. Our

You know you need spare AAIs, but how do you actually work out how many your school should have?

With schools now required to have arrangements in place for allergy safety, one question school staff may be asking is: how many EpiPens or other adrenaline auto-injectors should we actually have on site?

Unfortunately, there isn't a set number that works for every school, that would be too easy. The amount of emergency medication a school needs can depend on several factors, including the type and size of the school and how quickly staff can access the devices in an emergency.

How Many EpiPens Should Schools Have?

First, it is important to understand the difference between prescribed AAIs and spare emergency AAIs.

Prescribed AAIs for Pupils

If a pupil has been prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) for a severe allergy, they should have two in-date devices available at school at all times.

Having two devices is important

You've started HRT.

You've waited a few days.

Nothing.

Another week goes by and you're still waking up at 3am wondering when this stuff is actually going to start working. So, how long does HRT take to work?

The short answer is: it can take a little while.

Some people notice their symptoms improving within days or weeks, but it can take up to three months for HRT to work fully. Finding the right type and dose of HRT can take a bit of trial and error too. So, if you've just started and you're wondering why you don't feel completely different yet, don't panic.

How Long Does HRT Take to Work?

There's no exact day when HRT suddenly "kicks in". Some people start noticing an improvement in their symptoms after a few days or weeks. For others, it takes longer. The NHS says

The cost of ongoing weight-loss treatment can add up, particularly when you're paying for your prescription month after month. That's why Pharmacy Planet has reduced the cost of a number of its longer-supply Mounjaro options, giving suitable patients a way to save when arranging treatment for the months ahead.

Our single-pen prices remain competitive, starting from £128, but patients choosing selected two- and three-month packs can now pay less per pen than when ordering individually.

Here's what's changing and what the new prices could mean for your treatment.

What's Happening to Mounjaro Prices?

We've reduced the prices of our two- and three-month Mounjaro packs across the range, including our starter options and continuation packs.

The amount you save depends on your prescribed strength and the number of pens supplied. The biggest savings are available when choosing three months

If you're taking Mounjaro and HRT at the same time, there's something you might not have heard about.

Mounjaro has become one of the most talked-about weight-loss medications around. But while most of the conversation is about weight loss, appetite and side effects, there's another question that matters for some women: can Mounjaro affect your HRT?

The short answer is that it potentially can, particularly if you take your HRT as tablets.

That doesn't mean you can't take Mounjaro and HRT together. But because Mounjaro can slow down how quickly your stomach empties, there are concerns about how well some oral medicines are absorbed.

And this is something the NHS is now specifically highlighting.

Why Could Mounjaro Affect HRT?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) works partly by affecting appetite and digestion. One of its effects is that it slows gastric emptying, meaning food and medication can take longer to move through your stomach.

That matters because some medicines are taken by mouth and need to be absorbed through the digestive system.

The concern with HRT is mainly around oral HRT tablets, rather than HRT that is absorbed through the skin.

The NHS England guidance currently says that if you're using tirzepatide and taking HRT, you should consider patches or gels because your body may not absorb oral HRT in the same way while using Mounjaro.

So, Does Mounjaro Make HRT Ineffective?

Not necessarily. The evidence around this is still developing, and the British Menopause Society says there is currently no direct evidence showing that semaglutide or tirzepatide definitely affects the effectiveness, dosing requirements, bleeding patterns or endometrial risk of oral HRT.

The concern is more about the potential for reduced absorption, particularly with oral progestogens.

Does It Matter Whether You Take HRT as a Tablet or a Patch?

Yes, this is probably the most important part to understand.

HRT can come in several different forms, including:

• Tablets
• Patches
• Gels
• Sprays
• Other forms of hormone treatment

If you take HRT as a tablet, it has to pass through your digestive system before the hormones can be absorbed.

Patches and gels work differently. They deliver hormones through the skin, meaning they don't rely on your stomach to absorb them.

This is why the NHS recommends considering patches or gels if you're taking Mounjaro alongside HRT.

The NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service also says that transdermal HRT is not affected by GLP-1 medicines and advises considering a switch from oral HRT to transdermal HRT in women prescribed a GLP-1 medicine.

That doesn't mean everyone taking oral HRT needs to immediately change treatment.

It means it's worth discussing your options with the person who prescribes your HRT.

What About Progesterone?

This is where things get slightly more complicated. If you still have a womb and you're taking oestrogen as part of HRT, you generally also need a progestogen to protect the lining of the womb.

And this is one of the main areas where experts are paying attention to the potential interaction between weight-loss injections and HRT.

The British Menopause Society has highlighted a possible concern that delayed gastric emptying could reduce the absorption of oral progestogens.

However, it's important not to overstate this.

There isn't currently robust evidence showing exactly how much Mounjaro changes oral progesterone absorption or what the correct dose adjustment should be. The BMS describes some of its suggested approaches as being based on limited evidence, extrapolation and expert opinion.

This is one of the reasons it's not a good idea to simply change your HRT dose yourself.

What If I'm Taking Mounjaro and HRT Already?

First of all, don't panic. If you've been taking Mounjaro and HRT together, it doesn't automatically mean your HRT has stopped working.

But it's worth making sure your GP, menopause clinician or other prescriber knows that you're taking both.

They may want to look at:

• Whether you're taking oral or transdermal HRT
• Which oestrogen and progestogen you're using
• Whether a patch or gel would be more appropriate
• Whether your progesterone needs particular consideration

It's also worth keeping track of whether your symptoms are still controlled, particularly if you've recently started HRT or changed treatment. HRT can take some time to work fully, so changes in symptoms don't necessarily mean Mounjaro is affecting your treatment.

The NHS specifically recommends speaking to your doctor about Mounjaro and HRT, rather than making changes yourself.

What About Wegovy and HRT?

Mounjaro isn't the only weight-loss injection that slows gastric emptying.

Wegovy (semaglutide) also affects gastric emptying, so the same general question has been raised about oral medicines.

The British Menopause Society's guidance covers both semaglutide and tirzepatide and says that the impact of these medicines on the effectiveness of co-prescribed oral HRT is currently unknown.

However, the specific NHS England patient guidance currently highlights tirzepatide (Mounjaro) when advising people taking HRT to consider patches or gels.

So it's probably best not to assume that Mounjaro and Wegovy have exactly the same established interaction with HRT.

The evidence is still developing.

What If I Notice Bleeding After Starting Mounjaro?

Unexpected bleeding while using HRT is something you shouldn't simply ignore.

Bleeding can happen for lots of reasons while using HRT, and the British Menopause Society notes that unscheduled bleeding is already a recognised issue for people using HRT.

There is currently no good evidence proving that Mounjaro causes HRT-related bleeding.

However, because of the uncertainty around the absorption of oral progestogens, the BMS recommends that clinicians follow existing guidance when assessing unscheduled bleeding in women using HRT alongside incretin-based medicines.

If you're experiencing new, persistent, heavy or unusual bleeding, speak to your GP or HRT prescriber rather than assuming it's simply a side effect of Mounjaro.

Should You Switch From HRT Tablets to Patches?

This is probably the question most people are asking after reading all of this. The answer is: possibly, but don't make the switch yourself.

There is a reason patches and gels are being discussed more often alongside Mounjaro. They deliver hormones through the skin, so their absorption doesn't depend on the stomach and isn't affected in the same way by delayed gastric emptying.

NHS England specifically says people using Mounjaro and HRT should consider patches or gels.

Whether that's right for you depends on your existing HRT, symptoms, medical history and the type of progestogen you use.

Your GP, pharmacist or menopause specialist can help you work out whether your current treatment is still appropriate.

The Bottom Line

Mounjaro and HRT can be used together, but there is an important consideration if you're taking HRT orally.

Mounjaro slows gastric emptying, which can potentially affect how some oral medicines are absorbed. The main concern with HRT is around oral preparations, particularly the progestogen component.

There isn't enough evidence to say that Mounjaro definitely makes oral HRT ineffective, so there's no need to panic if you're currently taking both.

But there is enough concern that the NHS recommends considering HRT patches or gels when taking Mounjaro.

If you're taking Mounjaro and HRT, don't stop either medication or change your dose without speaking to your healthcare professional first.

And if you've noticed your menopausal symptoms returning or you've developed unusual bleeding since starting Mounjaro, that's another good reason to speak to your GP or HRT prescriber. You can explore our HRT range or read more about how long HRT takes to work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you take Mounjaro and HRT together?

Yes, Mounjaro and HRT can be used at the same time. However, there are some additional considerations if you take your HRT orally. Mounjaro delays gastric emptying, which could potentially affect how some oral medicines are absorbed. If you're taking both treatments, make sure your GP, menopause clinician or prescriber

You can sail through the day with barely a twinge, then the moment your head hits the pillow the burning starts. Or you wake up at 2 a.m. with a sour taste in your mouth and a cough that just won't settle. If that sounds familiar, you're not imagining it, and you're definitely not alone.

GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) has a well-known habit of flaring up at night. The reasons are actually pretty straightforward once you know what's going on.

What Is GORD, Quickly?

GORD happens when stomach acid flows back up into the oesophagus (the food pipe). There's a ring of muscle at the bottom of the oesophagus, the lower oesophageal sphincter, that's supposed to act like a one-way valve. When it doesn't close properly, acid can escape upwards. That's what causes the classic burning, the regurgitation, the nasty taste, and sometimes a cough or hoarse voice.

Symptoms are often worse after eating, when bending over, and especially when you lie down.

One of the biggest changes people notice when starting Mounjaro or Wegovy is pretty simple: they just aren't as hungry anymore.

But there is a bit of a catch.

If your appetite has gone from "I could eat a horse" to "I suppose I should probably eat something", getting enough of the right foods can become a challenge. So, what should you actually eat when you're taking a weight-loss injection and don't feel particularly hungry?

Don't Use a Smaller Appetite as an Excuse to Stop Eating Properly

It can be tempting to think that if you're barely hungry, you should simply eat as little as possible. After all, the whole point is to lose weight, right? Not quite.

Mounjaro and Wegovy are designed to support weight loss alongside a reduced-calorie diet and healthy lifestyle. The NHS still recommends eating a healthy, balanced diet while

When you're taking Mounjaro or Wegovy, seeing the number on the scales go down is obviously a big part of the goal.

But there's another number you might want to pay attention to: how much of that weight is actually fat?

Losing weight isn't necessarily the same thing as losing body fat. When you're eating fewer calories, some of the weight you lose can come from lean tissue as well as fat.

This is where strength training can come in.

Do You Want to Lose Weight or Lose Fat?

Let's start with the obvious: calories matter.

To lose weight, you need to use more energy than you consume over time. Mounjaro and Wegovy can make this easier by reducing appetite and helping you feel fuller, which can make it easier to stick to a reduced-calorie diet. The NHS recommends taking these medicines alongside a balanced diet and regular

A drug that isn't even approved yet is already being copied and sold on the black market.

As weight-loss drugs have become increasingly popular, attention has turned towards what could be the next big development: retatrutide. Developed by Eli Lilly, the experimental drug is currently being studied in Phase 3 trials and has already attracted attention from consumers and fitness influencers.

So how does an average consumer get their hands on a drug that hasn't even been approved yet? It is probably a lot more available than you might think, vials which have become known as 'reta' are being sold around the UK in gyms, beauty salons, hairdressers and even by street florists. If you don't want to make the trip outside, you can even get it delivered after a quick search on social media.

What Makes Retatrutide Different?

With the new school year underway, schools in England need to make sure their allergy safety arrangements are up to date under the Department for Education's Allergy safety in schools statutory guidance. This includes checking emergency adrenaline auto-injectors, replacing expired or used devices, and making sure staff know what to do in an emergency.

What Are the Latest Rules for Schools?

Whole-School Allergy Policy

Schools will now have to publish their own standalone allergy safety policy. The old rules meant it could be hidden within a general medical conditions policy. This must be owned by a named senior leader, reviewed at least annually, and published (e.g. on a school website).

Individual Healthcare Plans

For pupils with allergies that have a functional impact or require specific arrangements.

Training