GLP-1 Online Doctor Consultation UK: What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Getting a GLP-1 prescription online in 2026 is a realistic process for the majority of people who meet clinical criteria. The consultation is not the barrier many people expect - but it is a real medical assessment, not a rubber stamp.

Knowing what to expect makes the process faster, less stressful, and more likely to result in the prescription you need. This guide walks through the process from start to finish - what gets asked, what can lead to refusal, and what happens after the consultation ends.

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What an Online GLP-1 Consultation Actually Is

The term "online consultation" covers a spectrum. At one end, a live video call with a UK-registered GP. At the other, a detailed written questionnaire reviewed asynchronously by a pharmacist prescriber. Both are legitimate and both result in real, legal prescriptions.

The most common format in the UK private GLP-1 market is the asynchronous questionnaire - you complete a detailed form, a qualified prescriber reviews it, and responds within 24 to 48 hours. Some services, including Access a GP, offer live video consultations with UK-registered GPs. These take longer to schedule but let you ask questions in real time.

Neither format is inherently superior. A thorough questionnaire reviewed by a careful prescriber provides the same clinical safeguarding as a video call. The variable is not the format - it is whether the prescriber actually reads your responses and acts on anything that looks clinically significant.

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Before You Start: What to Have Ready

A few minutes of preparation makes the consultation more accurate and faster to complete.

Your height and weight: BMI is calculated from these. Private GLP-1 eligibility requires BMI 30 or above, or BMI 27 or above with at least one weight-related health condition. If you are near the threshold, weigh yourself that morning with minimal clothing.

Current medications: List everything - prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and regular supplements. Drug interactions with GLP-1 medications are relatively limited, but some medications affect blood glucose or are affected by the delayed gastric emptying these drugs cause.

Relevant medical history: You will be asked specifically about cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, thyroid conditions, pancreatitis, and mental health history. You do not need test results - self-reported history is used - but accuracy matters clinically.

Family history of thyroid cancer or MEN2: Every consultation asks about personal and family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). These are contraindications to GLP-1 therapy.

Your GP's name and practice: Many services record this and some send a notification letter to your GP after prescribing. This is good clinical practice.

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Step-by-Step: The Online Consultation Process

Step 1: Choose Your Prescribing Service

Before you start a questionnaire, you are choosing your prescriber. Options in the UK vary in price, medication range, consultation format, and follow-up quality.

If you want to speak directly with a doctor - rather than completing a form and waiting - services like Access a GP specialise in live GP consultations. This is particularly useful if your medical history is complex, if you have questions before committing, or if you simply want to discuss your options before deciding on a medication.

For a broader market comparison, see our best GLP-1 prescribers UK guide.

Step 2: Complete the Health Questionnaire

The questionnaire is the core of the consultation. Typical sections:

Personal information: Name, date of birth, contact details, and your GP's practice.

Physical measurements: Height and weight for BMI calculation. Some services also ask for waist circumference.

Medical history: A checklist and free-text section. Standard questions include:

• Do you have type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes?
• Do you have cardiovascular disease (heart attack, stroke, angina)?
• Do you have chronic kidney disease?
• Have you ever had pancreatitis?
• Do you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer or MEN2 syndrome?
• Do you have an active eating disorder?
• Are you pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding?

Current medications: Most questionnaires ask you to list medications. Pay particular attention to insulin and other diabetes medications - GLP-1 therapy in combination with insulin or sulphonylureas requires dose coordination, as hypoglycaemia risk increases.

Previous weight-loss attempts: This is partly for clinical context and partly to assess commitment to the treatment pathway.

Your goals: Expected timeline, lifestyle changes you are planning, and whether you have GP involvement or other support.

Step 3: Prescriber Review

After submission, a registered prescriber reviews your questionnaire. They are checking for:

• BMI eligibility (meets threshold or has qualifying comorbidity)
• Medical contraindications
• Drug interactions
• Mental health history that may indicate specialist input is needed first (active severe eating disorder, for example, requires specialist involvement before GLP-1 therapy is appropriate)

If a query arises, you will receive a message asking for clarification. This is normal and is a sign the prescriber is functioning properly - not a cause for alarm. Respond accurately and promptly.

Step 4: Prescription Issued

If approved, you receive email confirmation that your prescription has been issued. At this point you are committed to the first month's cost. Check the medication name and dose on your confirmation before delivery arrives.

Step 5: Delivery

GLP-1 medications are dispatched in discreet, plain packaging by tracked courier. Delivery is typically one to three business days from dispatch.

Medication arrives as an auto-injector pen. Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are once-weekly subcutaneous injections - into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Most services include a brief injection guide. If you want a detailed walkthrough, see our how to inject Ozempic and Wegovy guide.

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What a Live GP Consultation Looks Like

If you opt for a video appointment rather than an asynchronous form, expect the following:

On your weight history:

• How long have you been living with obesity?
• What have you tried previously - dietary changes, exercise programmes, other medications?
• What are your goals and your timeline?

On your medical history:

• A verbal checklist of relevant conditions
• Questions about blood sugar medications and any diabetes management
• Specific questions about thyroid, kidney, pancreas, and cardiovascular history

On lifestyle:

• Current diet and activity levels
• Alcohol use (relevant because alcohol worsens GI side effects)
• Whether you smoke

On expectations:

• Do you understand this requires a weekly injection?
• Are you aware of common side effects - nausea, constipation, reflux?
• Do you have a GP you can contact if concerns arise?

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What Gets Prescribed - and at What Dose

The prescriber's decision on which medication to recommend follows clinical logic:

Mounjaro vs Wegovy: Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is now generally the preferred first choice for patients with no specific contraindication. The SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head trial showed 20.2% mean weight loss with tirzepatide versus 13.7% with semaglutide at 72 weeks. Individual factors - comorbidities, medication interactions, cost - may lead the prescriber to recommend semaglutide instead.

Starting dose: Always at the lowest available dose. Wegovy begins at 0.25mg per week; Mounjaro at 2.5mg per week. This is not negotiable - dose escalation must follow the titration schedule to minimise side effects.

Escalation: Standard protocol increases the dose every four weeks. Slower escalation is appropriate if GI side effects are significant.

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When a Consultation Results in Refusal

Refusals happen for legitimate clinical reasons. Common ones:

Medical contraindications: Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2, current or recent pancreatitis, severe kidney disease (stage 4 or 5 CKD), pregnancy or breastfeeding.

BMI below threshold: Private prescribers require BMI 30 or above (or 27 with a qualifying comorbidity). A BMI of 26 with no qualifying conditions will typically be declined.

Active severe eating disorder: Active bulimia or anorexia requires specialist involvement before GLP-1 therapy is appropriate.

Unresolved drug interaction: Certain medication combinations require specialist oversight before prescribing can proceed.

A refusal is not necessarily permanent. Addressing the underlying reason - getting blood tests, speaking to your GP about a documented comorbidity, or pursuing the NHS route - may change the outcome. If your BMI qualifies on the NHS pathway, see our NHS GLP-1 eligibility guide for that route.

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After Your Consultation: What Good Monitoring Looks Like

The consultation is the start of a clinical relationship, not the end of it.

Get baseline blood tests before or shortly after starting: HbA1c, kidney function, liver function, lipids, and thyroid function are the standard panel. Many private prescribers do not require this upfront, but it is clinically valuable. See our GLP-1 monitoring guide for the full recommended testing schedule and what to watch for.

Report side effects to your prescriber: Severe nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, or significant constipation should be reported - not managed silently. The clinical response is typically a dose hold or slower escalation.

Keep your GP informed: Your prescriber may notify your GP by letter. If they do not, inform your GP yourself. In any urgent care situation, clinical staff need to know every medication you are taking.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an online consultation take? The questionnaire takes 10 to 20 minutes. Prescriber review takes 24 to 48 hours. Live video consultations are typically 15 to 30 minutes.

Do I need blood tests before my consultation? Most private services do not require it. However, getting a baseline panel beforehand is clinically worthwhile. Your GP can request this on the NHS, or you can use a private lab. See our GLP-1 blood test panel guide for what to request.

Can I get a GLP-1 prescription without a consultation? No. A valid prescription requires prescriber review of your medical information. Any service offering GLP-1 medication without this is operating outside UK law. The MHRA has taken action against multiple such operations.

Is the consultation confidential? Yes. It is protected by medical confidentiality. The prescriber may send a summary to your registered GP - this is standard clinical practice and is done with your safety in mind.

What if I want a live GP rather than a form? Services like Access a GP offer video appointments with UK-registered GPs specifically for situations where you want a real-time consultation before committing to a prescription.