Weight Loss Clinic in Manchester

Manchester's pharmacist-led weight loss clinic

Trafford Clinic operates from Empire Pharmacy in Old Trafford and is led by Haroon Mohammad Iqbal MPharm, IP, an Independent Prescriber registered with the GPhC (reg. 2051093). We prescribe and dispense Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) on-site under the framework set out in NICE TA1026 and NICE TA875. There is no subscription, no auto-billing and no contract — you pay only for the medication you receive, and you stop when you've reached your goal. Every consultation, escalation and monthly review is carried out by the same Independent Prescriber: same pharmacist, same building, every visit.

Mounjaro versus Wegovy — how we decide

Both medicines work via the incretin system, but they're different drugs. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly; its SmPC licenses doses from 2.5mg to 15mg weekly. The pivotal SURMOUNT-1 trial (NEJM, 2022) showed an average ~21% body weight reduction at 72 weeks at maintenance dose in adults without diabetes. Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4mg) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist from Novo Nordisk, escalated from 0.25mg to 2.4mg weekly; STEP-1 (NEJM, 2021) showed ~15% average reduction at 68 weeks. In practice we choose between them based on prior exposure, GI tolerance, comorbidities (Mounjaro has stronger data for prediabetes and HbA1c control), pen handling and current stock. We are tied to neither manufacturer and will say so honestly when one is clearly the better fit for you.

Eligibility — and why it matters

NICE recommends GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment for adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above, or 27.5 kg/m² or above with a weight-related comorbidity (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, NAFLD, polycystic ovary syndrome). Critically, per NICE CG189 the BMI threshold drops by 2.5 points for South Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African and African-Caribbean adults, reflecting earlier onset of metabolic risk at lower BMI — a point particularly relevant to our patients from Rusholme and the wider Curry Mile community. We screen for the contraindications listed in the SmPC: personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2, prior pancreatitis, severe gastroparesis, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and active gallbladder disease. Where GLP-1 isn't right we'll tell you, and if your route should be the NHS Tier 3 weight management service we'll say so.

Baseline bloods and ongoing monitoring

Before any first prescription we recommend a baseline panel — HbA1c, urea & electrolytes, liver function, thyroid function (TSH/T3/T4), lipid profile and vitamin D — booked through our private blood test service with results in 24–48 hours from a UKAS-accredited laboratory. We repeat at 6 months. The panel matters: GLP-1 therapy can affect renal markers in dehydration, can mask early thyroid dysfunction, and changes your lipid trajectory once weight starts falling. A baseline avoids unpleasant surprises and gives you a documented before/after for your GP record.

The escalation schedule and side effects

Mounjaro starts at 2.5mg subcutaneously once weekly for 4 weeks, escalating in 2.5mg steps every 4 weeks to a maintenance dose of 5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg or 15mg depending on response and tolerance. Wegovy starts at 0.25mg weekly with monthly escalation to 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg and finally 2.4mg. Both medicines are self-injected — Haroon walks every new patient through technique on day one. The commonest side effects are gastrointestinal (nausea, indigestion, constipation, mild diarrhoea), peaking in the first 4–8 weeks and at each new dose step. Less common but important: gallbladder issues (cholelithiasis), pancreatitis (rare, but stop immediately if severe epigastric pain), hypoglycaemia (mainly in patients on concurrent sulphonylureas or insulin). We follow the current MHRA Drug Safety Updates and adjust dose if needed.

Who we see across Manchester

We see patients from across the city and beyond — the city centre via our city centre weight loss page, the family-led referrals from Sale and Altrincham, the South-Asian metabolic-risk cluster from Rusholme, the MediaCity professional crowd from Salford Quays, plus Salford, Stretford, Chorlton, Eccles, Old Trafford and Whalley Range. The clinical protocol is identical; the convenience varies.

Related services at Trafford Clinic

If you need bloods before starting see Blood tests in Manchester. If you're travelling on Mounjaro and need cold-chain advice or pre-travel vaccines see our Manchester travel clinic page. Fatigue or peripheral neuropathy as part of your metabolic picture? Our B12 injections page covers screening and replacement — long-term metformin users in particular have a recognised B12-depletion risk. Hearing dulled by years of bariatric procedures, decongestants and ear wax? See microsuction in Manchester. Brand context lives at our weight loss page.

How to book your free consultation

Book online at traffordclinic.co.uk/weight-loss or call 0161 258 6149. The initial consultation is free and takes about 20 minutes — BMI check, full history, medication review, eligibility against NICE TA1026/TA875 and a written treatment plan. If we prescribe, you leave with your first month's supply the same day. The clinic is at 122 Seymour Grove, Old Trafford, M16 0FF, with free patient parking on-site and Trafford Bar Metrolink two minutes' walk away. See our pricing page for the current monthly figure.