Mounjaro

Mounjaro helps with weight loss by reducing your appetite, so you eat fewer calories. It also slows down how fast food leaves the stomach so you feel fuller for longer. However, this effect reduces over time. This action is mediated by the GLP-1 hormone in the body.

Mounjaro contains the active ingredient, Tirzepatide which works on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors. GIP has been shown to reduce how much you eat and increase how much energy you use, resulting in weight loss.

Most weight loss injections are only GLP-1 receptor agonists. However, Mounjaro combines the effects of both these naturally occurring hormones and has been shown to cause more weight loss than medicines that work on GLP-1 alone.
Losing weight can also improve how your body responds to insulin, which helps lower your blood sugar levels.

Mounjaro is now approved for obese adults with a BMI of 30 or more. It is also approved for overweight adults with a BMI of 27 or more who also have weight-related health problems such as:

• prediabetes
• type 2 diabetes
• high blood pressure
• heart disease (including highcholesterol, heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease) 
• obstructive sleep apnoea
• PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
• osteoarthritis or gout
• chronic back pain
• fatty liver disease
• gallbladder disease
  Initially,

Mounjaro was only approved for treating type 2 diabetes in adults here in the UK but has since also been licensed for weight loss. We only offer this treatment privately for weight loss.

This medicine should be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

You cannot use Mounjaro if:

• you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding (it is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby or pass into your breast milk)
• you are allergic to Mounjaro or any of the other ingredients in this medicine
• you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• You should also tell your doctor if you:
• have problems with your pancreas, liver, kidneys, or gallbladder
• have severe problems with your stomach (such as food remaining in your stomach for longer than normal or problems digesting food)
• have a history of diabetic retinopathy
• are using other diabetes medicines such as a sulphonylurea or insulin
• have heart conditions (especially heart rate problems or heart failure)

The recommended starting dose is 2.5mg, injected once weekly for 4 weeks. The dose will be gradually increased over a few months, depending on how well you can tolerate the medicine and if it works for you. The maximum dose of Mounjaro is 15mg.

If you miss a dose of Mounjaro, take the missed dose as soon as possible within 4 days after the missed dose. If it has been more than 4 days, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day. Do not take 2 doses of Mounjaro within 3 days of each other.
If you have missed a dose, seek medical advice first before changing your dosing regime.

You must store your Mounjaro pens correctly to make sure the medication remains effective.

Unused pens:
Store unused pens in the refrigerator between 2°C to 8°C.
If they have been kept in the refrigerator they may be used until the expiry date.
Do not freeze your pen, throw it away if it has been frozen.
Used pens:
Used pens can be stored at room temperature (up to 30°C) for up to 30 days after first use.
Keep the pens away from heat.
Dispose of the pen after receiving 4 weekly doses.

Not everyone using this medicine will experience side effects. However, these are the most common side effects of Mounjaro:

• nausea
• diarrhoea
• decreased appetite
• vomiting
• constipation
• indigestion
• stomach pain

Usually, side effects like nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea occur when the dose of

Mounjaro is increased and go away over time.

Rare side effects
Mounjaro may cause rare but serious side effects, including:

• inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• serious allergic reactions (symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, severe rash, fainting, and a rapid heartbeat)
• changes in vision

These are not all the possible side effects. Please refer to the patient information leaflet (PIL) for a complete list.
Talk to your doctor about any side effects that concern you or don’t resolve. If you experience any rare side effects, contact your healthcare provider straight away.