Mounjaro

Mounjaro is the brand name of the medication Tirzepatide, licensed for the treatment of Weight Management (weight loss and weight maintenance) and Type 2 diabetes. It is the latest and most effective weight loss drug, which was launched in February 2024.

It mimics the action of one of your body’s naturally occurring incretin hormones – GLP-1 and GIP (the first of its kind)– released after food intake. These regulate appetite, feeling of fullness, and blood glucose levels. Mounjaro is the first weight loss injection in its class that works by regulating blood glucose levels, satiety, and hunger.

Mounjaro for weight loss can be prescribed to those with a BMI of 30 and above or those with a BMI of 27-30 with at least one additional weight-related comorbidity, such as

• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Osteo-arthritis
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol

In addition to controlling blood glucose levels, clinical trials of Mounjaro have shown significant weight loss in patients as well. As compared to other GLP-1 weight loss medications, it shows the most promising results.

While Tirzepatide may be prescribed off-label to help certain patients in their weight management, this will only be done as a second line at the discretion of the prescriber, and only when they are confident of the benefits this would have for their patient.

Each pack of Mounjaro contains one pre-filled pen. The pen contains 4 doses of Mounjaro. The pen would either contain 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, or 15 mg.

Mounjaro can be used any time of the day, with or without meals. However, it’s recommended that you use it on the same day every week.

You can use your pen at any time of the day, with or without meals. You should use it on the same day each week if you can.

To adjust to the medication and avoid any severe side effects, you will start the medication with the lowest dose, 2.5 mg, for 4 weeks. You will eventually get to the maximum dose of 15 mg.

If your body is showing clear signs that it can tolerate Mounjaro, then the dosing schedule will be as follows:

• Weeks 1-4: 2.5 mg weekly
• Weeks 5-8: 5.0 mg weekly
• Weeks 9-12: 7.5 mg weekly
• Weeks 13-16: 10.0 mg weekly
• Weeks 17-20: 12.5 mg weekly
• Weeks 21 onwards: 15.0 mg weekly