Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Weight Loss Injections

Mounjaro is available through regulated and licensed online healthcare providers and is not yet widely prescribed on the NHS. To be eligible, you will need a consultation with a doctor who will go through your weight, medical history and any other factors that could impact the effectiveness of the treatment.

Yes, you can but in moderation. Excessive alcohol consumption can increase side effects such as vomiting, nausea and dehydration while taking Mounjaro weight loss injections. Additionally, alcohol can affect blood sugar levels, especially for people with type 2 diabetes

Yes, it’s best to keep the Mounjaro injection between 2 and 8°C, as recommended by the manufacturer's storage instructions, to ensure the medication’s shelf life. Mounjaro can be kept at a temperature under 30°C for up to 30 days but needs to be kept out of sunlight and in its original box. Once 30 days have passed and Mounjaro has not been refrigerated, it needs to be discarded.

Once you stop taking Mounjaro, it takes around a week for your body’s hormones to go back to their normal rhythm. This can result in weight gain and during the clinical trials, the patients weight gain was 14%. It takes around 25 days for Mounjaro to leave the body and it’s best to stop Mounjaro under the guidance of a healthcare provider to manage any changes effectively.

It is advised to eat balanced meals that cater to your lifestyle, protein source, complex carbohydrates with fruit and vegetables. It is advised to avoid high sugar and high fat foods in the early stages, as these can increase the Mounjaro side effects of nausea and vomiting. Many people can find bland and light foods easier in the early stages as they get used to the treatment.

While weight loss can vary, clinical trials showed an average weight loss of 15-20% for patients depending on the treatment strength over a 72 week period. 

Those who took Mounjaro (tirzepatide) at a 5mg dose lost on average 16.1kg (35.5lbs or 2st 7.5lb), for those on the 10mg dose, they saw an average weight loss of 22.2kg (48.9lb or 3st 6.9lb) and the weight loss for the 15mg dose was 23.6kg (52lb or 3st 10lb) over the same 72 week period.

Other weight loss treatments available in the UK include:

• Wegovy (semaglutide): A weekly injection that mimics a natural hormone to reduce appetite and support weight loss

• Saxenda (liraglutide): A daily injection that helps to reduce appetite and promote weight management

• Orlistat: A capsule that is taken with meals that blocks some fat absorption in the intestines through a fat absorption inhibitor.

The best weight loss treatment depends on individual health, goals and medical history should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

Mounjaro will start to work once injected and the noticeable changes will take a bit longer to show, as the body adjusts to the medication. It can take up to 4 to 8 weeks to see these changes and they’ll be reduced appetite, feeling fuller quicker and for longer, leading to a natural reduction in weight loss. Also during this time, you may experience some of the Mounjaro side effects such as nausea or vomiting but this is normal as your body adjusts to the medication.

For those who are eligible to take Mounjaro, it is very safe. Like all medication, it does come with possible side effects. Any medication to be approved in the UK, it must go through rigorous testing and meet specific safety standards set by the MHRA. GLP-1 treatments for diabetes have been around since 2006 and used more recently to aid in weight loss. Mounjaro has seen positive results from thousands of patients across various clinical trials.

References:

https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-tirzepatide-shows-additional-211-weight-loss-after-12

https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/0016-5085(94)90831-1/fulltext 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S104327601630073X 

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/insulin/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gastroparesis/ 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acute-pancreatitis/ 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2812936 

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15484/smpc 

https://a.storyblok.com/f/263052/x/39781fcc71/uk_mounjaro_wm-digital-patient-brochure_jan24_pp-tr-gb-0203.pdf 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2812936 

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038

You can find information about Pharmacy2U’s pricing for Mounjaro within this page.

You should always follow your clinician’s advice and the guidance in the Patient Information Leaflet when it comes to administering Mounjaro. Suitable injection sites include the thigh and abdomen (at least 5 centimetres from the belly button), while the back of the upper arm is possible if administered by another person. Injection sites should be rotated weekly. 

Whether you experience side effects when using Mounjaro injections depends on the dosage of the medication you take and how your body responds to it. You will tend to begin GLP-1 injections on a low dose and gradually increase it, with a clinician regularly assessing how well your body is tolerating the medication. As with all medicines, GLP-1 injections can cause side effects, although most of these are mild and generally improve within a few weeks. 

If you experience any side effects, you are encouraged to report them via the Yellow Card Scheme or contact your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.  

You should always follow your clinician’s advice and the guidance in the Patient Information Leaflet when it comes to administering Mounjaro. You can also read the manufacturer’s guidance here. 

The weight management journey with GLP-1 injections sometimes makes people feel low in energy. Even though you have less appetite, you need to get enough essential nutrients to fuel your body. There are things you can try to help alleviate these feelings:  

• Sip on water throughout the day 

• Eat small, regular, nutritious meals 

• Manage any energy-draining side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea 

• Get into good sleep habits with a relaxing, screen-free bedtime for good-quality sleep 

• Do gentle movement and short walks. 

If you start feeling very weak, tired, or dizzy, you must talk to your clinician or a doctor. 

You don’t have to increase the dose of any weight loss medication you’re taking. Your clinician will recommend the correct dose for you based on your individual health profile and your weight loss progress to date. 

If you stop taking Mounjaro, it should be gone from your body after around 30 days. 

Mounjaro can take time to work, and everyone’s experience will vary slightly depending on their individual health profile and circumstances.  

However, there are things you can do to encourage a healthy rate of weight loss and support Mounjaro's effectiveness, such as... 

• Reduce your calorie intake by aiming for about 1,900 kcal per day for men and 1,400 kcal per day for women 

• Choose wholegrain carbs by opting for wholegrain pasta, rice, and bread whenever possible 

• Explore protein sources by including beans and pulses as alternatives to meat and fish, and, if your diet allows, aiming for two servings each week 

• Stay hydrated by aiming for 6–8 cups of fluid a day, with water as the best choice, though tea, coffee, and soup also count toward your intake 

• Limit your dairy intake, choosing low-fat, reduced sugar options when you can 

• Aim for two portions of vegetables with your main meal each day 

• Swap your butter for a low-fat spread 

• When you’re cooking with oil, options like olive, sunflower, and rapeseed are healthier options thanks to their unsaturated fat content 

You should try and take it on the same day each week if possible. You should never take more than one dose in a single 72-hour period at any point. If this does happen, speak to your clinician or doctor. 

Mounjaro does not directly burn fat. By mimicking two naturally occurring hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, Mounjaro leads to patients feeling full sooner after eating, and having less cravings for food. Additionally, it slows down the emptying of the stomach, making you feel fuller for longer and reducing your overall food intake.

The UK Patient Information Leaflet lists hair loss as a common side effect of Mounjaro, affecting up to 1 in 10 people. This is based on findings from the SURMOUNT trials, where between 4.9% and 5.7% of participants taking doses from 5mg to 15mg reported hair loss, compared with 0.9% in the placebo group. 

You should store Mounjaro in the refrigerator at 2 to 8°C and never freeze it, as a frozen pen must not be used. Once opened, the Mounjaro KwikPen can be kept unrefrigerated at temperatures up to 30°C for a maximum of 30 days, after which it should be discarded. 

Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, can interact with other medicines, largely because it slows gastric emptying, which can affect how quickly other medicines are absorbed. Caution is advised with: 

• Oral contraceptives  

• HRT 

The most common side effects of Mounjaro include: 

• Constipation 

• Bloating, burping and wind 

• Indigestion, heartburn and reflux 

• Diarrhoea and loose stools 

• Nausea and sickness 

• Headache 

• Dry mouth or changes in taste 

• Feeling weak or tired 

The information provided in the side effects section is not a comprehensive list of all possible side effects associated with weight loss medication. For a complete list of side effects, please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) provided with your medication or consult your healthcare professional. 

If you experience any side effects, including those not listed, you are encouraged to report them via the Yellow Card Scheme or contact your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This information is intended as a summary for general awareness and does not replace professional medical advice. 

The highest dose of Mounjaro prescribed by Pharmacy2U is 15mg. 

You should aim for 1,900 kcal per day for men and 1,400 kcal per day for women.

As with any medicine, it’s important that you store and look after Mounjaro correctly. 

Follow the storage instructions and make a note of the expiry date when you receive the treatment - this should be listed on the pen label and the carton.

Mounjaro can be taken by adults who either:  

• Have a BMI of over 30 or 

• Have a BMI over 27 but have pre-existing weight related medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart disease 

The Mounjaro KwikPen contains 4 fixed doses to be taken once weekly. They are colour-coded for safety: grey for 2.5 mg, purple for 5 mg, green for 7.5 mg, pink for 10 mg, blue for 12.5 mg, and orange for 15 mg. 

Mounaro’s patient information leaflet says that it can be stored outside of the fridge for up to 30 days after first use, as long as it’s not stored anywhere above 30 ºC. Always consult the leaflet first if you are unsure about Mounjaro.

According to Lilly: after you have completed your injection, you should carefully replace the outer needle shield, unscrew the capped needle and put your used needle in a sharps disposal container. Do not put your used needle in your household waste or recycle your sharps disposal container.

If your KwikPen is empty, it can be thrown away - either in household waste or in your sharps container.

If your container is full, it must be sealed and collected. It can also be returned to some local surgeries and pharmacies (check with your local council you can do this).

You can travel with Mounjaro. However, you will need to consider the following:

• Do you have enough doses left for the duration of your trip?

• It’s recommended you have proof that Mounjaro has been prescribed to you, either as a letter or signed prescription

• Medication needs to be packed in hand luggage (hold luggage can be exposed to temperature and pressure changes) and stored away from heat and light

• To keep Mounjaro at the correct temperature you will need to use a cool bag

• Is there somewhere to store your medication where you’re staying?

Find out more about travelling with medicines.

If Mounjaro has been stored incorrectly, please contact your healthcare provider with full details of where your KwikPen has been. Based on this they can decide whether it is suitable to use or if you will have to order a replacement pen.

It’s worth remembering that:

• If the pen has been left out of the fridge and stored somewhere below 30°C, it should be suitable to use for up to 30 days

• If the pen has been stored somewhere above 30°C or has frozen, it shouldn’t be used and should be thrown away

• If the expiry date on the pen has passed it should be thrown away, regardless of where it has been stored

• Do not use the solution if it is cloudy