Your Complete Guide To Mounjaro

Looking for extra support to reach your weight loss goals? Many treatments can help you lose weight safely and sustainably. Mounjaro is a GLP-1 receptor agonist designed to treat obesity or overweight in the presence of other weight-related health problems. It contains tirzepatide, a drug that helps control hunger and improves how your body uses insulin, making it easier for you to lose weight.

At MedExpress, we know every weight loss journey is unique. Starting treatment can feel like a daunting step, and you need to choose the right weight loss medication for you. Here, our experts break down what Mounjaro is, how it works and who can use it to help you make an informed decision about seeking treatment.

Article Summary:

• Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is medication used for weight loss and type 2 diabetes, helping control blood sugar and reduce appetite.
• In clinical trials, people using the highest dose of Mounjaro lost an average of 21% of their body weight after 72 weeks.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is an injectable treatment containing the drug tirzepatide. It was originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but it also emerged as a highly effective option for weight loss, delivering impressive results for many people. You take it once a week with a pre-filled pen, self-injecting into your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.

How does Mounjaro Work?

Mounjaro contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, which mimics two naturally occurring hormones in

your gut:glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP). These hormones help control blood sugar levels and signal to your brain to reduce appetite. They also slow down the rate at which food leaves your stomach, helping you feel fuller for longer.

Because Mounjaro mimics two hormones instead of one, it’s more effective for weight loss than other injectable medications. Studies show that, by reducing your food intake and slowing down digestion, Mounjaro can lead to a significant decrease in calorie consumption.

Mounjaro in the UK

In the UK, you can now support your weight loss with Mounjaro. It’s approved by the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and backed by strong clinical evidence from trials.

The Mounjaro pen is designed to be minimally invasive, with small needles for comfort, and can be self-injected into your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.

Mounjaro Injection Sites

MedExpress offers support throughout your treatment, so you can get guidance whenever you need it.

How Effective is Mounjaro?

In clinical trials, people using Mounjaro experienced significant weight loss. On average, those on the highest dose of 15 mg lost around 21% of their body weight after 72 weeks, with some participants losing up to 25%. [1]

Mounjaro vs. Other Weight Loss Treatments

Research shows that Mounjaro leads to more significant weight loss than treatments containing semaglutide, like Wegovy.

In a recent study, people taking Mounjaro lost up to an extra 6% of their body weight compared to people taking semaglutide. [2] So, if someone taking semaglutide lost 10% of their body weight, someone taking tirzepatide might lose about 16% of their body weight.

The same study also found that a higher percentage of Mounjaro users lost at least 5% of their body weight compared to people using semaglutide.

Mounjaro Side Effects

Like all medications, Mounjaro can cause some side effects. You must be aware of them before starting treatment. These are the common side effects:

• Nausea, diarrhoea, or vomiting are very common, but will settle with time.
• You may also have constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Our clinical team can offer support to help you relieve these symptoms.
• Injection site reactions can cause redness and irritation. These are generally mild.

Comparison of very common side effects in clinical trials

*The percentages indicate the proportion of trial participants who experienced each side effect.

You can manage side effects with dietary changes, like choosing bland foods and staying hydrated. We also recommend that you limit caffeine and alcohol intake, stay active and speak to our clinical team for advice on changing dosage or timing to relieve symptoms.

Following the Prescribed Dosage

Your treatment begins with a low dose, and you can gradually increase your dose every four weeks until you reach the maximum dose or a dose that works for you.

Reminder: The right dose for you is one where you’re seeing steady weight loss (around 0.5–1kg per week) and you feel like you can stick with it. If you’re not quite there yet, or things feel too fast, it’s okay to take more time at a lower dose. This is about finding what works for you.

This chart shows how your dosage may increase over 21 weeks:

Mounjaro Dosage Chart

Our clinical team will check in on your progress throughout your journey. For us to continue prescribing Mounjaro to you, you’ll need to have lost at least 5% of your initial body weight after 6 months.

Who Can Use Mounjaro?

It’s important to know if you can safely use Mounjaro and make the lifestyle changes that come with

taking it. For the best results, Mounjaro should be paired with a lower-calorie diet and more physical activity.

You’re eligible to take Mounjaro if you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 and above, and you may be eligible if you have a BMI of 27 and above along with a weight-related health condition. These related concerns include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol.

Mounjaro isn’t Suitable for you if you have:

• Severe kidney or liver problems
• Type 1 diabetes
• A personal or family history of thyroid cancers or certain genetic conditions
• An allergy to tirzepatide or any other ingredients in Mounjaro
• Mounjaro also isn’t suitable if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
• If you have a history of pancreatitis, serious digestive issues, diabetic retinopathy or kidney problems, speak to your GP or healthcare provider before starting Mounjaro.

Ready to Start your Weight Loss Journey?

Find out what treatment is suitable for you on our website.

References:

1. Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, Wharton S, Connery L, Alves B, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2022 Jun 4;387(3):205–16. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
2. Frías JP, Davies MJ, Rosenstock J, Pérez Manghi FC, Fernández Landó L, Bergman BK, et al. Tirzepatide versus Semaglutide Once Weekly in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine [Internet]. 2021 Jun 25;385(6):503–15. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107519