Mounjaro is a kind 2 diabetes drug that lowers blood sugars, helps enhance A1c ranges (a measure of glucose management over the earlier 2 to three months), and assists with weight upkeep.
On this article, we’ll cowl every part it’s essential find out about this drugs, together with its advantages, unwanted side effects, and use it successfully.
What’s Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is produced by Eli Lilly and is the model identify for the medicine tirzepatide.
It was first authorized by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) in america in 2022 to assist handle blood sugar in adults with kind 2 diabetes, together with a nutritious diet and train.
It’s the first medicine in a brand new drug class often known as twin glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, activating each the GLP-1 and GIP receptors.
It really works by serving to the pancreas produce extra insulin, lowering the quantity of sugar launched by the liver, growing the physique’s sensitivity to insulin, and slowing digestion, making you’re feeling full longer.
It’s an injectable medicine taken as soon as per week to assist enhance blood sugar ranges and A1c.
What are the advantages of Mounjaro?
This therapy has three fundamental advantages for folks residing with diabetes:
Lowers blood sugars
The medication helps enhance blood sugar ranges by growing the quantity of insulin the pancreas releases — however solely when your blood sugar is rising.
This makes the chance of low blood sugar whereas taking the medicine minimal. It additionally stops your liver from releasing sugar into the blood and will increase your physique’s sensitivity to insulin.
Mixed, this leads to decrease blood sugars and A1c ranges.
Helps with weight reduction or weight upkeep
In November 2023, Mounjaro was authorized underneath the model identify Zepbound for continual weight administration in obese or overweight adults with no less than one weight-related situation.
The medication helps scale back meals consumption by decreasing urge for food and slowing digestion.
In medical trials, folks taking the drug on the most dose of 15 milligrams (mg) per week misplaced:
- 12 kilos greater than these taking the GLP-1 medicine semaglutide
- 29 kilos greater than these on insulin degludec
- 27 kilos greater than these on insulin glargine
How a lot weight do you lose on Mounjaro?
In research on Zepbound, the weight-loss model of Mounjaro, roughly 15 % of members taking a 5-mg dose, 32 % of these taking a 10-mg dose, and 36 % of these taking a 15-mg dose misplaced 25 % of their physique weight.
On the very best 15-mg dose, weight reduction was a median of 48 kilos, in keeping with the producer.
Learn extra in: Can Mounjaro Assist You Lose Weight?
Lowers threat of coronary heart illness
This medicine has the facility to guard towards coronary heart illness, which is the primary reason behind demise for folks with diabetes.
In research, after 52 weeks, members on the very best dose (15 mg per week):
- Lowered their whole ldl cholesterol by about 5.6 %
- Lowered their triglycerides by 22.5 %
- Lowered their LDL (“unhealthy”) ldl cholesterol by 7.9 %
- Lowered their VLDL ldl cholesterol by 21.8 %
- Elevated their HDL (“good”) ldl cholesterol by 10.8 %
Why would you be prescribed Mounjaro?
This remedy is just FDA-approved for individuals who have kind 2 diabetes.
However observe that not everybody with kind 2 diabetes shall be prescribed Mounjaro.
It is because many individuals are capable of handle their blood sugar ranges with weight-reduction plan, train, and typically with different medicines akin to metformin or insulin.
Nevertheless, it’s an effective way to fight insulin resistance, enhance blood sugar ranges, and help in weight reduction if you happen to’re having problem reaching these targets by different strategies.
Many individuals who’ve kind 2 diabetes and present coronary heart illness may be prescribed the drug to behave as a protecting agent and enhance each diabetes and coronary heart well being.
The medication will not be authorized to be used in folks underneath 18 years of age.
What are the unwanted side effects of Mounjaro?
The most typical unwanted side effects embody:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Fuel
- Abdomen ache
- Constipation
- Weight reduction
- Fast coronary heart fee
Though uncommon, extra extreme issues might embody:
- Thyroid tumors, together with most cancers
- Pancreatitis (irritation of the pancreas)
- Gallbladder illness
- Low blood sugar ranges, if you happen to take insulin
- Severe allergic reactions
A number of of those extra extreme unwanted side effects can result in everlasting well being issues and demise if not handled shortly.
Name your physician or search emergency medical consideration if you happen to:
- Develop a fever
- Expertise adjustments or worsening of your imaginative and prescient
- Are feeling weak or in ache after taking the medicine
- Assume you’re having an allergic response
Get a extra detailed overview in: Mounjaro Aspect Results: What You Must Know.
Do I want to vary my weight-reduction plan?
When taking Mounjaro, adjusting your weight-reduction plan can enhance the medicine’s effectiveness and reduce unwanted side effects.
It’s useful to keep away from meals and drinks excessive in added sugars, overly fatty, fried, or greasy meals, and to devour alcohol moderately, or under no circumstances, relying on particular person well being suggestions.
Specializing in unprocessed, entire meals akin to lean proteins, wholesome fat, and low-glycemic greens can enhance the drug’s effectiveness in managing blood sugar ranges.
For extra detailed steerage, learn: What Meals to Keep away from on Mounjaro.
Mounjaro doses
This medicine comes as a liquid answer inside prefilled, disposable pens. You inject the drug subcutaneously (underneath your pores and skin) as soon as per week.
You’ll be able to take the medication with or with out meals. Every dose is given in a single-dose pen to forestall overdosing.
The completely different dosing choices obtainable are:
- 2.5 mg per week (for the primary 4 weeks as a beginning dose)
- 5 mg per week
- 7.5 mg per week
- 10 mg per week
- 15 mg per week
Upkeep doses can vary anyplace from 5 mg per week to fifteen mg per week, to be decided by you and your physician.
Learn extra: Mounjaro Dosing Information: How A lot Ought to You Take?
How a lot Mounjaro do I take?
This may range by particular person and can rely in your well being historical past, well being targets, and life-style.
Nevertheless, most medical doctors will begin sufferers on 2.5 mg as soon as per week. You will need to take your injection on the identical day every week.
After 4 weeks, if you happen to’re not having opposed unwanted side effects, your physician might improve your dose to five mg, administered as soon as weekly.
In the event you’re nonetheless having blood sugar spikes with no opposed unwanted side effects, your physician might improve your dose to 7.5 mg as soon as weekly or as excessive as 15 mg as soon as weekly. The utmost dose is 15 mg taken as soon as weekly.
By no means take two doses inside the identical week.
What occurs if you happen to take an excessive amount of Mounjaro?
Taking an excessive amount of of this medicine may cause severe opposed unwanted side effects.
These can embody debilitating nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdomen ache, and even low blood sugar (particularly if you happen to’re additionally on insulin), which may develop into deadly if not handled instantly.
Don’t take two doses inside three days of one another.
Name your physician instantly or search emergency medical consideration if you happen to’ve unintentionally taken an excessive amount of of this medicine.
Can I miss a dose of Moujaro?
In the event you miss a dose, it’s OK to take it a number of days late.
Nevertheless, if you happen to missed your dose greater than 4 days (96 hours) in the past, simply skip that week’s dose and take your subsequent frequently scheduled dose on time.
You’ll not expertise insulin resistance or weight acquire from one missed dose.
Strive to not miss doses frequently, nonetheless, because the medicine is handiest when taken persistently.
Learn how to inject Mounjaro
- Verify the liquid within the pen visually earlier than injecting.
- Don’t use the pen if there are any particles or discoloration current.
- Earlier than injecting, clear the injection web site with a rubbing alcohol swab.
- Change the injection web site every week to forestall accidents underneath the pores and skin or scar tissue from growing.
- Word that this drugs is usually injected underneath the pores and skin within the thigh, stomach, or higher arm.
- Speak to your physician about the perfect locations so that you can inject and rotate injection websites.
- At all times throw the pen needle and pen away after every dose in a sharps-safe container.
Because the pens are available in single doses, you’ll undergo 4 per 30-day provide, so there isn’t a must hold the pen after use.
Be taught extra in: Mounjaro Injection: The place and Learn how to Inject.
Who shouldn’t take Mounjaro?
For sure, don’t take this if you happen to don’t have a prescription.
It’s not advisable to be used if you’re pregnant, planning on changing into pregnant, or if you’re breastfeeding.
Additionally it is not advisable for folks with out diabetes, with prediabetes, or with kind 1 diabetes with out the steerage of a doctor.
Be taught extra in: Can You Take Mounjaro if You Have Kind 1 Diabetes?
This medicine is just FDA-approved for folks 18 years and older.
Don’t use it if you happen to or any of your loved ones members have ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if in case you have A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome kind 2 (MEN 2).
Don’t use it if you’re allergic to tirzepatide or any of the opposite elements within the medicine.
Speak along with your physician if in case you have questions or considerations about beginning this remedy.
How do I cease taking my Mounjaro?
There are a variety of causes that you could be wish to cease taking this drugs.
For instance, perhaps you’re experiencing opposed unwanted side effects, you don’t like how the medicine makes you’re feeling, or it’s gotten cost-prohibitive.
Speak along with your physician earlier than stopping any diabetes medicine, together with this one.
What occurs if you cease taking Mounjaro?
Your physician will in all probability need you to wean your dose earlier than stopping it fully. Insulin resistance, meals cravings, blood sugar ranges, and weight might creep again up when you cease taking it.
You’ll want to have a plan in place, such instead medicine, train, or weight-reduction plan routine, to assist fight any rebound results you might expertise.
You probably have misplaced weight on this drugs, you might must hold taking it indefinitely to forestall the load from coming again.
Can Mounjaro change insulin?
No. It’s not insulin, neither is it an insulin substitute. Moderately, it acts as a complement to insulin remedy (if you happen to take insulin).
In the event you’ve just lately been prescribed this drugs, don’t cease taking your different diabetes medicines until your physician has particularly instructed you to.
Mounjaro lowers blood sugars over time, but it surely doesn’t trigger acute low blood sugars in the way in which that insulin can.
In the event you usually take insulin for meals, you will have to proceed to take action.
In the event you’ve been on the medicine for a number of months, you might discover that your insulin wants are step by step lowering.
Nevertheless, this not often fully takes away the necessity to take insulin to your diabetes.
Can I take Mounjaro with different diabetes medicines?
This may rely upon what different medicines you’re taking.
Typically, Mounjaro might be taken alongside medicines like metformin and/or insulin, if prescribed on the identical time.
Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be mixed with GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines.
GLP-1 receptor agonists embody:
At all times discuss along with your physician if you happen to’re not sure of how any medicines you’re taking will work together with any new medicines you’re contemplating taking.
Learn extra about how Mounjaro compares to Ozempic in: Ozempic vs. Mounjaro: Which One Ought to You Select?
Does Mounjaro should be refrigerated?
No. The medication might be left unrefrigerated for as much as 21 days, so long as the temperature by no means exceeds 86 levels Fahrenheit (30 levels Celsius).
Mounjaro must be saved at a temperature between 36 and 46 levels Fahrenheit (2 and eight levels Celsius).
Make certain it doesn’t get any hotter than 86 levels Fahrenheit (30 levels Celsius), and by no means freeze the pens.
At all times hold your Mounjaro pen in its unique casing to guard it from daylight.
How a lot does Mounjaro price?
The price of Mounjaro can range relying in your insurance coverage protection and particular plan particulars.
To find out your particular co-pay or out-of-pocket prices, you need to use your prescription or medical card with the Mounjaro protection and co-pay calculator obtainable by way of your insurance coverage supplier.
You probably have questions on protection or co-pay prices, you possibly can contact Mounjaro buyer help at 1-800-545-5979.
For individuals who qualify, Eli Lilly presents a Mounjaro Financial savings Card program which will present free medicine. To be taught extra about this program and see if you’re eligible, name Eli Lilly’s PAP toll-free at 1-800-545-6962.
How do I get a prescription for Mounjaro?
You probably have kind 2 diabetes, converse along with your physician if you need a prescription for this medicine.
In the event you don’t have kind 2 however stay with one other type of diabetes and are coping with insulin resistance, discuss along with your physician about your therapy choices.
Additionally converse along with your physician if you happen to do not need any kind of diabetes however wish to safely drop a few pounds. There are FDA-approved weight reduction medicines that could be a superb match and received’t have the identical unwanted side effects as Mounjaro/Zepbound.
For instance, Wegovy (semaglutide) is FDA-approved for weight reduction in adults who’re overweight or obese and have no less than one weight-related situation (akin to kind 2 diabetes, hypertension, or excessive ldl cholesterol).
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