Mounjaro

Losing weight can be challenging, especially when your metabolism slows down during menopause. Being overweight may also increase the severity of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes.

Mounjaro is an injectable medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes, but it is also used to treat adults who are seriously overweight or obese. The active substance tirzepatide reduces appetite, which makes it easier to stick to a weight loss plan.

Mounjaro is used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight loss and weight management in adults with:

• a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater (obesity), or
• a BMI of at least 27 kg/m² but less than 30 kg/m² (overweight) and weight-related health problems (see the package leaflet for a list of conditions).

It is important that you continue with your diet and exercise plan as agreed with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you.

How much to use

• The starting dose is 2.5 mg once a week for four weeks. After four weeks your doctor will increase your dose to 5 mg once a week.
• This weekly dose may be increased in 2.5 mg increments (7,5 mg, 10 mg, 12,5 mg or 15 mg) if necessary. Your doctor will usually start you on a low dose, which will gradually increase, but not more than once every four weeks.

Do not change your dose unless your doctor has told you to.

Each pre-filled pen contains one dose of 2,5 mg, 5 mg, 7,5 mg, 10 mg, 12,5 mg or 15 mg.

Store the pen in a refrigerator (see the package leaflet for instructions).

When to use Mounjaro

Mounjaro is used once a 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. If necessary, you can change the day of your weekly Mounjaro injection.

How to inject Mounjaro

Mounjaro is a self-administered subcutaneous injection that you inject under the skin of your abdomen (at least 5 cm away from the belly button), thigh or upper arm. If you choose the back of the upper arm as injection site, someone else may need to administer the injection.

You may use the same area of your body for your weekly injection, but be sure to choose a different injection site in that area. Do not inject Mounjaro in the same injection site used for other medicines (e.g., insulin).

Read the instructions for use carefully before using Mounjaro.

If you use more Mounjaro than you should

If you use more Mounjaro than you should, talk to your doctor immediately. Too much of this medicine may cause low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and can make you feel sick or be sick.

If you forget to use Mounjaro

Follow the instructions on the package leaflet if you forget to inject a dose, or talk to a doctor or pharmacist.

If you stop using Mounjaro

Do not stop using Mounjaro without talking to a doctor.

Do not use this medicine if:

• You are allergic to any of the ingredients in this medicine (see section ‘What Mounjaro contains').

When should this this medicine used with caution?

Talk to a doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Mounjaro if:

• You have severe problems with food digestion or food remaining in your stomach for longer than normal (including severe gastroparesis).
• You have ever had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas which may cause severe pain in the stomach and back which does not go away).
• You have a problem with your eyes (diabetic retinopathy or macular oedema).
• You are using a sulphonylurea (another diabetes medicine) or insulin for your diabetes, as low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) can occur. Your doctor may need to change your dose of these other medicines to reduce this risk.

When starting treatment with Mounjaro, in some cases you may experience loss of fluids/dehydration, e.g., due to vomiting, nausea and/or diarrhoea (see the package leaflet for more information).

Other medicines and Mounjaro

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

Driving and using machines

Mounjaro is unlikely to affect your ability to drive and use machines.

However, if you use Mounjaro in combination with a sulphonylurea (oral anti-diabetic medicines) or insulin, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) may occur which may reduce your ability to concentrate. Avoid driving or using machines if you get any signs of low blood sugar (see the package leaflet for symptoms).

Like all medicines, Mounjaro Injection can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Serious side effects

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis) which could cause severe pain in the stomach and back which does not go away. You should see a doctor immediately if you experience such symptoms.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• Severe allergic reactions (see the package leaflet for symptoms). You should get immediate medical help and inform your doctor if you experience symptoms.

Other side effects

Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea

These side effects are usually not severe. They are most common when first starting tirzepatide but decrease over time in most patients.

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) is very common when tirzepatide is used with medicines that contain a sulphonylurea (oral anti-diabetic medicines) and/or insulin. If you are using a sulphonylurea or insulin, the dose may need to be lowered while you use tirzepatide (see the package leaflet for more information).

The active substance is tirzepatide.

• Mounjaro 2.5 mg: one pre-filled pen contains 2.5 mg tirzepatide in 0.5 ml solution (5 mg/ml).
• Mounjaro 5 mg: one pre-filled pen contains 5 mg tirzepatide in 0.5 ml solution (10 mg/ml).
• Mounjaro 7.5 mg: one pre-filled pen contains 7.5 mg tirzepatide in 0.5 ml solution (15 mg/ml).
• Mounjaro 10 mg: one pre-filled pen contains 10 mg tirzepatide in 0.5 ml solution (20 mg/ml).
• Mounjaro 12.5 mg: one pre-filled pen contains 12.5 mg tirzepatide in 0.5 ml solution (25 mg/ml).
• Mounjaro 15 mg: one pre-filled pen contains 15 mg tirzepatide in 0.5 ml solution (30 mg/ml).

Mounjaro is only available on prescription in the UK. A doctor can write a prescription for Mounjaro after an online consultation. The cost of the consultation is included in the price.

Read the official package leaflet before use. The package leaflet contains important information on the use and the risks associated with Mounjaro. The package leaflet for Mounjaro is available for download here.