Mounjaro injection pen

Mounjaro is a weight loss injection that has been recently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It has been clinically proven to help adults lose weight gradually when used together with a low-calorie diet and physical activity.

The EMA has also approved Mounjaro to treat adults who have type 2 diabetes when used together with diet and physical activity. It can be used on its own or as an ‘add-on’ to other diabetes medicines.

Mounjaro works by reducing your appetite, so you don’t eat as much and therefore consume fewer calories. It also slows down the emptying of the stomach, keeping you fuller for longer. However, this effect reduces over time.

Mounjaro contains the active ingredient, Tirzepatide which activates two different receptors known as GLP-1 and GIP. These hormones are involved in regulating our blood sugar levels and appetite.

Most weight loss injections are only GLP-1 receptor agonists. However, Mounjaro’s dual effects cause more weight loss than weight loss medicines that work on GLP-1 alone.

It also helps lower your blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin secretion and improving the body’s response to insulin.

Mounjaro is now approved for use in people who are obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or more. It may also be approved for adults who are overweight (BMI between 27 and 30 kg/m2) and have weight-related health problems such as:

• prediabetes
• type 2 diabetes
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• heart disease (including a heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease) 
• obstructive sleep apnoea
• PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
• osteoarthritis or gout
• chronic back pain
• fatty liver disease
• gallbladder disease

Although Mounjaro can be used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults, at euroClinix we will only offer this treatment for weight loss once it becomes available.

You cannot use this medicine if:

• you are allergic to Tirzepatide or any other ingredients in Mounjaro
• you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding
• you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)

You must inform your doctor if you:

• have issues with your pancreas, liver, kidneys, or gallbladder
• have severe stomach problems (including food remaining in your stomach for longer than normal or digestive trouble)
• have a history of diabetic retinopathy
• use any other diabetes treatments such as a sulphonylurea or insulin
• have heart problems (especially involving your heart rate or heart failure)

There are 3 different types of Tirzepatide injection pens for weight loss.

Mounjaro KwikPen

This comes as a pre-filled injection pen that contains 4 doses of the medicine. This should be injected once a week.

Select a day of the week that suits you best for taking this medicine and stick to that same day every week. It’s possible to switch the day you take your dose if you need, as long as you make sure there's at least a 3-day (72-hour) gap between doses.

Select where you'll inject the medicine: You can inject this medicine into your stomach, thighs, or the back of your upper arms. If injecting it into the back of your upper arm, another person should give you the injection. Change your injection site each week.
Inspect the pen: Check for any signs of damage, and if you find any, do not use it. Check the solution - Mounjaro should be colourless to slightly yellow. Check the label to ensure you have the right medicine and dose.
Pull the pen cap off and wipe the red inner seal with a swab. Take a new pen needle and pull off the paper tab.
Screw the needle (with the cap still on) onto the pen and twist it on until it is firmly attached. Remove the outer needle shield and keep it aside to use again later. Then pull off the inner needle shield and throw this away.
To prime the KiwkPen, turn the dose knob until you hear 2 clicks and the extended line is shown in the dose window. Priming the pen removes air from the cartridge and ensures the pen is working correctly.
Hold your pen upright with the needle pointing upwards and tap the cartridge holder gently. Release some medicine into the air by pushing the dose knob in until it stops, then slowly count to 5 while still holding it. Check that the ‘0’ icon appears in the dose window.
To inject Mounjaro: Turn the dose knob until a ‘1’ icon appears in the dose window. Insert the needle into your skin and push the dose knob in until it stops, then slowly count to 5 while still holding the dose knob. Before removing the needle, make sure the ‘0’ icon appears in the dose window. Then, pull the needle out of your skin.
Place the outer needle shield back onto the needle, then unscrew this and discard it into a sharps container. Put the pen cap back onto the pen and store it appropriately.

Mounjaro single-dose pen

This pen contains a single dose of the medication and is intended for one-time use.

Here are 4 easy steps to follow to use the pen correctly:

1. Choose your injection site This medicine can be injected into your stomach, thighs, or the back of your upper arms. Rotate your injection site weekly.
2. Pull off the grey base cap Make sure your pen is locked. Pull the grey base cap off and throw it away.
3. Place the base on your skin Place the clear base flat against your skin at the injection site. Unlock the pen by turning the lock ring.
4. Inject the medicine Press and hold the purple injection button for up to 10 seconds. You will hear 2 clicks First click = injection started Second click = injection is complete

Mounjaro single-dose vial

This form of the medication requires you to draw up the solution yourself for injection. Please note, the needle and syringe recommended by your healthcare provider may look different to the one pictured below.

To prepare the needle for injection, follow the instructions below:

Step 1: Remove the plastic cap and wipe the rubber stopper inside with an alcohol swab.
Step 2: Remove the outer wrapping from the syringe and needle. If the needle is already attached to the syringe, skip to step 4.
Step 3: Place the needle onto the syringe and screw it on until it is firmly attached.
Step 4: Remove the needle shield by pulling it off. Hold the syringe with the needle facing upwards. Then, pull down on the plunger to draw air into the syringe. Do this until the plunger tip reaches the line indicating 0.5 mL.
Step 5: Push the needle through the rubber stopper of the vial. Then, push the plunger all the way in to put air into the vial.
Step 6: Turn the vial and syringe upside down. Ensure that the tip of the needle is in the liquid and slowly pull the plunger down until the plunger tip is past the 0.5 mL line. If there are air bubbles, lightly tap the syringe to let these rise to the top.
Step 7: Slowly push the plunger up until the plunger tip reaches the 0.5 mL line. Then pull the syringe out.

To inject Mounjaro after preparing the needle, follow the instructions below:

Step 8: Choose your injection site (stomach, thighs, the back of the upper arms).
Step 9: Insert the needle into your skin and push down on the plunger to inject your dose. Keep the needle inside your skin for 5 seconds to ensure you get the full dose.
Step 10: Pull the needle out of your skin. If you bleed after the injection, press the injection site with a piece of gauze or an alcohol swab.

Mounjaro comes in different doses, so you and your doctor can decide on the right one for you. You will start with the 2.5mg dose, injected once weekly for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, your dose will increase to 5mg. Your dose will be gradually increased over a few months, depending on how well the medication works for you and if you experience any side effects.

Mounjaro is available in 6 different strengths, including 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg and 15mg pens. The maximum dose of Mounjaro is 15mg.

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you forget to take your dose of Mounjaro don’t worry. Simply, take the missed dose as soon as possible within 4 days (96 hours) after the missed dose. If it has been longer than 4 days, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on the day you are scheduled to take it. Do not take 2 doses of Mounjaro within 3 days of each other.

If you have missed a dose, speak to your doctor first before changing your dosing regime.

It's important to store Mounjaro properly to make sure the medication remains effective.

All forms of Mounjaro must be stored in the original carton to protect it from light. Do not freeze Mounjaro or use it if it has been frozen. Before using your pen, always check to ensure it's not frozen.

Pens, vials, needles and syringes must not be thrown away in the household trash.

The results from a study on the effects of Mounjaro over 72 weeks showed the following percentage weight changes:

• -15% in patients taking 5mg of Tirzepatide
• -19.5% in patients taking 10mg of Tirzepatide
• -20.9% in patients taking 15mg of Tirzepatide
• -3.1% in patients taking the placebo (inactive drug)

As with any other medication, there is a risk of experiencing side effects while taking this medicine. The common side effects of Mounjaro are listed in the table below.

Side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea usually occur when the dose of Mounjaro is increased and go away over time.

Rare side effects

Mounjaro may cause uncommon but serious side effects, including:

• an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis)
• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• serious allergic reactions (symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, severe rash, fainting, and a rapid heartbeat)
• changes in vision

For a full list of side effects, please refer to the patient information leaflet (PIL) for a complete list.

Talk to a healthcare professional about any side effects that worry you, especially if they don’t resolve. If you experience any rare side effects, contact your healthcare provider straight away.

One of the ways Mounjaro works is by slowing down how quickly your stomach empties. This can affect how well other oral medications are absorbed into your body. Make sure to inform your doctor about any prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements you're taking.

Mounjaro may interact with or affect:

• other diabetes medicines (such as insulin or sulphonylureas)
• other GLP-1 receptor agonists
• medicines like Warfarin and Digoxin

This medicine can make oral hormonal contraceptives less effective. If you're using an oral hormonal contraceptive, ask your doctor about switching to a different contraceptive. It is also recommended that you use condoms for four weeks after starting Mounjaro and for 4 weeks after any dose increase.

Tirzepatide is different from other weight loss injections as it works on two different hormonal receptors, GLP-1 and GIP. Most weight loss injections only work on GLP-1 receptors.

*Not available as a treatment for weight loss.

Mounjaro is slowly being rolled out across Europe and will become available shortly if the manufacturer decides to launch. To be notified when this happens, register your email below.

There are, however, other effective weight loss injections currently available, including Saxenda and Wegovy.

Additionally, alternative weight loss medications (in tablet form) such as Mysimba and Xenical are available.

Please note, in order to purchase any prescription weight loss medicines, you will need to complete an online medical consultation which will be reviewed by one of our registered doctors.

If approved, the medication will be sent to you with prompt delivery.