Can Mounjaro be used for weight loss?
Mounjaro is not licensed in the UK now, but if it becomes available in the UK, it will not be licensed as a weight-loss treatment under that name.
However, this doesn’t mean that Tirzepatide will not be licensed for weight loss under another brand name.
Other GLP-1 receptor agonists have followed a similar pattern during the licensing process, first being licensed for type 2 diabetes and then being licensed for weight loss a short time afterwards.
While Tirzepatide may be prescribed off-label to help certain patients reach their weight loss goals, this will only be done at the discretion of the prescriber and only when they are confident of the benefits this would have for their patient.
How does Tirzepatide work?
Tirzepatide works by interacting with the hormones created in your pancreas to help you manage your blood sugar — insulin and glucagon.
It helps to stimulate the production of insulin while slowing down the production of glucagon.
These changes in your hormone production will help you to feel fuller for longer, slow down the emptying of your stomach, and reduce your appetite, making it easier for you to stick to a calorie-controlled diet.
Reducing your calorie intake is one of the most important aspects of weight loss, and many patients have found that this helping hand with sticking to their diet has been invaluable to their progress.
Pairing Tirzepatide with a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise can be a winning combination for patients looking to lose weight and reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes.
Is Tirzepatide a GLP-1 receptor agonist?
Yes, Tirzepatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, meaning it’s part of the same group of medications as Wegovy and Saxenda.
As they’re the same type of medications, these treatments all work similarly — by affecting your hunger hormones.
GLP-1 agonists have been around for a few years now, with Liraglutide (Saxenda) being available on the NHS and Semaglutide (Wegovy) following a similar path.
If the manufacturer of Tirzepatide decides to follow the same licensing route other GLP-1 receptor agonists have gone down.
In that case, we’ll probably find that it will be licensed as a type 2 diabetes treatment first, then licensed for weight loss.
This will happen in the US before the medication comes to the UK.
At the moment, it has been licensed for diabetes in the US under the brand name Mounjaro, so the process is off to the predicted start.
What are GIP receptor agonists?
Unlike other, similar medications, Tirzepatide works as a GIP receptor agonist as well as a GLP-1 agonist.
This means that it works on another hormone that is created in your body to regulate your appetite, specifically one that relates to your insulin production.
GIP receptor agonists were created to be another treatment option for type 2 diabetes patients, much like GLP-1 agonists, and as these treatments work on slightly different hormones, they can work together successfully.
In the case of Mounjaro, this unique combination of GIP and GLP-1 agonists helps to reduce your appetite, slow gastric emptying so you’ll feel fuller for longer, increases your insulin secretion and reduces glucagon levels.
How do you take Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide comes in single-use pens that you’ll use to administer your injection once a week.
The first thing you’ll do is choose where to inject, and your prescriber can help you to make that decision if you need a hand.
You can choose between your stomach, your thigh, or the back of your upper arm.
You will need to inject in a different place every week, although you can inject in the same general area.
For example, you may choose to inject on the right side of your stomach one week and the left side the week after, or you may choose to alternate between injecting your stomach and thighs.
Make sure the pen is locked before removing the grey base cap and throwing it away with your household waste.
Press the clear base of the pen flat against the skin where you’d like to inject and then unlock the pen.
Finally, press the purple injection button on the other end of the pen and hold it down for 10 seconds.
You’ll hear one click to tell you your injection has started and another to tell you the injection is finished, if you’re unsure of the clicks, you’ll know the injection is complete when you can see the grey plunger.
When you’re done, put the used pen in a sharps bin so it can be collected by your local council and disposed of safely.
When should I take my injection?
You will inject Tirzepatide once a week, on the same day, at a time that suits you.
You can take it at any time of day, so feel free to choose a time that’s right for you and your schedule.
If you need to change your injection to another day then that’s absolutely fine!
Just make sure that you leave at least three days between your injections and speak to your prescriber if you’re at all unsure of how to change days safely.
If you accidentally miss a dose, that’s okay too.
If you are within four days (or 96 hours) of your original injection time then just take your next dose as soon as you remember to.
If four days have passed since your original injection time, skip this week’s dose and take your next injection at your usual time — this will keep you from taking two doses within three days, which could lead to an overdose.
