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Why Is There Liquid Left In Your Mounjaro Pen After Completing Four Doses?

  • Ibrahim Nakib

    Ibrahim Nakib

    B.Sc. (Hons) MPharm

    Director & Registered Manager
    View Profile

Mounjaro is an injectable prescription weight loss medicine containing the active ingredient tirzepatide. In 2023, this medicine was approved to treat both adults with type-2 diabetes and adults with obesity or excess weight with weight-related health conditions.

The active ingredient in Mounjaro, tirzepatide, is a GIP and GLP-1 analogue that regulates blood sugar levels (glucose levels) and promotes the feeling of fullness. Due to Mounjaros's effectiveness, it has become a popular weight loss aid for many people.

To ensure you are comfortable and confident using your Mounjaro KwikPen, we answer a commonly asked query in this article: “Why is there liquid left in my Mounjaro pen?”

Why is there liquid left in a Mounjaro pen?

The Mounjaro KwikPen has been designed to deliver the exact prescribed dose easily. It comes pre-filled with four doses, taken once weekly and lasting four weeks, ensuring that you can use your medication accurately.

After completing your fourth dose in a KwikPen, it is expected to have around 3ml of Mounjaro liquid left in the pen. The KwikPen has been created to have a “backup” amount of Mounjaro. This allows enough medication for the priming step before injecting and the prescribed dose.

The extra amount of Mounjaro in the Kwikpen is not enough for a fifth dose, and the pen is designed not to allow the user to administer a fifth dose.

Therefore, if leftover liquid is in your KwikPen after the 4th dose, it means you have used it correctly. If you are concerned that more than 3ml of Mounjaro liquid is left in your pen, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. They can determine if your pen is functioning correctly and if you need any guidance on your technique.

What to do with the liquid left in a Mounjaro pen

The leftover Mounjaro liquid in your pen, roughly 3ml, is part of the pen’s design to ensure there is enough medication to prime the pen before each injection. Learn more about priming the pen in steps 7-9 of our step-by-step guide.

The KwikPen is designed to administer only four doses, including the priming dose. You should not attempt to use this leftover liquid or break the pen to bypass safety features. Taking more Mounjaro than prescribed may increase your risk of experiencing severe side effects or negatively impact the effectiveness of the medication.

If you have any concerns about the amount of Mounjaro liquid left in your pen after administering four doses, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. If you need further assistance, please contact us.

Ensuring safe and effective use of Mounjaro pens

Before administering your first Mounjaro dose, read through the “Instructions for Use” and the package leaflet.

Proper injection techniques

After assembling your KwikPen and following the instructions in your KwikPen box, you are ready to administer your dose.

  • Step 1: Choose an injection site. Mounjaro is a subcutaneous injection, which is injected under the skin of the stomach area (at least 5 cm from your belly button), upper arm, or upper thigh (leg). Using a different injection site each week is essential to avoid hard lumps forming.
  • Step 2: Twist the dose knob until it stops on [-1] in the dose window. The [-1] icon indicates a total 0.6 ml dose.
  • Step 3: Insert the needle into the skin of your chosen injection site.
  • Step 4: Inject your Mounjaro dose by pushing the dose knob in until it stops. Slowly count to 5 while continuing to hold the dose knob. Before removing the needle from your skin, ensure the [-0] icon shows in the dose window.
  • Step 5: Remove the needle from your skin. It is perfectly normal to see a small drop of medicine on the tip of the needle. If you do not see the [-0] icon in the dose window, insert the needle back into your skin to finish the injection. Do not redial the dose.

Storage and handling

When storing your Mounjaro KwikPens, it is important to keep them out of reach and out of sight of children. Do not use the medicine if the expiry date has passed. The expiry date can be found on the pen label and the carton after “EXP.”

Unused KwikPens

Store all your unused and unopened Mounjaro KwikPens in the refrigerator (between 2℃ to 8℃) until the pen is used or expires. Do not place your pen in the freezer. If the pen has been frozen, throw the pen away and use a new pen.

Used KwikPens

After using your Mounjaro KwikPen for the first time, you can store it at room temperature up to 30℃. Keep the pen away from any heat sources, such as the sun, heaters, oven, etc. Dispose of your KwikPen 30 days after first using it or after you finish the four doses.

Disposal of the Mounjaro KwikPen

After each Mounjaro injection, dispose of the pen needle in your sharps disposal container directly afterwards. Do not place any needles in your household waste.

Needles in household or public waste pose a risk to the general public and contractors (needlestick injuries). If you need a sharps bin or are unsure how to safely dispose of your needles, please contact us.

As sharp bins are classified as clinical waste, they require special arrangements to be collected and disposed of. To see if your council will collect your sharps bin, check your postcode here (UK and Wales only).

You can dispose of your used KwikPen (without the needle) in your household waste or the sharps container. The Mounjaro KwikPen is not recyclable.

If the pen still has medication in it, ask your healthcare provider or Cloud Pharmacy pharmacist how to dispose of it safely.

Common questions and concerns about Mounjaro pens

Where is the best place to inject Mounjaro?

During clinical trials, it was determined that after injecting it into the skin, the average bioavailability of Mounjaro was 80%. Similar bioavailability of this medication was seen when injecting it into the upper arm, stomach, or thigh.

Therefore, the best places to inject Mounjaro are the upper arms, upper legs (thighs), and the stomach area. When injecting into the stomach area, keep at least 5cm away from your belly button.

Be sure to change injection sites to prevent hard lumps from forming or injection site reactions.

Why is my Mounjaro KwikPen not working?

There could be a few reasons why your KwikPen is not working. If the dose knob is hard to push, this could be due to the following:

  • The pen may contain food, dust, or liquid. Throw away the pen and use a new one.
  • The needle may be blocked. Put a new needle on the pen and prime it before using it.
  • You may be pushing the dose knob too quickly. Try pushing the dose knob more slowly.

What is the solution left in the Mounjaro pen?

The solution left in the Mounjaro KwikPen is leftover medication. About 3ml will remain in the pen, which is perfectly normal and means that you have used the pen correctly.

What if there is a drop of liquid after the Mounjaro injection?

A drop of liquid on your skin or needle after injecting Mounjaro is perfectly normal. However, if you administer your injection and do not see the [-0] icon on the dose window, you will need to insert the needle back into your skin to finish the injection properly. Do not redial the dose.

If the drop of liquid after your Mounjaro injection is blood, lightly place a cotton ball swab or gauze on the injection site until the bleeding stops. Do not rub the injection site, as this may cause further bleeding.

Where can you get the Mounjaro KwikPen?

In the UK, weight loss medication like Mounjaro KwikPen can only be purchased with a prescription from a healthcare professional at a registered pharmacy. Cloud Pharmacy is one such pharmacy. After completing a quick health questionnaire, you will have a free online consultation with one of our registered pharmacists.

If Mounjaro has been determined as the best treatment for your needs and weight loss journey, it will be securely and discreetly delivered to your UK address.

Cloud Pharmacy also provides all patients with confidential follow-ups and advice along their weight loss journey.

Further reading and resources

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have any other problems or questions. You can also do more research; these articles may help you:

Sources & method

Click here to book a consultation with Cloud Pharmacy.

AUTHORED BY

Ibrahim Nakib

B.Sc. (Hons) MPharm

Director & Registered Manager

Ibrahim Nakib

Ibrahim co-founded Cloud Pharmacy, stemming from a desire to revolutionise healthcare accessibility in the UK. This vision was conceptualised in 2013 to provide patient-centred care across the country.

REVIEWED BY

Nazmul Kadir

MPharm, PgDip

Director & Superintendent Pharmacist

Nazmul Kadir

Nazmul brings over 11 years of experience to his role as Superintendent Pharmacist & Director. A University of Strathclyde alumnus, he has a strong background in pharmacy, previously working as a pharmacist at Boots before co-founding Cloud Pharmacy with Ibrahim.

Review Date9 October 2024
Next Review9 October 2026
Published on9 October 2024
Last Update9 October 2024
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