Mounjaro Reviews: What Our Customers Think & More
It is estimated that 1 in 4 adults in the UK live with obesity. Obesity is a progressive and chronic disease that can lead to serious health conditions such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some types of cancer.
When weight loss efforts prove difficult, Mounjaro is a prescription treatment that can be used in conjunction with lifestyle changes to aid weight loss.
Mounjaro Overview: What is it and How to Use it?
Active ingredients
The active ingredient in Mounjaro is Tirzepatide. Tirzepatide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor. It attaches to the receptors of the two hormones GLP-1 and GIP, which are made naturally in the body in response to eating food.
How Does Mounjaro Work?
In the UK, Mounjaro is authorised for use in patients with:
- Type-2 diabetes patients
- Obesity (a BMI of 30kg/m2 or more)
- Overweight issues (a BMI between 27 and 30kg/m2)
- Weight-related health conditions such as prediabetes, high cholesterol, heart problems, or high blood pressure
The active ingredient Tirzepatide attaches to the receptors GLP-1 and GIP, naturally occurring hormones released from the gut after eating food. These hormones also help balance blood sugar levels. Both GIP and GLP-1 talk to the brain, telling it that it feels full. This reduces appetite, leading to fewer cravings, and also slows how fast the stomach empties.
Mounjaro injections, combined with a reduced-calorie diet (your doctor or dietician will advise), can help you lose excess weight while learning to manage your cravings and appetite.
How Long Does it Take Mounjaro to Work?
For weight management, research suggests weight loss can begin as early as four weeks after starting Mounjaro. Furthermore, weight loss was observed until the study was finished at 40 weeks. Those on the optimal dose of Mounjaro saw constant weight loss with an average of 11.3kg.
How Long After Taking Mounjaro Does it Become Most Effective?
When taken for weight loss, some people reported that they noticed Mounjaro’s initial effects, such as reduced appetite, within 12 hours. However, the time frame can vary from person to person. Clinical trials show that Mounjaro’s glucose-lowering effects are observed within the first four weeks of starting treatment.
The benefits of Mounjaro continue at a constant rate as you adjust to the medicine, with the full effects of Mounjaro expected to occur 4-6 months after starting treatment.
How Long Does Mounjaro Last?
The half-life of the active ingredient Tirzepatide is roughly five days. After stopping Mounjaro, it should completely clear from your body in about 30 days.
How Much Mounjaro Can be Prescribed on the NHS?
As of early 2024, if you are aged 18 or older, you can get Mounjaro injections on the NHS if you are living with obesity or type-2 diabetes and meet other specific criteria.
Dosage and Usage Recommendations
Mounjaro has several different strengths, with 2.5mg always being the starting dose for every patient. The general patient journey on Mounjaro typically looks like this:
- Month 1: Starting dose of 2.5mg (weekly)
- Month 2: Maintenance dose of 5mg (weekly)
- Month 3: 7.5mg (weekly)
- Month 4: Maintenance dose of 10mg (weekly)
- Month 5: 12.5mg (weekly)
- Month 6: Maintenance dose of 15mg (weekly)
Only change your Mounjaro dose if your doctor tells you to. If you use more Mounjaro than prescribed, talk to your doctor immediately, as too much can cause low blood pressure, which can be dangerous.
Here’s what to do if you forget to take a dose of Mounjaro:
- If it has been four days or less since you last injected Mounjaro, use it as soon as you remember. Then, take your next dose on your scheduled day as usual.
- If it has been more than four days since you last took Mounjaro, skip the missed dose. Take the next dose as usual according to your schedule.
Remember, weight loss is a journey, not an overnight occurrence. If you are not losing weight, talk to your doctor.
Mounjaro is administered subcutaneously (under the skin), meaning you need to inject the medicine yourself into your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. It comes in a prefilled injection pen designed to help you administer the medication yourself. Before using the injection pen, please read the guide that comes with the pen to gain an understanding of how to safely and effectively use it.
The process to administer Mounjaro is as follows:
- First, remove the pen from its packaging and check its expiration date
- Clean and dry the area of skin on your thigh, stomach, or upper arm
- Remove the cap from the pen and wipe the injection site on your stomach, upper arm, or thigh that you have selected with an alcohol swab
- Choose a new capped pen needle. This prevents blocked needles or infections
- Push the pen needle straight into the pen and twist the needle until it is secured tightly
- Remove the pen needle cap and keep it. You will need this later to dispose of the needle safely
- Place and hold the pen firmly against your skin at a 90-degree angle. Then, press the button on top of the pen to release the needle
- Once the needle has entered your skin, hold the pen still and in place for at least 5 seconds. Then, release the button to retract the needle
- Throw away the used needle and pen in the sharps container or according to your healthcare provider's instructions
How Does it Feel After Taking Mounjaro?
When beginning your weight loss journey with Mounjario, you may experience dehydration (loss of fluids) due to vomiting, diarrhoea, and/or nausea. This can lead to a reduction in kidney function. Therefore, it is critical to drink plenty of fluids. Talk to your doctor if you are struggling to drink fluids.
Are There Any Known Side Effects?
As with any medication, there are side effects; however, not everyone may experience them. Side effects of Mounjaro when used for weight can include:
Very Common Side Effects (1 in 10 people)
- Symptoms of low blood sugar (dizziness, headache, weakness, drowsiness, feeling hungry, confusion, sweating, fast heartbeat, and irritability.
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
Common Side Effects (up to 1 in 10 people)
- Allergic reaction
- Low blood sugar and associated symptoms
- Decreased appetite (feeling less hungry)
- Stomach pain
- Gas (flatulence)
- Indigestion
- Bloating of the stomach
- Burping
- Reflux or heartburn
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Injection site reactions (redness or itching)
Uncommon Side Effects (up to 1 in 100 people)
- Gallstones
- Symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Injection site pain
- Infection of the gallbladder (Cholecystitis)
- Increased calcitonin levels in the blood
Serious Side Effects
- An inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis) can cause severe, persistent pain in the back and stomach
- Severe allergic reactions, such as angioedema and anaphylactic reaction
- Depression
- Kidney problems and kidney failure
- Thyroid tumours and cancer — Mounjaro is not suitable for those with a family or personal history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2) or medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
Seek emergency medical attention if you experience any severe side effects from taking Mounjaro. Call 999 or go straight to A&E if you have a severe allergic reaction to Mounjaro.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have persistent mild (common) side effects that do not leave. You may need to have your dosage lowered, or you may require a different weight-loss medication.
For the complete list of reported side effects for Mounjaro, please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL).
Interactions With Other Medications
The active ingredient in Mounjaro, Tirzeparide, slows gastric (stomach) emptying and may impact how fast other medications are absorbed. This can alter the effectiveness of medications, especially if they need to pass through the stomach quickly.
Known medications that Mounjaro interacts with include paracetamol and oral contraceptives. Your doctor will be able to provide advice regarding this.
How Much Does Mounjaro Cost in the UK?
Cloud Pharmacy, a UK-registered online prescribing service, stocks Mounjaro injections with prices starting from £138.99.
Mounjaro Weight Loss Reviews From Our Patients
Mounjaro is the latest GLP-1 and GIP treatment available for weight loss treatment. While Mounjaro has only been approved for use by the MHRA since the 8th of November, 2023, it is proving to be a popular and effective treatment aid.
The majority of Mounjaro’s reviews are positive, with users finding that they were successfully able to lose weight when taking Mounjaro in conjunction with an improved diet and exercise schedule.
Users noted that they experienced side effects such as nausea, mild headache, and tiredness in the beginning when they first started the treatment. However, the side effects eased and did not recur again during the treatment course.
Recent Mounjaro Research and Relevant Reading Material
If you would like to know more about Mounjaro and the latest clinical studies conducted, we have compiled some resources below for you to look through:
- Mounjaro Patient Information Leaflet (PIL)
- NHS- Obesity
- Phase 3 double-blind, randomised, clinical trial: Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity
- SURMONT-2: the second global phase 3 clinical trial that looked at the safety and efficacy of Tirzepatide for chronic weight management
If you have any further questions about Mounjaro, talk to your doctor, healthcare provider, or one of our pharmacists. They will be able to advise you on whether this is the most suitable treatment option.
Where can you buy Mounjaro?
As of February 2024, you can buy Mounjaro in the UK from a registered online prescribing service. Cloud Pharmacy is a UK-registered online prescribing service that offers next-day delivery to UK addresses.
To purchase Mounjaro from Cloud Pharmacy, you will first need to complete an online assessment to determine if you are eligible. Once completed, one of our medical team members will assess which weight loss treatment is best for you. Other weight loss pens that will be considered include Saxenda and Wegovy.
Cloud Pharmacy also provides confidential follow-ups and advice to all patients who are on weight loss journeys.
FAQs
How much weight can you lose in a month on Mounjaro?
According to data from randomised controlled trials, with support from Mounjaro, you can lose around 4% of your body weight after taking it for one month.
Why am I not losing weight on 2.5mg Mounjaro?
There could be a couple of reasons why you are not losing weight on Mounjaro. These could be related to your diet: you may not be eating in a calorie deficit, you could be experiencing a weight plateau, or the current dose of Mounjaro that you are on may not be high enough to reduce the feeling of hunger.
Other medical or health conditions could also be impacting your ability to lose weight.
