Description
What is Mounjaro KwikPen for Weight Loss?
Mounjaro KwikPen is a prefilled once-weekly injectable weight loss pen. It’s available in the UK for weight loss for anyone who meets specific criteria when used alongside a dedicated diet and exercise plan.
Mounjaro KwikPen is the brand name of its active ingredient, tirzepatide and is manufactured and licensed by Eli Lilly. Mounjaro is self-injected once per week and works by reducing your appetite.
How Does Mounjaro Work?
Mounjaro mimics two digestive hormones, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). These are the two main incretin hormones that are secreted by the intestines when sugar (glucose) or nutrients that trigger the release of insulin are consumed.
By mimicking these hormones, Mounjaro works to promote weight loss by:
Increasing insulin secretion – lowers and stabilises blood glucose levels
Delaying gastric emptying – prevents spikes in blood sugar levels and helps you feel fuller for longer
Reducing food consumption – controls your appetite, meaning you feel less hungry and eat less
Mounjaro KwikPen stimulates the specific areas of your brain that regulate your appetite, making you feel full and eat less. By lowering the amount you eat, Mounjaro makes it easier to lose weight. These effects and tirzepatide’s influence on insulin sensitivity make Mounjaro an innovative weight loss treatment. When combined with lifestyle changes, the weight loss injection can lead to significant weight loss in suitable patients.
Mounjaro dosage
Mounjaro dosage
The starting dose for Mounjaro KwikPen is 2.5 mg per week for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, our healthcare professional will increase your dose to 5 mg once per week.
As of September 2024, all Mounjaro dosages including 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg are available in the UK for the prescription. Our weight loss clinicians will tell you which dose is most suitable for you.
For instance, if you experience only minor side effects while continuing to experience hunger cravings or if you’ve not shed a sufficient amount of weight, our clinicians would look at adjusting your dosage upwards. Additional considerations will also influence the frequency of dosage adjustments, including age and existing medical conditions.
You will only need to increase your dose if a lower dose doesn’t manage your weight. Our weight loss clinicians will increase your dose for you, you should not increase the dosage yourself.
How to use the Mounjaro weight loss pen
Before injecting Mounjaro for the first time, you should first pick the day of the week you want to use it. It should be the same day each week. You could set an alarm on your phone so you don’t forget your Mounjaro day.
Once you have chosen your day, follow these simple steps:
Inspect the pen. Make sure you have the correct dose and that it is not out of date. Ensure the pen isn’t damaged and that the medicine is not frozen, cloudy, or containing particles. It should be colourless to slightly yellow.
Remove the base cap. Pull the cap straight off.
Needle Preparation: Attach a new needle to the pen
Priming the Pen: Slowly turn the dose knob until you hear 2 clicks; this should show an extended line in the dose window.
Hold the pen with the needle pointing up and tap the cartridge holder gently to collect air bubbles at the top.
Release some medicine into the air by pushing the dose knob until it stops.
Choose your injection site. You or someone else can inject Mounjaro into your stomach (at least 5 centimetres from the belly button), thighs, or the back of your upper arms.
Change or rotate your injection site each week within the same area but choose a different specific site.
Dose Injection: Turn the dose knob until it stops at the one icon as shown in the dose window, insert the needle into your skin, and push the dose knob until it stops.
Press and hold the button for up to 10 seconds. Listen for the first click which means the injection has started, the second click means it is complete.
Post-Injection. Count to 5 while holding the dose knob. Confirm the 0 icon is in the dose window before removing the needle. If you do not see the 0 icon, re-insert the needle and complete your injection. Do not redial the dose.
Click here to find out more on how to use your Mounjaro Pen.
How much weight can you lose in a month with Mounjaro?
How much weight can you lose in a month with Mounjaro
How much weight you can lose will depend on many factors, including how your body reacts to the active ingredient in Mounjaro and the other lifestyle changes you are making to aid your weight loss.
Studies have shown that in type 2 diabetes patients, after 5 weeks of using the highest dose of Mounjaro, the average weight loss was 2.6 kg. After 11 weeks, the same study found that Mounjaro users lost around 11 kg of weight compared to 7 kg in people using Wegovy.
It’s important to remember that weight loss takes time and effort, and you may only notice small changes in the first few weeks of using Mounjaro. Results from a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) show that for the first 4 weeks, weight loss can be gradual but a greater loss is seen with prolonged treatment. After 72 weeks, the average weight loss on a 5 mg once-weekly dose of Mounjaro was 16% or 16.1 kg. On the highest dose of 15 mg once per week, the mean weight loss was 23.6 kg.
How often should I take Mounjaro?
Each dose of Mounjaro KwikPen is administered once per week for four weeks. After four weeks, our clinicians will assess your progress and how well you tolerate the current dose. They will advise you to either increase or decrease your dose or continue on the current dose.
What to do if I miss a dose?
If you have missed a Mounjaro dose and it has been:
4 days or less:
Inject your missed dose as soon as you remember and inject your next dose as usual on your normal scheduled day
More than 4 days:
Do not take your missed dose and inject your next dose as normal on your scheduled day
You should never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. There should always be a minimum of 3 days between each Mounjaro dose.
How effective is Mounjaro for weight loss?
The effect of Mounjaro on weight loss was studied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, called SURMOUNT-3. After 12 weeks of intensive lifestyle intervention, participants achieved 21.1% average weight loss, increasing to 26.6% over 84 weeks.
A further study, SURMOUNT-4, demonstrated that over 88 weeks, the average weight loss in people receiving tirzepatide (Mounjaro) was 26%. The study found that withdrawing treatment led to weight gain while continued treatments maintained weight loss.
Compared to semaglutide, the active ingredient in weight loss injections including Wegovy and Ozempic, tirzepatide (Mounjaro) treatment results in greater weight reduction. One study found that tirzepatide resulted in 17.8% weight loss compared to 12.4% for semaglutide over 72 weeks.
To maximize the benefits of Mounjaro, it is recommended to follow the Mounjaro diet plan developed by our nutritionist specifically for Mounjaro.
Mounjaro Certifications and approvals
The UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) licensed the use of Mounjaro KwickPen for weight loss in November 2023. It has been authorised for people over 18 who have a BMI of 30 kg/m² or more, or adults with a BMI between 27-30 kg/m² who also have weight-related health problems such as prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart problems.
Although Mounjaro for weight loss has been approved by the MHRA, it hasn’t yet received full approval from The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
How much does Mounjaro cost?
As of September 2024, all Mounjaro dosages including 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg are available in the UK for the prescription. New doses will be available each month in 2.5 mg increments until the maximum dose of 15 mg is reached. This is in line with the licensing rules for Mounjaro KwikPen UK.
Mounjaro & Wegovy prices comparison
Although Mounjaro’s treatment regimen increases through doses of 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 15mg, it may seem one would have to wait until month six to reach the highest dosage. However, you may respond well and settle on a 10mg dose, which you would achieve at month 4. Our online weight loss specialist will advise you on how to proceed forward after your initial dose.
Mounjaro side effects
Very common
Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) when Mounjaro is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes with medicines that contain a sulphonylurea and/or insulin. If you are using a sulphonylurea or insulin, the dose may need to be lowered while you use Mounjaro (see section 2 of the PIL, ‘Warnings and precautions’). Symptoms of low blood sugar may include headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, feeling hungry, confusion, irritability, fast heartbeat, and sweating. Our clinician will tell you how to treat low blood sugar.
Feeling sick (nausea)
Diarrhoea
Being sick (vomiting) – this usually goes away over time
Constipation
* These side effects are usually not severe. They are most common when first starting tirzepatide (Mounjaro) but decrease over time in most patients.
** Constipation and vomiting are very common when used for weight management, but common when used for type 2 diabetes.
Common Side Effects:
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycaemia): Occurs with type 2 diabetes treatment when used with metformin and SGLT2 inhibitors. Symptoms include headache, tiredness, confusion, and sweating. Our clinicians will guide you on how to handle this.
Allergic Reactions: Includes rash, itching, and eczema.
Dizziness and Low Blood Pressure: Noticed in treatments aimed at losing weight.
Reduced Hunger: Experienced during type 2 diabetes treatment.
Stomach Issues: Pain, indigestion, bloating, burping, and heartburn (GORD).
Hair Loss: Seen in weight loss treatments.
Tiredness, Reactions at the Injection Site, and Fast Heartbeat: The latter is more common in diabetes treatment.
Higher Pancreatic Enzyme Levels: Notably lipase and amylase, with increased amylase being less typical in weight management.
Uncommon Side Effects (Affects Up to 1 in 100 People):
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycaemia): Similar to above, when used with just metformin for type 2 diabetes.
Gallstones and Gallbladder Infection (Cholecystitis): Mainly noted in weight management treatments.
Weight Loss: Observed in type 2 diabetes management.
Pain at Injection Site.
Increase in Calcitonin Levels in the blood.
Who should not take Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is not suitable if you:
Are under 18
Are pregnant, want to get pregnant, or are breast-feeding
Are allergic to any of the Mounjaro ingredients
Do not meet the prescribing requirements
Take certain medicines
Mounjaro warnings
Before using Mounjaro for weight loss, you should tell the clinician if you:
Have ever experienced pancreatitis
Have major problems digesting food or food remains in your stomach for longer than normal
Have an eye issue, such as diabetic retinopathy or macular oedema
Use diabetes medicines, like sulfonylurea or insulin
Have liver or kidney problems
While taking Mounjaro, you may experience sickness and/or diarrhoea which can cause dehydration if your body doesn’t take on enough fluids. It is important to drink plenty of water while receiving Mounjaro weight loss injections.
If you are taking a contraceptive pill, Mounjaro may reduce its effectiveness. So, you may need to change your contraceptive method, such as condoms or a non-oral form of contraception, for 4 weeks after you start Mounjaro treatment. You should do this after each Mounjaro dose increase.
