Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) Injections for Weight Loss

Mounjaro is an existing diabetes medication that contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. So, tirzepatide’s branded name is Mounjaro. The Mounjaro injection comes as a pre-filled pen, so you don’t have to draw up the medication to use it.

Mounjaro is currently used to treat people with type 2 diabetes who need help regulating their blood sugar (glucose) levels, but it has also been found to reduce appetite. As a result, it has now been approved for treating weight loss in some people as well.

Tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro) works similarly to other weight loss injections, like Wegovy and Saxenda. It’s a prescription-only medication and is only effective when used alongside a diet and exercise plan.

Mounjaro was approved for weight loss in the UK on the 8th of November 2023.

Is Mounjaro available in the UK?

Yes, this tirzepatide injection is available in the UK for type 2 diabetes. It has also now been approved for weight loss. Although it is approved for weight loss, it isn’t available to purchase yet. This is because the manufacturer ‘Eli Lilly’ needs time to get stock ready.

Some doctors may approve an off-licence prescription for Mounjaro for weight loss now, but ZAVA does not. This is because of the risks involved in off-licence prescribing and the fact that prescribing a diabetes medication off-licence can threaten the supply for people who need it to control their diabetes, which has happened with other medications in the past, like Ozempic.

Alternative treatments that are already available in the UK include:

• Wegovy
• Saxenda (long-term out of stock)
• Xenical
• Orlistat
• Mysimba

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) works in several ways:

1. Boosting insulin* production, which can lower and stabilise blood sugar levels.
2. Delaying how quickly your stomach empties food after eating. This reduces spikes in your blood sugar levels and can also make you feel fuller, aiding in weight loss.
3. Improving the body's ability to metabolise sugars and fats from food, which can regulate blood sugar and may lead to weight loss.
4. Sending signals to the parts of your brain that control appetite and hunger. This means you won’t feel as hungry, even while eating less.

* Insulin is a hormone that helps to remove excess sugar in your blood by taking it into your cells, where it is stored and used as energy. When you have type 2 diabetes, your body may produce less insulin, or insulin may not work how it’s supposed to. This increases the level of sugar in your blood, which can cause health complications if left unchecked.

Mounjaro is able to work this way by mimicking both GIP and GLP-1, which are hormones normally produced in the body. When injected, Mounjaro can help manage blood sugar levels and may help those following a diet and exercise regime to lose weight by reducing appetite.

Is Mounjaro an insulin?

“Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is not an insulin, although it can help your body to produce more of it. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which should not be injected at the same time as insulin. If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor will create a tailored treatment plan for you, which may include either insulin or Mounjaro treatment.” – Dr Crystal Wyllie.

Mounjaro is currently used to treat type 2 diabetes by helping people regulate their blood sugar levels while following a diet plan.

As of November 2023, Mounjaro has been approved for weight loss if you have:

• a BMI (body mass index) of 30 kg/m² or more (obesity)
• a BMI between 27 and 30 kg/m² (overweight) and a weight-related health condition, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes, or heart problems

➤ You can calculate your BMI with our BMI weight loss calculator.

Although it’s been approved for use, Mounjaro is not available for treating weight loss in the UK just yet. It will become available once stock is ready, which is expected to be in early 2024.

Can you stay on Mounjaro forever?

How long you stay on Mounjaro depends on what you’re using it for. As a diabetes treatment, it’s safe for long-term use. But your doctor may stop your treatment if they decide you don’t need it anymore.

When taking Mounjaro for weight loss, you should only stay on it until you’ve achieved your weight loss goals. Your doctor will do regular check-ups to monitor your weight and any side effects you may be experiencing.

What happens if you take Mounjaro and don't have diabetes?

Mounjaro will have a similar effect on someone without diabetes. It will regulate insulin and reduce appetite. But, unless a doctor has approved treatment for you, it may not be effective and could put you at risk of serious health problems, like low blood sugar.

Once it’s made available for treating weight loss, a doctor will be able to let you know if you can safely take Mounjaro for weight loss if you don’t have diabetes. Your dosage will be increased slowly to help you get used to it, but you should stop if you get any dangerous side effects.

Only take Mounjaro if you’ve been prescribed it legally by a doctor.

Mounjaro is an effective treatment for regulating blood sugar levels and weight loss.

In this 2022 study, 85.1% of people using once-weekly Mounjaro injections reported at least a 5% decrease in their initial body weight by week 72. This study was carried out on people taking a weekly 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg dose, compared to those taking a placebo.

The average weight change for each dosage was as follows:

• -16.0% of starting weight for those taking 5 mg
• -21.4% of starting weight for those taking 10 mg
• -22.5% of starting weight for those taking 15 mg
• -2.4% of starting weight for those taking the placebo (no medication)

This means that you could lose nearly 10 times as much weight on 15mg of Mounjaro compared to dieting and exercising alone.

Following this clinical trial, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) decided to approve tirzepatide (Mounjaro) in the UK.

To use the Mounjaro injection safely, follow your doctor’s instructions and check the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication:

• Each Mounjaro pen contains a prefilled dose, check your dose before using it.
• Only inject Mounjaro (tirzepatide) into your skin, never into a vein or muscle.
• Take Mounjaro once a week, at the same time each week, for best results.

“It may sound off-putting to have to self-inject your medication. But, it may not involve an injection the way you might be thinking of. Mounjaro comes in an easy-to-use injection pen. It is not the same as using an injection needle used for things like vaccines which go into your muscles. Mounjaro uses a much smaller needle and it doesn’t need to be manually pushed in the way a syringe injection does.” – Dr Crystal Wyllie.

If you request a self-injection medication from ZAVA, our doctors will give you advice on how to take it and you can message them for free through your account if you need extra support.

What is the most effective way to inject Mounjaro?

The most effective way to inject Mounjaro is by following the instructions given by your doctor, which are also found in the patient information leaflet. These will include advice on where to inject Mounjaro.

Mounjaro should be injected into a different site each week to minimise irritation and pain. This can still be the same injection site, but use a different part of your skin. Find a place that works best for you. You can only inject a Mounjaro pen into your stomach, thighs or upper arms.

If you do inject Mounjaro into your stomach, leave a 5cm gap around your belly button. For those taking other injectable medications, choose a different site to reduce soreness.

It doesn’t matter what time of day you take Mounjaro as long as you stick to around the same time each week. This helps your body get used to the treatment and can make it more effective.

Mounjaro injection can be taken with or without food. See the ‘Foods to avoid on Mounjaro’ section for more information.

What happens when you stop taking Mounjaro?

When you stop taking Mounjaro, the amount of it in your system will slowly drop to nothing. You will lose the blood sugar regulating effect and the reduction to your appetite as well. If you’re using Mounjaro for weight loss and stop too early, you may find that your weight goes back to how it was before.

Even if you complete your course of Mounjaro, you need to keep to your diet and exercise regime to make sure you don’t put weight back on. Weight loss requires a long-term commitment, even with medication.

You shouldn’t stop taking Mounjaro without speaking to your doctor first.

The standard Mounjaro dosage plan is as follows:

A starting dose of 2.5 mg once a week for 4 weeks.

• After 4 weeks, your dose will increase to 5 mg once a week.
• If needed, your dose can be increased by 2.5 mg each month.
• You can stay on a lower dose if you are happy with your treatment.
• The dosage of Mounjaro for weight loss will follow the same schedule.

Aside from 2.5 mg and 5 mg, you can also get Mounjaro pens in 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg of tirzepatide. The maximum weekly dose is one 15 mg Mounjaro injection.

Your Mounjaro dosage will be steadily increased over 4-week intervals. You’ll only need to increase your dose if a lower dose isn’t enough to manage your weight. Never increase your Mounjaro dose without your doctor’s permission.

Mounjaro has just been approved for weight loss in the UK as of the 8th of November 2023. The MHRA released this statement:

“Mounjaro is now authorised for adult patients with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or more (obesity), as well as those with a BMI between 27-30 kg/m² (overweight) who also have weight-related health problems such as prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart problems.

The medicine is to be used together with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.”

Although it has been approved, that doesn’t mean it’s already available. The manufacturers are working to make it available, possibly by early 2024.

Alternative treatments that are already available in the UK include:

• Wegovy
• Saxenda (long-term out of stock)
• Xenical
• Orlistat
• Mysimba
• alli weight loss tablets

Can you take Mounjaro for weight loss without diabetes?

Yes, according to these new guidelines, Mounjaro is now an approved weight loss treatment in the UK. You still need a prescription and will have to meet the other requirements regarding your BMI.

You can’t take it just yet, since it’s not available even though it’s been approved. Once it becomes available, you will be able to take it if you meet the prescribing criteria. In the meantime, there are other weight loss treatments available now.

Like all medications, Mounjaro can have some side effects. However, these won’t affect everyone who uses Mounjaro and your dose will be increased slowly to minimise your chances of getting them.

Very common Mounjaro side effects include:

• nausea (feeling sick)
• diarrhoea

These side effects can affect more than 1 in 10 people. They aren’t usually severe and tend to go away as your body adjusts to the medication.

Common Mounjaro side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 people) include:

• low blood sugar when used alongside certain diabetes medications
• stomach pain
• constipation
• burping or gas
• reflux or heartburn
• fast pulse
• being sick (vomiting)

Uncommon Mounjaro side effects (affecting up to 1 in 100 people) include:

• gallstones
• weight loss
• injection site pain
• inflamed pancreas (also known as acute pancreatitis) – speak to your doctor straight away if you get severe stomach or lower back pain that doesn’t go away

There is always a risk of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) when using a new medication. If you find it difficult to breathe, get facial swelling, or feel faint and dizzy, call 999.

Who should not take Mounjaro?

You should not take Mounjaro injection if you:

• are under 18
• pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding
• are allergic to any ingredients in the Mounjaro pen
• do not meet the criteria for treatment
• have not been approved for Mounjaro treatment by a doctor

Speak to your doctor before taking Mounjaro if you have:

• severe problems with food digestion
• ever had pancreatitis
• a problem with your eyes (either diabetic retinopathy or macular oedema)

Foods to avoid on Mounjaro

As Mounjaro is either used for weight loss or regulating blood sugar levels, it should be taken alongside a diet and exercise regime.

Foods to avoid on Mounjaro include:

• greasy or fried foods, especially if you get nausea or vomiting
• anything high in sugar, like chocolate or biscuits

It’s also good to avoid alcohol in large quantities as it lowers your blood sugar. This can increase the chances of having extremely low blood sugar. Alcohol can also be high in calories and sugar and can lead to binge eating.

When taking a weight loss medication like Mounjaro, avoid following a fad or crash diet. You are more likely to put weight back on if you follow a diet that you cannot maintain long-term.

As Mounjaro can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, it can lead to dehydration if you don’t get enough fluids. Make sure to drink plenty of water while taking Mounjaro and speak to your doctor if these side effects become severe. They may tell you to stop using Mounjaro or lower your dose.

Mounjaro can affect how well the contraceptive pill works. If you’re taking an oral contraceptive, such as the combined contraceptive pill or mini pill, you should:

• use another method of contraception (like a condom) or switch to a non-oral contraceptive for 4 weeks after starting the Mounjaro pen
• do the same for 4 weeks after each Mounjaro dose increase

Mounjaro weight loss injections can lower your blood sugar levels too much if taken in combination with sulfonylurea or insulin (other diabetes treatments). Tell your doctor if you’re taking any of these medications, as they may need to adjust your dose.

You shouldn’t take Mounjaro alongside other weight loss injections, such as Saxenda or Wegovy. This is because it can increase the risk of serious health risks and side effects.

For information on any other interactions with medications, including non-prescription and herbal remedies, speak to your doctor or check the patient information leaflet.

If you can’t take Mounjaro or want to start your weight loss journey sooner, there are safe and effective alternatives available. We can assess your suitability for weight loss treatments similar to Mounjaro with similar eligibility criteria.

If it’s right for you, we can prescribe these alternative treatments, and they can be posted directly to your door with free delivery. We also offer free follow-up care, including messaging doctors for free through your account.

➤ Visit our weight loss service page to start your weight loss journey with ZAVA.

Mounjaro vs Wegovy: How to switch between them

Mounjaro has been shown to be slightly more effective than Wegovy. However, both can be effective treatments if you use either of them together with a weight loss plan. Since Wegovy is already available, you can request treatment now through ZAVA. Simply start your assessment and request treatment. One of our doctors will review your assessment and approve medication if it’s right for you.

If you’re already on Wegovy and you want to switch to Mounjaro, it is possible. However, you need to stop taking Wegovy for 2 months before starting Mounjaro on the lowest dose. From here, you gradually increase your dose until you reach your maintenance dose, like you did with Wegovy.

Because it takes quite a long time to go from a Wegovy maintenance dose to a Mounjaro one, it may not be the best idea to switch since it could interrupt your weight loss journey. It’s better to see your current treatment course through and only switch if you see no results after 20 weeks or you have side effects you can’t put up with.

It’s important to remember that Mounjaro is not yet available for weight loss, which might make switching impractical.

*taken from a study of tirzepatide for weight loss

**taken from a study of semaglutide for weight loss

Mounjaro and Ozempic are both type 2 diabetic treatments, but only Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is approved for weight loss in the UK. Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, while Mounjaro is both a GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist. Both are taken once a week and require a prescription.

Ozempic can also support weight loss in people who use it to treat diabetes. At ZAVA, we do not provide Ozempic for weight loss, but we can provide Wegovy, which has the same active ingredient and is approved for weight loss.

*taken from a study of tirzepatide for weight loss

**taken from a study of semaglutide for weight loss with a maximum dose of 1mg

Mounjaro and Trulicity are both type 2 diabetes treatments. Only Mounjaro is approved for weight loss in the UK. Trulicity contains the active ingredient dulaglutide, which is also a GLP-1 receptor agonist.

The maximum dose of Trulicity is 4.5 mg, while the maximum dose of Mounjaro is 15 mg. Both Mounjaro and Trulicity are taken once a week.

*taken from a study of tirzepatide for weight loss

If you’re looking for an approved weight loss injection other than Mounjaro, you’ll either want to explore Wegovy or Saxenda You can always switch between weight loss medications as long as you’re eligible for the one you’re switching to, although it may take some time to make the switch.

Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It works on the parts of your brain responsible for hunger and appetite, helping you reduce your calorie intake and snack less. Wegovy is taken once a week. Wegovy side effects are similar to Mounjaro side effects.

Saxenda works just like Wegovy but contains a different active ingredient called liraglutide. This is also a GLP-1 receptor agonist, but instead of taking it weekly, you take Saxenda every day. You can switch from Saxenda to Wegovy with the help of a doctor. Unfortunately, Saxenda is currently long-term out of stock.

You can also get weight loss tablets, including:

• Xenical – this stops around a third of the fat being absorbed when taken with meals containing fat. Xenical can be taken up to 3 times a day. The active ingredient is orlistat.
• Orlistat – an unbranded version of Xenical which costs less.
• Mysimba – contains the active ingredients bupropion and naltrexone hydrochloride and is taken once a day. Mysimba works on the areas of your brain that control appetite and hunger, making it easier to eat less.

Not sure which to start with? If you’re comfortable injecting yourself, Wegovy can be a good first choice. It’s effective and only needs to be taken once a week. If you’re not comfortable with injections, Mysimba tablets can also reduce your appetite. Unlike the other tablets that contain orlistat, Mysimba doesn’t bind fat, meaning you don’t have to restrict it from your diet in the same way.

You will be able to buy Mounjaro online in the UK, when it becomes available, from trusted and regulated online doctor services such as ZAVA. If Mounjaro isn’t available, you can speak with one of our doctors or order an alternative treatment. They can offer prescription weight loss treatments alongside diet and exercise plans for a holistic online weight loss service.

If you’re looking to request Mounjaro from us once it’s approved, you’ll need to complete a short medical questionnaire that will be reviewed by a doctor. If Mounjaro is suitable, your treatment will be sent out with your chosen delivery. You can access your online account at any time, where you can message one of our doctors for free.

Requesting weight loss treatment through ZAVA means getting a comprehensive service. This includes free standard delivery and ongoing care, including being able to message a doctor through your patient account. It also includes regular check-ins, advice if your request for treatment can’t be approved and a free weight loss support pack.

Can I get Mounjaro over-the-counter?

No, Mounjaro contains a regulated medication and will always require a prescription. This is because a doctor needs to check that treatment will be safe and effective for you. You may be able to get other weight loss treatments over-the-counter, such as alli weight loss tablets.

Can you get Mounjaro on the NHS?

You cannot get Mounjaro for weight loss on the NHS just yet. As it’s only just been approved, it’ll take a few months for the NHS to also approve it. It’s thought that Mounjaro for weight loss will be available on the NHS sometime in 2024.

Once it is available, Mounjaro will only be offered on the NHS through specialist weight loss services after other methods of weight loss have been tried.

According to patient reviews on drugs.com, Mounjaro for weight loss has an average rating of 8.9 out of 10. These reviews come from patients in the USA where Mounjaro is already available for weight loss.

84% of patients reported a positive experience, while 6% reported a negative experience while using Mounjaro weight loss injection. Patients reported losing a significant amount of weight when used alongside lifestyle changes, and the most common side effects reported were nausea and diarrhoea.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is an injection approved for weight loss and type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro is both safe and legal in the UK. As it’s only just been approved, so it may take some time to get Mounjaro for weight loss. In the meantime, you can try another weight loss medication, such as Wegovy or Saxenda which both work similarly.