Mounjaro for Weight Loss

Mounjaro is a weight loss injection that contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, and works by reducing your appetite. This is similar to other weight loss injections, like Wegovy and Saxenda. It’s a prescription-only medication and is most effective when used alongside a diet and exercise plan.

Mounjaro is also used to treat people with type 2 diabetes who need help regulating their blood sugar (glucose) levels.

Yes, Mounjaro is lisenced and approved for weight loss in the UK. As of November 2023, Mounjaro has been approved for weight loss if you have:

• a BMI (body mass index) of 30 kg/m² or higher (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

Is Mounjaro available in the UK?

Yes, Mounjaro is available in the UK for both weight loss and type 2 diabetes. Our doctors at ZAVA can approve Mounjaro treatment online – to request it, you just fill in a brief medical questionnaire. If the medication is appropriate and safe for you, your request will be approved. Our doctors will also support you during your weight loss journey with helpful advice and regular check-ins.

Mounjaro works by reducing your appetite, so you feel fuller after having a meal. This helps you lose weight by making it easier to avoid overeating and snacking, reducing the amount of calories you eat.

Mounjaro contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, which is a type of medication known as both a ‘GIP and GLP-1 agonist’. This means it mimics the effects of naturally occuring hormones that are responsible for regulating your appetite and the speed at which food moves through your intestines. It can also help to stabilise your blood sugar levels by increasing insulin production.

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 Zoe Miller, Medical Editor.

You can request Mounjaro treatment online in the UK from trusted and regulated online doctor services such as ZAVA. Our doctors 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, you’ll need to complete a short medical questionnaire and submit a treatment request that will be reviewed by a doctor. If Mounjaro is suitable, your treatment will be delivered to your preferred address.

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 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 capsules.

Can you get Mounjaro on the NHS?

Tirzepatide will be available on the NHS in 2024. You should be able to get Mounjaro on the NHS if you fulfil certain requirements. The medication is only intended for people who medically benefit from their weight loss: This includes patients with a BMI above 30 kg/m2 (counting as obese) or patients with a BMI above 27 kg/m2 and weight-related health conditions, such as high blood pressure or prediabetes. Weight loss medication can only be offered if other methods of weight loss haven’t been successful.

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.

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 stay on it at least until you’ve achieved your weight loss goals, unless a doctor suggests otherwise. 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 blood sugar levels that are too low.

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.

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 your appetite will go back to normal. If you’re using Mounjaro for weight loss and stop, you may find that your weight goes back to how it was before starting treatment.

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.

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) and vomiting
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• low blood sugar (when used alongside certain diabetes medications)

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 other diabetes medications
• low blood pressure
• stomach pain
• indigestion
• constipation
• burping or gas
• bloating
• reflux or heartburn
• decreased appetite
• fast pulse
• being sick (vomiting)
• allergic reactions
• dizziness
• hair loss
• feeling tired
• injection site reactions
• higher levels of pancreatic enzymes in the blood

Some side effects occur only when used to treat diabetes or only when used to treat weight loss. You can find more information in the package leaflet.

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

• gallstones
• 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
• infection of the gallbladder
• low blood sugar when used with metformin
• higher level of calcitonin (a hormone involved in calcium metabolism) in the blood
• gastroparesis, which is when food goes through your stomach slower than it should

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 or airway swelling, or feel faint and dizzy, call 999.

Who should not take Mounjaro?

You should not take Mounjaro injections if you:

• are under 18
• are 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
• have ever had pancreatitis
• have problems with your eyes (either diabetic retinopathy or macular oedema)
• are on diabetes medication with sulfonylurea or insulin

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. You don’t have to completely avoid any foods but aim for a balanced diet.

Foods to cut back on when using 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 if you are diabetic. 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 condoms) 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 could 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, 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.

If you’re already on Wegovy and you want to switch to Mounjaro, it is possible. However, you need to stop taking Wegovy for 5 weeks 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.

Mounjaro might be better suited to some patients than Wegovy. Both can be effective treatments if you use either of them together with a weight loss plan. You can request your preferred treatment 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.

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.

Mounjaro vs Wegovy comparison table

Mounjaro and Ozempic are both type 2 diabetic treatments, but only Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is approved for weight loss in the UK in people without diabetes. 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 is licensed to support weight loss in people who use it to treat diabetes. At ZAVA, we do not provide Ozempic for weight loss.

Mounjaro vs Ozempic comparison table

Mounjaro and Trulicity are both type 2 diabetes treatments. Only Mounjaro is approved for weight loss in the UK in people without diabetes. Trulicity contains the active ingredient dulaglutide, which is also a GLP-1 receptor agonist, but not a GIP receptor agonist.

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

Mounjaro vs Trulicity comparison table

If you’re looking for an approved weight loss injection other than Mounjaro, you may want to consider Wegovy. 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 in your food from 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.