Mounjaro Injections for Weight Loss

Mounjaro is a weight loss injection that has recently become available in the UK. It contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, and works by reducing your appetite. 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.

Is Mounjaro approved for weight loss?

Yes, Mounjaro has been 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 prescribe the medication to you online – to request your treatment you just fill in a brief medical questionnaire. If the medication is justified and safe for you, you will receive a prescription. Our doctors also support you on your weight loss journey with helpful advice and regular check-ins.

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 after a meal. When injected, Mounjaro can improve blood sugar levels and may help those following a diet and exercise regime to lose weight by reducing appetite.

How long does it take for Mounjaro to work?

Although Mounjaro can quickly reduce your appetite, it may be some time before you see noticeable weight loss. Weight loss takes time and depends on you sticking to your diet and exercise plan.

The standard Mounjaro dosage plan is as follows:

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

• After 4 weeks, your dose will increase to 5mg once a week.
• If needed, your dose can be increased by 2.5mg 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 2.5mg and 5mg, you can also get Mounjaro pens with dosages of 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg and 15mg 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 is an effective treatment for regulating blood sugar levels and weight loss.

In a clinical study testing tirzepatide 89.4% of people using once-weekly 5mg 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 than you could compared to dieting and exercising alone.

You can buy Mounjaro online with prescription 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 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 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 capsules.

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

• Each Mounjaro pen contains 4 doses of the same strength. Set your current dose as instructed by your doctors and according to the patient information leaflet before using the pen.
• Only inject Mounjaro (tirzepatide) into your skin, never into a vein or muscle.
• Inject Mounjaro once a week, at the same time each week.

Worried about self-injecting?

“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 Babak Ashrafi.

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 you should 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 or thighs.

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.

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 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 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 starting treatment.

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.

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

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 injections 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
• 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.

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 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’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

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.

How to switch between Wegovy and Mounjaro

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

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.

Saxenda

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.
• alli – an over-the counter medication that contains 60mg of the active ingredient orlistat.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a once-weekly injection approved for weight loss and type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro is both safe and legal in the UK. It helps patients lose weight by lowering their hunger and making them eat less. If you’re eligible for the medication, you can get your prescription for Mounjaro online at ZAVA.