Mounjaro 12.5mg Pen

What is Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)?

Mounjaro is an injectable medicine used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and weight management in adults, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and exercise.

Containing the drug tirzepatide, the MHRA granted approval for its use in weight loss in November 2023 after promising results in improving sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Tirzepatide, a GIP and GLP 1 receptor agonist, plays a role in weight loss by making patients feel fuller for longer and controlling appetite.

Before a drug can be sold and supplied to the public, it must first be approved by the MHRA. The MHRA tests new drugs for efficacy, safety and adverse events. The information from these studies must prove the drug is safe and effective for its intended use. If the drug's health benefits outweigh its known risks it can be approved for use.

Mounjaro was subjected to such studies and on 8th November 2023, was approved for weight loss and weight management in adults.

How Does the Mounjaro Pen Work for Weight Loss?

Tirzepatide works on two hormone pathways. The glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is a hormone which is released from the small intestine and stimulates insulin secretion to keep blood sugar levels low after eating, thereby improving glycaemic control.

The presence of fatty or high-sugar food triggers the release of this hormone. Once released, however, levels of GIP quickly decline. Tirzepatide takes over, keeping the levels of GIP high so that more insulin is released.

The other pathway tirzepatide works on is the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) pathway. GLP-1 also stimulates the release of insulin. Additionally, it also acts in the brain to make you feel fuller for longer by slowing the emptying of the stomach.

Tirzepatide is the first molecule that activates both these pathways and when compared to other weight loss medications, such as Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy), it has resulted in greater weight loss.

Who Should Consider Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is suitable for weight management, including weight loss and weight maintenance alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity in patients:

• With a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above

• With a BMI of 27 or above with at least one weight-related complication such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, high cholesterol or obstructive sleep apnoea.

Mounjaro is contraindicated in patients who:

• Are allergic to the drug or any ingredient contained within.

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

• Have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 (MEN 2)

It is important to note that Mounjaro is a high-risk injectable prescription-only medicine. It can only be prescribed by a registered prescriber and supplied on a valid prescription. Your healthcare provider can provide you with tailored advice regarding suitability, what dose you should take and how you should take it.

Consultation Process for Mounjaro UK

Mounjaro must be prescribed either by a doctor, a pharmacist or a nurse who has gained prescriber status. Currently, Mounjaro is only available for the treatment of type-2 diabetes. It has been approved for weight loss and is awaiting the final stages before it is launched.

As soon as Mounjaro enters the UK market, this can be accessed by patients from pharmacies, online clinics and maybe even your GP. As with other weight loss treatments such as Wegovy, you may be eligible under the NHS, though this will be subject to NHS specialist criteria and there may be a waiting list. Currently, Mounjaro is not approved under the NHS for weight loss.

The other way to obtain Mounjaro would be via private prescription, such as here at QuickMeds. This follows the rules and regulations set out by the MHRA and involves paying for a private consultation with a registered prescriber.

If you meet the criteria, the prescriber will approve your prescription and provide you with all the advice necessary to safely use the product. There are currently various clinics across the UK privately prescribing Wegovy for weight loss. Contact these clinics for further advice on how to obtain Mounjaro when available.

Before you can be prescribed Mounjaro, you first need to go through a consultation. This involves taking a detailed medical history including current medication you are taking, other medical conditions you may have and any allergies you suffer with. You will also importantly be asked for your up-to-date height and weight as your BMI is important in determining eligibility.

Your responses are reviewed by the prescriber who will provide all the information you need for your treatment. They may also ask for additional information or clarification of information already provided.

If the prescriber approves your order, they will also provide treatment-specific advice as well as lifestyle advice which is paramount to success whilst on a weight reduction medication such as Mounjaro.

The Benefits of Using Mounjaro for Weight Loss

Several clinical trials have measured the weight reduction abilities of tirzepatide compared to placebo over a period of 72 weeks. The clinical trial SURMOUNT-1 tested the ability of tirzepatide and found that weekly doses of 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg achieved a statistically significant reduction (22.5%) in body weight when compared to placebo injections.

Another clinical trial called SURMOUNT-2 compared the weight reduction in patients receiving 10 mg or 15 mg of tirzepatide in people who also have type 2 diabetes. This study found tirzepatide achieved up to 15% loss of body weight compared to once-weekly placebo injections.

Mounjaro has shown immense benefits in weight management but also shows benefits in improving blood glucose levels in the management of type 2 diabetes and has been shown to play a role in improving blood pressure.

"The most critical component in my weight loss journey has been the Mounjaro. Hands down. This life-changing medication is magical; it’s transformed my relationship with food overnight. I’m rarely hungry, and my cravings have disappeared." - what a patient has said about the life-changing benefits on her health when using Mounjaro.

Long-Term Effects and Sustainability

Clinical trials have found patients using Mounjaro at the highest dose of 15mg, showed a 21 percentage change in their body weight. It was also found to improve blood sugar levels whilst also reducing the risk of low blood sugar.

Studies measuring weight reduction found 90% of patients who kept on using the medication maintained their lower weight. When the medication was stopped, patients regained this weight. This highlights the importance of taking Mounjaro long-term for sustained weight loss.

Long-term studies of its effects have not been studied and more research is needed.

Cost and NHS Availability

Mounjaro is currently only available on the NHS for its use in type-2 diabetes. This would attract the usual NHS dispensing fee which is currently £9.65 unless you are exempt from paying prescription charges.

It is not currently available via private prescription. Charges for private prescriptions usually depend on the cost of the medicine itself as well as any fees you may have to pay for a consultation with the issuing pharmacy.

How to Buy Mounjaro in the UK

As Mounjaro is a prescription-only medicine, it can only be supplied against a valid prescription from a registered prescriber. When purchasing online, make sure to look out for signs the pharmacy you are purchasing from is legitimate.

All UK-registered pharmacies and pharmacists are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and doctors are registered with the GMC. Don't hesitate to check their registration status before purchasing.

Unfortunately, with popular medicines such as weight loss treatments, the availability of counterfeit products has increased.

To purchase Mounjaro, a prescriber would first need to have a consultation with you to see if the product is safe and suitable for you. They do so by asking you about your current health, your medical history, any allergies you may have and ask questions about your lifestyle.

If you are not being asked any questions and it is relatively easy to simply add the item to your basket and pay for it, it may not be legitimate. This counterfeit product may not even contain the drug it says it does and can potentially lead to harm.

Here at QuickMeds, we are a GPhC-registered online pharmacy. The registration information of the pharmacy and our prescribers is easy to find on our website and can be verified on the regulator's (GPhC's) website.

You will not be able to purchase Mounjaro or any other prescription-only medicine from the website without first filling in a short consultation form. This is reviewed by our in-house prescribers who then make a clinical decision as to whether to issue a prescription and therefore supply a medicine, or not.