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Mounjaro® for Weight Loss: What Is Mounjaro® & How It Works
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Weight loss
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Can Mounjaro® Be Used For Weight Loss?
Mounjaro® has been gaining a lot of attention due to the weight loss side effects. This has led providers to start offering Mounjaro® as an off-label prescription medication for those struggling with obesity. Mounjaro® is being offered to diabetics and nondiabetics. But just how effective is Mounjaro® for weight loss?
The SURMOUNT-1 trial was a significant clinical trial published in 2022 with over 2500 participants that looked at how effective Mounjaro® (tirzepatide) was at managing obesity for non-diabetic patients (3). Mounjaro® was given at different doses for a period of 72 weeks to groups of non-diabetic participants who were struggling with obesity. The participants were also enrolled in a calorie restriction diet (500 kcal/day), did 150 minutes of exercise per week, and had regularly scheduled with a dietician.
They found that after 72 weeks, each group taking Mounjaro® showed significant weight loss compared to the placebo group. Participants saw a 15-20% change in weight from the start of the trial, with higher doses showing a greater change! This was compared to the placebo group, which only experienced a 3% change in weight. This showed us that the use of Mounjaro® in combination with diet and exercise is very effective at treating obesity.
This trial opened a new horizon for Mounjaro®. More and more studies are being done on Mounjaro® for its use as a weight loss medication, so expect to see new data in the near future! You can learn more about Mounjaro® for weight loss at our website at Mochi Health.
Mounjaro® vs Other GLP-1 agonists for Weight Loss
Mounjaro® vs Wegovy/Ozempic/Rybelsus
Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Rybelsus are diabetic medications that use the same component: semaglutide. They are both used for the management of diabetes and off-label use for obesity. Wegovy® is FDA approved for the management of obesity, while the others are indicated for diabetes. Also, Rybelsus is an oral medication, while Ozempic® and Wegovy® are weekly injections.
How does Mounjaro® compare to the semaglutide medications? A study comparing Mounjaro® to Ozempic showed that Mounjaro® had a more significant body weight reduction (3). Based on the study results, Mounjaro® may have a more substantial effect on weight loss compared to the semaglutide medications. More studies that directly compare these excellent medications are needed to say for sure.
Mounjaro® vs Saxenda/Victoza
Saxenda and Victoza are both antidiabetic medications that use the component liraglutide. They also belong to the GLP-1 agonist family of medications for diabetics. Both medications are taken as daily injections.
For Mounjaro®, the SURMOUNT trial was a big study that showed that Mounjaro® can be used for weight loss in non-diabetics. For Saxenda and Victoza, another big trial called the SCALE trial published in 2015, showed that liraglutide, the component in Saxenda and Victoza, was also effective for weight loss.
When comparing the results of the SURMOUNT-1 trial for Mounjaro® and the SCALE trial for Saxenda that were mentioned above, there appear to be some differences. Mounjaro® has a more significant effect on weight loss when compared to Saxenda. Saxenda is also a daily injection, while Mounjaro® is a weekly injection. In addition, a larger portion of the participants experienced a 5% or more significant change in body weight when taking Mounjaro® compared to Saxenda. Again, it should be noted that the best results for both of these trials were seen when participants were also dieting and exercising regularly.
Mounjaro® Side Effects
The most common side effects of Mounjaro® reported in clinical trials include gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea (25%), vomiting (8%), and diarrhea (18%) (3). These symptoms are more common in higher doses of Mounjaro; however, these side effects are often mild to moderate and usually resolved within a few days. You may also experience decreased appetite or food cravings, which assists with weight loss. If you begin to experience severe stomach problems with Mounjaro®, then notify your provider as soon as possible.
If you are taking birth control medication, Mounjaro® may affect the effectiveness of your birth control, so let your provider know if you are taking these medications. Not enough data suggests possible harm when taking Mounjaro® while pregnant. Some animal studies may suggest it causes fetal harm, so Mounjaro® should only be used if the benefits outweigh the harm of the condition it is intended to treat. You should not take Mounjaro® while pregnant solely for weight loss since the weight loss side effects will not likely benefit you and have the potential to harm the fetus. If you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant, please discuss this with your provider before starting or continuing with Mounjaro®.
Mounjaro® Dosage and Administration
Mounjaro® is a once-weekly injection that starts at a low dose of 2.5mg over four weeks. After four weeks, the dose may be increased to 5 mg, 7.5mg, 10 mg, 12.5mg, or 15 mg. If a dose is missed, try to take the missed dose within four days after the day you were supposed to take that dose.
Mounjaro® can be taken with or without food. It can be injected in the thighs, upper arms, or abdomen. It is important to switch injection sites after each dose.
Mounjaro® Costs and Coverage
As of now, Mounjaro® is only approved for use in type 2 diabetic populations, which can make it difficult to find coverage through insurance. You can call your insurance provider to see if Mounjaro® is covered under your plan.
The average cost for a month's supply of Mounjaro® can range from $900-$1000. Depending on your insurance plan, you may also be eligible for a savings card from the manufacturer, allowing you to pay as little as $25 per month for Mounjaro®. Sometimes, your insurance plan may also request a prior authorization form. This will be faxed to your provider’s office, or if you are a member of Mochi Health, the Mochi Prior Authorization Team will handle the prior authorization request and keep you updated throughout the process.
There are also compound forms of Mounjaro® that you can get at a lower monthly price. At Mochi Health, we send prescriptions to 3 compounding pharmacies we trust to ensure that all 3 have enough supply for our patients and cover as many of our states as possible for compounding. All of our pharmacies source bulk products from FDA-approved sources and are approved by the state board of pharmacy for compounding under 503A guidelines and sterile compounding (CGMP/USP797). Our pharmacy has a third-party test for efficacy, potency, stability (expiration dates), and contamination for every batch of samples. The FDA has ever sanctioned None of our pharmacies or any other government organization overseeing the safety of sterile compounding– and it was quite a selection process to find these!
We've been working with these pharmacies for a while and have a good relationship with them. For early patients on these medications between June and December, we ran a cohort study comparing the side effect rates and efficacy to brand-name commercially available versions. (ie. Compounded Tirzepatide vs Mounjaro)– Because we have a large population on these versions, we can continuously pull anonymized data from our EMR and compare outcomes to ensure the medications are the same. This is another reason we're partnered with multiple pharmacies– this affords us the ability to seamlessly switch patients from one pharmacy to the other based on supply chain issues
If you would like to know more about compound options for Mounjaro®, check out our website at.
Mounjaro® Contraindications and Warnings
Mounjaro® should be avoided in certain populations at high risk of severe adverse reactions. These serious adverse reactions associated with Mounjaro® therapy include:
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. This is a very rare but potential side effect of Mounjaro®. If you have a history of pancreatitis, please let your provider know before starting Mounjaro®.
Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)
Since Mounjaro® is an antidiabetic medication that leads to an increase in insulin secretion, there is a risk that your blood sugar can be lowered to dangerous levels. This is known as hypoglycemia. If you have a history of hypoglycemia or are currently using insulin, you must inform your provider before starting Mounjaro®.
Serious Allergic Reaction
There is a chance that you may experience a severe allergic reaction to Mounjaro® when first taking it. Signs of a severe allergic reaction include swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting or feeling dizzy, and very rapid heartbeat. Let your provider know immediately if you have experienced this with other GLP-1 medications or are currently experiencing this when taking Mounjaro®.
Kidney Disease
Though Mounjaro® is safe for people with kidney disease, the stomach problems associated with Mounjaro® may lead to fluid loss by vomiting, nausea, or vomiting. If you do have kidney problems, it is very important to stay hydrated while on Mounjaro®. If the gastrointestinal side effects of Mounjaro® are preventing you from adequately staying hydrated, then let your provider know immediately.
Severe Stomach Problems
The most common side effect of Mounjaro® is gastrointestinal upset, which includes stomach ache, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. If these symptoms become so severe that they significantly affect your daily life or ability to eat regularly, then let your provider know.
Changes in Vision
For patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy, there is a chance that your vision can worsen when taking Mounjaro®. If you do have a history of diabetic retinopathy, then let your provider know before starting Mounjaro®.
Gallbladder Disease
Along with the other gastrointestinal side effects, Mounjaro® can also cause some gallbladder issues. Since Mounjaro® decreases the movement of food through the gastrointestinal system, it also reduces the function of the gallbladder. This can lead to gallstone formation, which can block the release of bile, leading to the inflammation of the gallbladder. If you have a history of gallstones or cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), then let your provider know before starting Mounjaro®. If you have had your gallbladder removed in the past, then you can still take Mounjaro®.
Thyroid Cancer or Family History of MEN-2
Though very rare, there is a risk of developing a specific type of thyroid cancer when taking Mounjaro®, called Medullary Thyroid Cancer. If you have a history of medullary thyroid cancer or a family history of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Cancer Syndrome Type 2 (MEN-2), then let your provider know before starting Mounjaro®. MEN-2 is a genetic cancer syndrome that puts a patient at risk for developing Medullary Thyroid Cancer, which is why patients with this syndrome should avoid taking Mounjaro®.
Where Can I Get Mounjaro®?
If you would like to learn more about GLP-1 medications or want to see if you might be eligible for medication-assisted weight loss, check out Mochi Health, where board-certified obesity medicine physicians can offer expertise in this realm!
Mochi Health is a virtual obesity medicine practice that connects you with medical providers, like licensed physicians and nurse practitioners, to help you optimize your weight loss journey. We provide monthly video chats with actual medical providers to provide guidance about weight management and to get you started on prescription weight loss medications to supplement your weight loss plan.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Check out our Mochi Health Blogs to learn about different topics on weight loss medications
Who should avoid taking Mounjaro®?
What is the best diet while taking Mounjaro®?
Can Mounjaro® lower my blood sugar?
Does Mounjaro® cause thyroid cancer?
Can Mounjaro® prevent me from having babies?
Get started at Mochi Health today!
Sources
Hartman ML, Sanyal AJ, Loomba R, et al. Effects of Novel Dual GIP and GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Tirzepatide on Biomarkers of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2020;43(6):1352-1355. doi:10.2337/dc19-1892
Sultana R, Sissoho F, Kaushik VP, Raji MA. The Case for Early Use of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients with Comorbid Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome. Life (Basel). 2022 Aug 12;12(8):1222. doi: 10.3390/life12081222. PMID: 36013401; PMCID: PMC9410036.
Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, Wharton S, Connery L, Alves B, Kiyosue A, Zhang S, Liu B, Bunck MC, Stefanski A; SURMOUNT-1 Investigators. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jul 21;387(3):205-216. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038. Epub 2022 Jun 4. PMID: 35658024.
Frías JP, Davies MJ, Rosenstock J, Pérez Manghi FC, Fernández Landó L, Bergman BK, Liu B, Cui X, Brown K; SURPASS-2 Investigators. Tirzepatide versus Semaglutide Once Weekly in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2021 Aug 5;385(6):503-515. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2107519. Epub 2021 Jun 25. PMID: 34170647.
Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K, Greenway F, Halpern A, Krempf M, Lau DC, le Roux CW, Violante Ortiz R, Jensen CB, Wilding JP; SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes NN8022-1839 Study Group. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management. N Engl J Med. 2015 Jul 2;373(1):11-22. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1411892. PMID: 26132939.
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