• Mounjaro is a prescription medication used for treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and obesity.

• Mounjaro is currently indicated for patients with

  • Insufficiently controlled Type 2 Diabetes, as an adjunct to diet and exercise.

  • a BMI over 30 kg/m² or a BMI over 27 kg/m² with at least one weight-related medical condition.

Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) is a GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist. This means that it targets two gut hormones compared to one for Wegovy (Semaglutide). This can lead to synergistic action. At the highest dose of Mounjaro (15mg), patients on average lost ~22%. This is higher than the weight loss observed with Wegovy ~15%.

• There are distinct pros/cons in using each medication. Also patients may respond uniquely to each option.

• At Medical Weight Solutions, we will help you choose an option that is most suitable for you.

• The best answer may not always be a GLP-1 medication. Other options must be carefully explored for each patient.

• As with other medications in the same class (Saxenda, Wegovy), the most common side effects are gastrointestinal side effects - nausea, change in bowel habit, abdominal cramps, reflux, and dehydration. With careful monitoring, these side effects can be managed in most cases.

• Acute pancreatitis has been observed with the group of GLP-1 receptor agonist medications like Mounjaro. However this is a rare event.

• For patients with Type 2 Diabetes on insulin/sulfonylurea medications, careful monitoring of blood sugar levels is required to avoid the risk of hypoglycaemia (low sugar levels).

• Mounjaro is associated with gallstones, though any significant weight loss, even from dietary changes alone, increases the risk of gallstone-related events.

• When taking Mounjaro, you must let your anaesthetist or endoscopist know if you are using this medication, as it may affect fasting status and risk of aspiration during the procedure.

• Mounjaro should also be avoided in pregnancy and breast-feeding mothers.

• Allergic reactions can happen at the injection site. Generalised allergic reactions may also rarely happen.

• Although the association is not proven in human studies, patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 must avoid Mounjaro.

• The full datasheet can be viewed on https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/m/MounjaroInj.pdf

• As with other once weekly injectable GLP-1 medications, Mounjaro is administered by a once weekly subcutaneous injection underneath the skin.

• It is typically injected around the abdominal area, although it can also be injected into the thigh.

• Unlike Wegovy (Semaglutide), patients using the oral contraceptive pill must take caution when starting Mounjaro (Tirzepatide).

• Mounjaro may affect the efficacy of oral contraceptive medications.

• For patients who are starting Mounjaro, or increasing their dose, they must use a non-oral method or add a barrier method for contraception, for 4 weeks after initiation or 4 weeks after each dose-escalation.