Mounjaro

Mounjaro is used together with diet and physical activity to help people to lose weight and keep their weight under control.

It is used in people who have obesity (BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more) or who are overweight (BMI between 27 and 30 kg/m2) and have weight-related health problems such as diabetes, abnormally high levels of fat in the blood, high blood pressure or obstructive sleep apnoea (frequent interruption of breathing during sleep).  BMI (body mass index) is a measure of your weight in relation to your height.

Mounjaro contains the active substance tirzepatide and has been developed by Elli Lilly, a global pharmaceutical company.

Further information on Mounjaro is provided below, including possible side effects you could experience taking the medication.

Further information on Mounjaro

How is Mounjaro used?
  • Mounjaro is available as a solution for injection in prefilled pens and can only be obtained with a prescription. It is injected once a week, under the skin of the abdomen (belly), upper arm or thigh. Mounjaro should be injected on the same day each week.

  • For more information about using Mounjaro, see the Patient Information Leaflet or contact the Everwell Medical Team or your pharmacist.
How does Mounjaro work?
  • The active substance in Mounjaro, tirzepatide, acts in the same way as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).

  • These hormones are produced in the gut and bind to specific receptors (targets) in the body, such as, among others, the pancreas and brain. This increases the amount of insulin that the pancreas releases in response to food and helps lower blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

  • Targeting these receptors also reduces appetite and helps people manage their weight.

  • Further information on Mounjaro is available in the in the Summary of Product Characteristics from the European Medicines Agency which is available here: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/mounjaro-epar-product-information_en.pdf
What benefits of Mounjaro have been shown in studies?
  • Mounjaro was effective at helping people lose weight in a study involving more than 2,500 adults who had obesity (BMI over 30kg/m2) or who were overweight (BMI between 27 and 30 kg/m2) and had at least one weight-related health problem.

  • In this study, people who used Mounjaro in combination with diet and physical activity for 72 weeks reduced their weight by at least 15% on average, depending on the dose they were given.

  • This compares with 3% in people who were given a placebo. Over 85% of people taking Mounjaro were able to reduce their weight by at least 5%, compared with 35% of people given placebo.
What are the risks associated with Mounjaro?
  • For the full list of side effects and restrictions of Mounjaro, see the Patient Information Leaflet.

  • The most common side effects with Mounjaro (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) include problems with the digestive system, such as nausea (feeling sick) and diarrhoea.

  • Constipation and vomiting were seen in up to 1 in 10 people. Side effects linked to the digestive system were generally mild or moderate in severity and occurred more often when the dose of Mounjaro was changed.

What are the possible side effects of taking Mounjaro?

The common side effects of Mounjaro are generally self limiting as you body gets
used to the medication. The most common are as follows:

  • Gastrointestinal Issues: Such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and indigestion, flatulence, constipation, reflux, bloating, up to 20% of patients may experience these side effects but generally this are self-limiting.

>1 in 10 patients experience the following:

  • Allergic reaction (hypersensitivity) (e.g., rash, itching, and eczema)
  • Dizziness reported in patients treated for weight management
  • Low blood pressure reported in patients treated for weight
    management
  • Feeling less hungry (decreased appetite) reported in
    patients treated for type 2 diabetes
  • Stomach (abdominal) pain reported in patients treated for
    type 2 diabetes
  • Being sick (vomiting) reported in patients treated for type
    2 diabetes - this usually decreases over time
  • Indigestion (dyspepsia)
  • Fatigue
  • Hair loss
  • Fast pulse

Serious Side Effects could include (if you have any concerns or requestions regarding these, it is essential that you contact the Everwell Medical Team before you start your treatment if prescribed):

  • Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas): Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Incidence is low but significant. This can be life threatening, and you should seek urgent medical attention (<1%).
  • Allergic Reactions: Rare but potentially life-threatening, including
    symptoms like swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, or severe
    rash
  • Hypoglycemia: Especially when combined with diabetes medications called sulphonylureas, metformin or insulin. This is common when prescribed with other diabetic medications.
  • Gallbladder Issues: Such as gallstones, potentially leading to
    cholecystitis. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, and yellowing of the skin or eyes.
  • Diabetic Retinopathy Complications: Worsened vision in patients with pre-existing conditions.

Why is Mounjaro authorised in the EU (including Ireland)?
  • In patients who have obesity or are overweight with weight-related complications, treatment with Mounjaro resulted in weight loss which was mainly due to loss of fat mass. Further, Mounjaro improved other measures such as blood pressure levels and the amount of fat in the blood.

  • The side effects of Mounjaro are manageable and its safety will continue to be monitored. The European Medicines Agency therefore decided that Mounjaro’s benefits are greater than its risks and it can be authorised for use in the EU which includes Ireland.